Egil Kapstad, born August 6, 1940, in Oslo, was a Norwegian jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. During a career spanning more than 40 years, he became one of Norway’s prominent jazz musicians, performing on more than 60 recordings. He collaborated with leading artists including Toots Thielemans, Karin Krog, Chet Baker, and Jan Erik Vold, while also composing music for theater, film, television, orchestras, choirs, and chamber ensembles. Kapstad’s trio served as a small orchestra for the 1965 Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix. He also taught jazz history and improvisation, including at the Agder Music Conservatory in Kristiansand, and worked as an NRK program host. His honors included the Buddy Prize, Gammleng Prize, and two Spellemann Awards for jazz. He died on July 13, 2017.
