Ingi Bjarni

Icelandic artist Ingi Bjarni, whose full name is Ingi Bjarni Skúlason, is an improvising pianist and composer, crafting enchanting tones and poetic melodies. In short, he creates his own kind of folk music with the freedom of expressiveness and space for both lyrical and free improvisation.

Ingi Bjarni is praised for his unique sound and innovative approach to improvisation, which is considered rare in the current music landscape. As Jazz Journal (UK) notes, “this intriguingly gifted pianist has for some time now shown an impressive ability to shape his own world, his own poetics.” His compositions feature a strongly narrative style that reflects the individuality of his musical units, enabling him to tell stories through music. In the Spring of 2020, he received five nominations for the Icelandic Music Awards for his quintet recording Tenging, and he was awarded as the most promising Icelandic jazz artist.

Ingi Bjarni attained a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance at Den Haag, The Netherlands. From there, he went on to achieve a Master’s degree in composition from the University of Gothenburg, with exchange semesters in Copenhagen and Oslo. Tutors and mentors have included Misha Alperin, Anders Jormin, Helge Lien, Aaron Parks, Eyolf Dale, Eric Gieben, Agnar Már Magnússon, and Helge Sunde; and as a bandleader, Ingi Bjarni has performed at jazz festivals and toured Japan, Germany, The Netherlands, Iceland, the U.K. and more.