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Eyþór
Gunnarsson
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Born in Reykjavik september 9th Eythor started
playing the piano at an early age,
taking private lessons on and off until the age
of 12.
After one year of trumpet lessons he acquired a
YAMAHA organ and the course was set.
Early influences included rock groups Deep
Purple, Led Zeppelin and Gentle Giant.
School friend Fridrik Karlsson introduced him to
the music of Chick Corea's Return To Forever,
Weather Report and other fusion greats, and the
two youngsters soon teamed up with bassist
Johann Asmundsson and drummer Gulli Briem to form
Mezzoforte.
After graduating from college in 1981, music
became a full time occupation,
Mezzoforte being the main interest, but session
work with various pop artists
providing the income. The success of his
composition Garden Party in 1983
opened up a world of possibilities for Mezzoforte
who have toured extensively
in Europe and Asia ever since. In recent years
the acoustic piano has become
Eythors main instrument and collaborations with
many of Iceland's leading jazz-musicians
have made him the most recorded sideman in
Icelandic jazz-history.
He has also played with many visiting jazz
musicians in Iceland, including
Frank Lacy, Jens Winter, Mads Vinding, Doug
Raney, Tommy Smith and others.
In 1991 Eythor toured with American singer Randy
Crawford and in 1994
he was one of two Icelandic representatives in
the Scandinavian jazz-sextet
Jazz Of CHORS. Other musical activities include
record production and
arranging for many of Iceland's top pop artists.
Eythor has received several Icelandic Music
Awards both as a Keyboardist and Jazz- Musician.
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