Aksdal was educated at the
Berklee College of Music (1977–80), and earned a master's degree in Jazz and Contemporary Improvisationat at the
New England Conservatory in
Boston (1984). He has since 1991 taught on the Jazz program at
Trondheim Musikkonsevatorium, where he is Head of the Jazz Performance Programme (directing manager until 2005). He is also head of «Midtnorsk jazzsenter» and representative in the «Norsk Jazzforum». His performing career started in association with
Storyville Jazz Club during studies in Boston, in addition to local bands in Bergen (1972–73) where he was part of «Søbstad/Halvorsens Quintet», and Molde (1973–75) with his own trio and
E. A. Sextet, including Alf Kjellman and
Torgrim Sollid in the lineup, and for the latter he contributed on the album
Østerdalsmusikk (1975). When in the US he played with among others
Herb Pomeroy,
Bob Mover,
Mick Goodrick and
Ralph Moore, conducted his own orchestra with the commission to the anniversary concert at the
Moldejazz in 1980, and was in the «New Cool Quartet» (1982). Aksdal moved to Oslo and joined the
Magni Wentzel Quintet (1975–76). He also played with
Bjarne Nerem, Bjørn Johansen with the album
Dear Henrik (1986), Harald Gundhus and «Atle Hammer Quintet», Harald Bergersen and Krister Andersson, during his years in Oslo. In addition he composed the commissioned work
Sonus in Obscuri, with among others
Eldbjørg Raknes for Moldejazz 1995. In Molde Aksdal composed music for
Teatret Vårt in
Molde (1988–1990), and in Trondheim (1991–) he played within «Asmund Bjørken Sextet» (''Pot's On
, 1992), toured with Lee Konitz and co-musicians from the Jazz program at «Tronheim Musikkonservatorium» within «John Pål Inderberg Band», releasing the album Steps Towards A Dream
(1993). He was within «Friends Connection» (1994), and has otherwise participated in Eldbjørg Raknes Quintet (1997), the album Sval Draum
(2005) by John Pål Inderberg, and Veckan 44'' (2008) within «Norsk Svensk Cool Quintet». == Compositions ==