norchestra - kulturkollektion.de · classical-giants such as egberto gismonti, keith Jarrett &...

norchestra

birgit NixdorfkulturkollektioN

JAZZ, MODErN ClASSIC

A jazz trio on its way from Norway to germany and europe. the band from Haug-

esund/Norway originated with the idea of combining elements of modern classi-

cal music with jazz. Since 1999 they have played together and have performed lots

of concerts in concert halls, jazz clubs as well as in jazz- and classical festivals all

over Norway.

the music is based on Norwegian traditions, drawing inspiration from the famous

classical romantic composer edvard grieg as well as the well renowned jazz and

world music saxophonist Jan garbarek. in addition, inspiration from russian com-

posers like Prokofiev and rachmaninov, french composers like ravel, Satie and

Messiaen, as well as german composer J.S. bach is evident. the band had it‘s

breakthrough in Norway in 2008 with the release of their debut Cd “Norchestra”.

reviewers and critics from all over Norway have praised this trio as something re-

ally unique and remarkable.

the lyrical and imaginative music of this group makes you imagine pure, beautiful

and rough Norwegian scenery and nature. the group’s music has by many people

been compared to film music, and it was no coincidence that Norchestra was se-

lected to be the resident band at the Norwegian filmfestival in 2008, performing

their music at the opening and closing ceremonies of the festival. Norway‘s most

prominent and respected jazz reviewer terje Mosnes in dagbladet made this state-

ment about Norchestra: “Sounds sometimes as if esbjörn Svensson trio or the

bad Plus would be in action with a strict Shostakovich on their backs. but first and

foremost, Norchestra presents itself as Norchestra and immediately steps to the

forefront among contemporary Norwegian jazz ensembles.”


NOrChEStrAJAzz trio

Norchestra, with its elements of jazz and modern classical music is a program,

that is appropriate in both music genres for feature-length concerts as well for ac-

companiment of art exhibitions, receptions or trade fairs.

lENgth Of A CONCErt

90–120 minutes or single pieces on demand

MOrE INfOrMAtION

www.kulturkollektion.de/norchestra/english

NOrChEStrAJAzz trio


bIOgrAfIES

Alf WIlhElM luNDbErg, guitarist, pianist and composer with a diploma from the

Jazz- department of the conservatory at NtNU in trondheim. After 4 years there

with extra lessons in composing and arranging, he won the 1st prize as guitarist

competing with over 280 talented musicians from all over the world during the only

one time;-) during the Umbria Jazz Clinics in 2003. Afterwards he also studied gui-

tar with Adam rogers in New York, Nelson Veras in Paris and classical guitar with

Jarl Strømdal in trondheim since 2007. Has toured parts of U.k., Poland, Sweden,

finland, italy and france as a sideman with the bands “All Strings trio”, “faces”

and “kofi/Makowski Quartet”, and played at some of the greatest jazzfestivals in

europe such as kongsberg Jazzfestival, london Jazzfestival & Umbria Jazz. He

also won several awards in Norway, amongst those Statoils Sildajazz Award and an

Art Scholarship from the Municipality of Haugesund. Has been praised as one of

the greatest guitarplayers in Norway and comparisons has been made to jazz- and

classical-giants such as egberto gismonti, keith Jarrett & Andres Segovia by critics

in Norway. He received in 2008 a grant from the Art fund from the state of Norway

in order to promote his work as a composer.

kJEtIl OlAI luNDø, kjetil olai lundø, doublebass player, born in 1979 in Haug-

esund. Has a bachelor’sdegree in Performance from the grieg Academy, depart-

ment of Music, in bergen. After finishing his studies in 2002, he has worked as

a freelance musician. kjetilolai plays both acoustic and electric bass and works

mainly in the field of jazz and improvised music, but he has also played Norwe-

gian folk music, American old-time music, classical and rock music. released

Norchestra’s debut album in the spring 2008 on the NorCd label. Played in the

jazz quartet Christina bjordal band who in 2003 released “Where dreams begin”

(Universal). in the autumn of 2008 he released a record with the old time band

bergen Mandolinband (grappa). kjetil has been playing at the biggest jazz festivals

in Norway and has toured with Concerts Norway since 2005.


NOrChEStrAJAzz trio

tOrE JAMNE, drummer. born in 1966 in Haugesund, which is located on the west

coast of Norway. Started playing drums at the age of 10, after being influenced by

a great variety of music genres from early childhood. Self taught, except for a short

period during which he studied classical percussion with ivar Atle fjordheim from

Stavanger Symphony orchestra. Attended Skeisvang music college in Haugesund

in 1981 and later worked for many years as a free lance musician until he was asked

by the very same music college in 1993 to accept a part time position as a teacher,

a position he still holds. While teaching at Skeisvang he met two students by the

name of Alf Wilhelm lundberg and kjetil olai lundø, who would later become

his bandmates in Norchestra. Completed pedagogical education from the grieg

Academy in bergen, Norway. tore Jamne has performed, toured and recorded with

many prolific artists in Norway and abroad. they include Nils Petter Molvær, bjørn

berge, frode gjerstad, buddy Miles (US), Paul rogers (Uk), Vamp, Nils Økland,

trio de Janeiro, Steinar Albrigtsen and others. Styles include, jazz, free jazz, rock,

fusion, avant garde, ethnic, latin American, pop and blues.

DISCOgrAphy

Norchestra, 2008 (Cd)

AuDIO SAMplES

www.kulturkollektion.de/norchestra/english


NOrChEStrAJAzz trio

CONCErt rEVIEWS

tOpClASS JAZZ “the way he improvised and accompanied his musicians was fan-

tastic. if he’s great on the piano, he’s surely one of the best guitarists we have in

this country. Not a guitarist that wants to play as fast as possible all the time, but

one that emphasizes to play the right thing at the right time.” (fredrik Heggelund,

HA 28.11.2003)

gENErOuS fOr A hANDfull “Pianist/guitarist Alf Wilhelm lundberg, drummer

tore Jamne and bassist kjetil lundø showed a delicate tenderness in what they

played. Slowly, meditative and full of freshness. Jamne raised the lowered the in-

tensity, he loves cymbals and advanced rythms and meters, while the bass followed

him likewise. And lundberg’s show at the piano and along the neck of the guitar

showed us what talent this town is currently possessing. lundbergs long fingers

did acrobatics on the pianokeys and on the nylonstrings.” (roar e. Jacobsen, HA

03.01.2003)

SyMphONIC JAZZ IN thE CONCErt hAll “He thinks always very melodic in his

structured compositions, but gives also a lot of room for spontanity in the overall

sound. the concert was organized in two sessions. the first one with what lund-

berg himself defines as ‘symphonic jazz’ fitted together with classical elements.”

(bjarne Aksdal, HA 04.08.2001)

DEbutANt WIth MANy StrINgS “A debutconcert is not a daily issue in these areas.

A jazzmusician that makes his debut in the musical fortress of the town like this is

probably a new experience for us. Alf Wilhelm lundberg plays several instruments,

probably the piano is the main instrument, but yesterday we got to hear the guitar-

ist and not the least the composer.” (bjarne Aksdal, HA 22.12.2000)


NOrChEStrAJAzz trio

CD rEVIEWS

StrONg DEbut frOM thE WESt “Nevertheless, the trio Norchestra has played to-

gether since 1999, and it doesn’t take much to establish the fact that the trio has a

peculiar and unique voice.

lundberg plays both acoustic guitar and piano, sometimes even in the course of

the same piece, and he displays a musical versatility in his approach which is rare.

A great deal of the music is thoroughly composed and draws a lot from lundbergs

classical background, with inspiration from Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Stravin-

sky.

Norwegian voices like geirr tveitt, edvard grieg and terje bjørklund are also

present, as well as modernists like ravel and Messiaen. When jazz sources like

Jan garbarek, keith Jarrett and egberto gismonti are also part of the heritage, it is

clear that what Alf Wilhelm lundberg presents is not exactly ordinary.

the trio was a regular band at a jazz club in Haugesund for a year, which definitely

contributed to the band’s development and the fact that the band has arrived at the

uniqueness that reveals itself on this highly sensational debut.

there is drama, dynamics and a will and ability to find the individuality, if one finds

it at all, which normally takes much more time than what Norchestra has taken.

We encounter three sparkling instrumentalists but the most important thing is the

collective voice which lundberg’s very varied compositions stand for. A brilliant

start of the new year.” (tor Hammerø, January 22nd, 2008)


NOrChEStrAJAzz trio

CD rEVIEWS

SMAShINg DEbut “but a few debut releases grabs your attention from the first note

and demonstrates that it is not only about will, but also ability. Not just ability, but

proficient ability.

‘Norchestra’ from the acoustic trio by the same name is one of those few debuts.

... lundberg plays both instruments with striking technical ability. His touch and

sense of timbre are rare. lundø/Jamne are creatively fine tuned partners in their

interplay, no matter which strings are sounding and how free the musical ground

might be.

in his own compositions, based on modern jazz traditions as well as the classical

modernism of the last century, lundberg leads the trio from highlight to highlight,

sometimes sounding like something egberto gismonti could have done, and some-

times as if esbjörn Svensson trio or the bad Plus would be in action with a strict

Shostakovich on their backs. but first and foremost, Norchestra presents itself as

Norchestra and immediately steps to the forefront among contemporary Norwe-

gian jazz ensembles.” (terje Mosnes, dagbladet february 6th, 2008)


NOrChEStrAJAzz trio

CD rEVIEWS

fASCINAtINg trIO “Norchestra is ready with its self titled debut album. ... together

they have made a strong album which mixes classical music with jazz of the more

improvised kind.

lundberg has written all eight compositions on the album. What’s special about

the musician is that he masters the guitar equally well as the piano. thus the debut

record is varied. the acoustic record opens with ‘deep ocean’, a melodious com-

position where the piano leads the melody almost outwards in the waves. it opens

calmly and builds up. A lovely opening, lasting for six minutes.

Norchestra takes us through another course in ‘Valse triste’, where the acous-

tic guitar takes the lead. this is guitar jazz of the low-voiced kind. the title track

‘Norchestra’ is piano-based. Characteristic and emphasised piano playing. After

that the trio improvises and then returns to the point of departure. on ‘ballade’,

lundberg plays both piano and guitar. important elements are also lundøs bass

playing and Jamne’s rhythm, which is calm and exploring. A fascinating album that

endures many rounds in the cd player.” (truls Horvei, Haugesunds Avis, January

29th, 2008)


NOrChEStrAJAzz trio

CD rEVIEWS

OrIgINAl trIO “they make a somewhat different jazz trio by the very fact of their

preference for combining elements from thoroughly composed classical music

with improvisation from the jazz tradition. one can hear traces of the Norwegian

romantics, the more demanding russians, the sonorous french and some excur-

sions towards brazilian shores. if one ventures to suggest a musical platform, it

has to be some kind of classical modernism, deeply rooted in a basic melodious

idea. from this outline they spin their spontaneity and thus creates a fascinat-

ing springboard of intriguing notes. the interplay is striking, concise and playful,

but controlled all the time. they never get lost, but follow a rhythm, a mood or a

melody line wherever it leads. the music can be beautiful, pleasant and comfort-

able, as in ‘Valse triste’ and ‘la onda improlude’ or shimmering and on tip toe,

like in ‘Norchestra’. the music is alive and pulsating. At the same time they can

also sound like two different groups in the same body. lundberg is the motor of

their voice, and the music changes character according to which instruments he

chooses to emphasise – the piano or the guitar. the highlight for this writer is the

almost fourteen minutes long closing track ‘Moon and Sun, Clouds and Wind’.

that’s where everything falls into place.” (Svein Andersen, Aftenposten, february

27th, 2008)


NOrChEStrAJAzz trio

CD rEVIEWS

ClASSICAl NOrWEgIAN “With the album ‘Norchestra’, the band with the same

name has masterminded an extraordinary and, in my view, a surprising start of

the new year in jazz. Alf Wilhelm lundberg is the pianist and guitarist inspired by

the Norwegian composers edvard grieg, geirr tveitt, terje bjørklund and the great

russian composers in addition to ravel and Messiaen. Add Jan garbarek, egberto

gismonti and keith Jarrett, also sources of inspiration for a band that combines

thoroughly composed passages with improvised parts with authority. the result is

fascinating, rare and impressive. kjetil olai lundø (bass) and tore Jamne (drums)

constitute the rest of the band from Haugesund. ... it is an extraordinarily strong

debut.” (roald Helgheim, dagsavisen, february 2nd, 2008)

SOurCEful MuSIC “lundberg, lundø, Jamne – ‘Norchestra’, impossible to cat-

egorise. the inspirational sources of this record are many-sided: ethnic, classical,

jazz and latin American rhythms and timbres. the driving force of the project from

Haugesund is guitarist, pianist and composer Alf Wilhelm lundberg. He is accom-

panied by kjetil olai lundø on bass and tore Jamne on drums. However, to define

the group’s music within fixed genres like jazz, classical or contemporary is not

possible. While playing the guitar, lundberg directs the thoughts towards Segovia’s

rich timbre and while playing the piano, the thoughts are drawn towards keith Jar-

rett’s sobriety. but opinions like these do not really tell anything about the quality

and musical integration which the record demonstrates so elegantly. Norchestra is

definitely a record to really listen to. then the nuances and the will of the musicians

will be discovered.” (einar eriksen, bergens tidende, January 23rd, 2008)


NOrChEStrAJAzz trio

birgit Nixdorf

kulturmanagement

bismarckstr. 75

76133 karlsruhe

t +49 721 1208849

f +49 721 1208850

M +49 160 6132452

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WWW.kulturkOllEktION.DE


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