New impro trio arrived: Norwegian/Danish The Living Room

The Living Room.I am really excited to have this trio with me to Jazz Ahead as in the year to come. The trio is feat. Some of the most exciting talents from the Scandinavian jazzscene.  They released their latest album "Still Distant Still"  on ILK MUSIC in november 2011. An album receiving really good press, and still building up. 

Torben Snekkestad has explored vast areas of music in a conscious and open-minded way. Ranging from classical playing with the Copenhagen Saxophone Quartet and as a featured soloist with symphony orchestras and sinfoniettas to alternative jazz and improv with London Improvisers Orchestra, the ECM featured Trygve Seim Ensemble and the Danish free jazz group Spring, he has performed with artists like Barry Guy, Andrea Parkins, Koichi Makigami, Evan Parker, Jon Balke and Cikada String Quartet. 
"Conic Folded is a fully formed collection of saxophone and improvisational mastery" - Allaboutjazz (US) on Torben Snekkestad`s solo album "Conic Folded" (ILK 153CD)
www.torbensnekkestad.com

Thomas Strønen is one of Norway´s most prolific drummers, known from his involvement with Food (with Iain Ballamy), Humcrush (with Ståle Storløkken), Parish (with Bobo Stenso), Pohlitz (solo), Maria Kannegaard Trio and other projects where he often takes on the role of composing, arranging and sometimes producing. Thomas Strønen is a featured recording artist for both ECM and Rune Gramofon.
“Immaculately produced, with each percussive hit and textural fleck seeming to exist in a sonic environment all its own, the album has a sensuality and spaciousness that is utterly irresistible” - The Wire (UK) on Thomas Strønen's “Pohlitz” CD
www.thomasstronen.com

Since Søren Kjærgaard won the Nordic Young Jazz competition in 2000 and Danish Radio Jazz Prize in 2004, he has grown to be one the leading voices of the vibrant Danish jazz scene, performing internationally with a.o. Fred Frith, Peter Brötzman, Herb Robertson, Tim Berne, Michael Blake and Jim Black. He has released eight albums as a leader on ILK including three albums with his critically acclaimed trio featuring bassist Ben Street and iconic drummer Andrew Cyrille.
“Kjærgaard is a rising talent worthy of inevitable acclaim. Those looking for a new voice on the keys would be advised to delve further into his ever growing discography” - Cadence Magazine
www.sorenkjaergaard.com

ONE SPOT - Jazz at Charlottenborg - Spring program 2012

Charlottenborg brings you some of the finest musical moments  in the capital  Copenhagen this spring. A line-up of both innovation, variation and energy.  This with both instrumental and vocal concerts with an international line-up of jazz artists from Denmark, Norway, Holland, Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

Enjoy !!

Follow the concerts and get fresh updates via facebook:

 

   Adam Pultz Melbye - Solo Bass by Adam Pultz

    Introducing Jesper Zeuthen Trio by PG Special Agent

   Audio samples from Barefoot Records' catalog by Barefoot Records 

Jakob "Dino" Dinesens Afro Cuban dream is here

Jakob Dinesen is without a doubt one of Denmark’s busiest and most significant jazz musicians. Jakob Dinesen (or DINO as he is known among friends) is unique on the Danish jazz scene – or more to the point: the Danish music scene as a whole, for he is no puritan. The 41-year old saxophonist plays in an endless variety of constellations and idioms: Collaborations with African musicians, Cuban and Australian musicians, duo with vocalist and guitarist Paul Banks... We could go on and on – the world is his stage. He is a traveler in music in the very best sense. Wherever it’s happening, that’s where you will find him.

He has recorded several records in his own name, and worked as a sideman or co-leader on numerous others. Twice he has won a Danish Grammy for Jazz Album of the Year: In 1997 with Once Around The Park, and in 2000 for his collaboration with Kurt Rosenwinkel on EVERYTHING WILL BE ALLRIGHT.

In 2004, Dino received the prestigious Danish jazz award, the JAZZPAR, which for 15 years honoured a long list of jazz personalities. The prize allowed him to put together a group of his choice, which resulted in the Danish Muisc Jazz Award nomination with the  release of LADY WITH A SECRET featuring Eddie Gomez and Nasheet Waits among others.

Jakob Dinesen has played in countless constellations with most of the major Danish musicians playing modern jazz. But it was in the trendsetting Once Around The Park that a really personal side of his playing was revealed for the first time. The band name originates from a composition by Paul Motian, who has been a great source of inspiration for Jakob Dinesen. Other musicians who have inspired are Joe Lovano, Bill Frisell, Eric Dolphy and Thelonious Monk.
Dinesen can play the jazz standards with intensely swinging raw power. When he writes original music he always uses the piano. He has one leg comfortably in the post-bebop, and the other in something modern here-and-now. It’s the open point of view – the vibe – that makes the difference, Dinesen says. His lines are energetic and self-assured, and his tone is disciplined with body and soul and wonderfully free of gimmicks.

With his latest album for Stunt Records ”EN AMORADO EN COPENHAGUE” finds Dino flying supernaturally in a delectable and musically satisfying project involving a handful of outstanding Cuban percussionists, a horn section, Dawda Jobarteh from Gambia and the vocals of Raisa Reyes Castro and Thomas Helmig. Dinesen combines these elements brilliantly, placing his own national identity in the center of an orgy of Afro-Cuban rhythms in songs with origins in Denmark and Cuba.

For further info, please do not hesitate getting in contact..

IKI - The 9 vocalists have a new music video out.

I have been a fan of these 9 vocalists ever since I saw them live for the first time back in 2010 at The Musketer Festivalen in Copenhagen. I am talking about the Scandinavian vocal group IKI, who received a Danish Jazz Award for "Best Vocal album 2011"  for their debut released on IK Music.

Now IKI have unleashed their very first music video.  Its a wonderful and funny animation film for the track"Quisanadolele" . Art and animation by Stine Hvid  and Louise From (louisefrom.com). Supported by Statens Kunstråd (DK), and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.

IKI will perform an eksklusive concert in Copenhagen on the 31 May at Charlottenborg.