Tape to Zero will be presenting not only existing projects and bands, but also entirely new combinations, tailor-made for the occasion. TtZ provides a meeting point for musical exploration where musicians with different musical experiences are placed together in unique constellations. Hofseth / Husebø / Johnsen is a trio specially created for TtZ 2012, and represents an encounter between three generations of musicians with a focus on improvisation and composition, combined with a mixture of an acoustic and an electronic sound.
About the musicians:
Bendik Hofseth is an internationally established musician (saxophone / vocals) and composer / producer with eight solo releases behind him. When he was just 26 years old, he played with the famous American jazz band, Steps Ahead. Bendik has also composed several commissioned works (Vossajazz, Rikskonsertene, etc.). He has played with many musicians, including top names such as Mike Mainieri, Django Bates, John McLaughlin, Andy Summers, Tony Levin, Helge Iberg, Eivind Aarseth, Øystein Sevåg, Audun Kleive, Kenneth Sivertsen, Arild Andersen, etc.
Bendik Hofseth is now a central figure in the music industry. He is president of the International Council of Creators of Music (CIAM) where he represents 2.6 million composers and lyricists worldwide. Bendik is also a professor and teacher; he is employed at the University of Agder where he is central to the development of a new study in Music Management.
Kjetil Husebø: Piano and live electronics / sampling. Kjetil has collaborated with many musicians, released several albums, and has also written commissioned works. In recent years, Kjetil has mainly worked on the project Optical Substance; on the album Adaptation, released in 2010, he made use of live samples from various improvisational and collaborative concerts to form the basis for the creation of the compositions. The business newspaper Dagens Næringsliv described the album as “minimalistic, funky jazz-electronica like unto virgin powder on a mountain side.” In addition to producing and composing, Kjetil is really focused on improvisation – whether it’s on the piano or live electronics / sampling. Kjetil just released his solo album Contradictions
Jonas Barsten Johnson: Drums, percussion, and live electronics / sampling. Jonas studied at the Conservatory in Kristiansand and is currently a graduate student at the Norwegian Academy of Music. Jonas usually plays with musicians / projects such as the Bjorn Charles Dreyer Group and Hanne Kolstø, and has also collaborated with Jan Bang, Jono El Grande, I Ate My Pony, and others. Jonas combines drums and live electronics / sampling in a unique way by processing the sound of his drums though his laptop / controllers, via contact microphones mounted inside the drums.
- Bendik Hofseth (saxophone)
- Kjetil Husebø (piano/electronics/sampling)
- Jonas Barsten Johnsen (drums/electronics/sampling)
Martin France has been the rhythmic foundation of over 60 albums and has worked with musicians such as Django Bates, John Taylor, Elvis Costello, David Gilmour (Pink Floyd). France has also played with a number of Norwegian musicians like Nils Petter Molvaer and saxophonist Marius Neset. France is one of Europe’s most sought after drummers. In Spin Marvel, he invites key musicians to explore new electronic landscapes in the studio and in concerts. Spin Marvel mixes acoustic and electronic drums, keyboards, programming and sequensers and often builds the musical expression at a meeting of electronics and bass – and drums foundation. (text from Side2)
Bassist Tim Harries has been central in Spin Marvel since the beginning and has a background from Bill Bruford Earthworks and collaboration with Brian Eno, David Byrne (Talking Heads), Katie Melua, etc.
Norwegian Terje Evensen (drummer, producer / recording engineer, live electronics, technician) is the band’s producer and plays with electronic sounds/live electronics/laptop.
France / Harries with Evensen at the heart of Spin Marvel, and this evening is the first time they play together as a trio.
On the Spin Marvel’s latest release The Reluctantly Politiciced Mr. James is Nils Petter Molvaer a central guest. Molvaer was so excited about this project that he wanted to present the project at the MoldeJazz Festival 2010. The project was described by BBC as “fresh, imaginative and visionary, Providing a bracing reminder of the persistence of creative energy in jazz. This is jazz of our time. “
In April 2011 Spin Marvel played with the legendary musician John Paul Jones (Led Zepplin) at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival in London. In February this year, Spin Marvel played again with John Paul Jones and Nils Petter Molvaer at the National Jazz Scene, in conjunction with the concert series Conexions (Fiona Talkington). Spin Marvel has just visited the BBC and recorded a concert that was broadcasted on BBC Radio 6th of March.
- Martin France (drums/wavedrum)
- Terje Evensen (electronics)
- Tim Harries (bass)
Thomas Strønen/ Bjørn Charles Dreyer/Kjetil Husebø is created specially for TtZ 2012. Improvised sonic moods, ambient, noise, melodic constraints, awesome floating and twisted grooves are served upon a platter of drums, guitar, piano / synthesizer, combined with live electronics / sampling.
About the musicians:
Thomas Strønen usually plays with Food, Meadow, Humcrush, etc., and collaborates with numerous artists such as Nils Petter Molvaer, Sidsel Endresen, Christian Fennesz, Eivind Aarseth. Strønen has also released a solo album under the name Pohlitz, which was released on Rune Grammofon. Strønen combines acoustic drums with live electronics / sampling / fx in a characteristically style.
Bjørn Charles Dreyer is a guitarist (electric guitar, pedal steel) whose influences can be traced back to jazz, pop / rock, electronica, roots, etc. Dreyer is currently playing with quite a line-up of projects / artists, including Boschamaz (duo with Erland Dahlen), Xploding Plastix, Mari Boine, Eivind Aarset Sonic Codex, Annbjørn Lien. Dreyer has previously collaborated with D`sound, Bertine Zetlitz, Beady Belle, Madrugada, Anneli Drecker, Kris Kristofferson, Gareth Jones (Depeche Mode etc.), Jan Bang, Silje Nergaard, and others.
Kjetil Husebø: HIs main project over the last few years has been Optical Substance, but he has also worked with various musicians on a number of projects. Kjetil has a background in jazz, classical, folk, electronica and pop / rock. He has previously played with projects and groups as Coffee Pain, Erot, Jigme Drupka, Li Tieqiao, Bergmund Skaslien, Alex Grieg, Audun Waage, HP Gundersen, Kåre Opheim, Alex Gunia and others. Husebø released his new solo album Contradictions recently.
- Thomas Strønen (drums/electronics)
- Bjørn Charles Dreyer (guitar/electronics)
- Kjetil Husebø (piano, synth, electronics/live sampling)
Eyes of a Blue Dog is a brand new collaboration between Jamie Cullum’s regular trumpeter, Rory Simmons, drummer / producer Terje Evensen, and singer Elisabeth Nygård-Pearson. Together they create strong electronic landscapes, colored with acoustic textures in deep and smoldering moods. They float across different grooves and time signatures, soaring strongly, as they mix in abstract and hypnotic lyrics and melodies.
Eyes of a Blue Dog debuted live in 2011 at the London Jazz Festival, and is in the final stages of completing their first album.
About the musicians:
Rory Simmons is a very active musician and composer, and lives in London. In addition to traveling the world as a permanent member of Jamie Cullum’s band, he’s part of the Loop Collective. (www.loopcollective.org)
Rory has played with, among others, Katie Melua, Friendly Fires, Brand New Heavies, Jennifer Hudson, Phil Selway, Bat For Lashes, Gerard Presencer, Stephan Payen, Barak Schmool, John Etheridge, FIRE Collective, Byron Wallen, Grand Union Orchestra and Mike Garrick Jazz Britannia Orchestra. Rory’s main project in recent years has been the critically acclaimed 12-piece ensemble Fringe Magnetic, which has released two albums: Empty Spaces and Twistic. Rory also recently released his solo album, Glass Dancers.
Terje Evensen is both a musician (drums / electronics) and producer / sound engineer. Evensen has worked with the likes of John Paul Jones, Nils Petter Molvaer, Spin Marvel / Martin France, Tim Harries, Pd Conception, Bark, Optical Substance, etc. He has participated in over 20 albums and 2010, Terje released his first solo album Still You. You Still here, where he combined, in a unique way, percussion and electronics with an electro-acoustic processing of those sounds in the studio. The release was also quite distinctive as it was published as a net-album, meaning that it was published on a Web page in 24-bit sound quality with a full-page interactive design where you can navigate back and forth on the album cover. (www.stillyou-youstillhere.com)
Elisabeth Nygård is originally from Trondheim, but is now residing in London – where she has already secured herself a significant position on the British jazz scene. Elizabeth has worked with the likes of Colin Riley, Moov ensemble, Fringe Magnetic, Didrik Ingvaldsen.
Jazz Wise Magazine has written the following about Elizabeth: ‘Nygård demonstrates more of the spirit and improvised nature of jazz than your average standards singer. Inevitably, echoes of the highly influential Sidsel Endressen come to the fore in Nygård’s rasping blues and folksong inflexions as well as the throat-clicks and twitters of abstract improv phonetics. But Nygård doesn’t entirely confirm to any lazy Nordic stereotype: behind her icy-breath is real warmth and passion’.
We are pleased to present Eyes of a Blue Dog – for the first time in Norway!
- Rory Simmons (trumpet, electronics)
- Terje Evensen (drums/electronics)
- Elisabeth Nygård (vocal)
Erland Dahlen is a Norwegian drummer and percussionist. He is a very active and frequent studio and live musician for various artists such as Nils Petter Molvaer, Odd Nordstoga, Kaada, Marit Larsen, Xploding Plastix, Hanne Hukkelberg, Madrugada, Susanna Wallumrød, Anja Garbarek, Eivind Aarseth, etc. Erland is also a part of the duo Boschamaz, together with Bjorn C. Dreyer. Erland Dahlen recently released his solo album Rolling Bomber , on the label Hubro. The album has received several good reviews.
- Erland Dahlen (drums, percussion, saw, steel drum, assorted electronics / boxes)
Steinar Løberg Varnes is a Norwegian trumpet player who has worked with numerous artists and musicians. He studied at the conservatory in Kristiansand. Steinar combines the trumpet playing/sound with live electronics and has a trumpet tone that is akin to what one hears from Jon Hassell, Arve Henriksen and Nils Petter Molvaer. Steinar is playing with the trio Shavian, which just released their first album Letters. Steinar has played with musicians/projects as Smyr, Jan Bang / Erik Honoré, Gamelan Shokbrekers, Erling Wicklund, Optical Substance, Ronnie Jacobsen, etc.
(photo by Caroline Roka)
- Steinar Løberg Varnes (trumpet/electronics)
But first: Our own Terje Evensen is playing with Spin Marvel featuring guests (John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) ++ in connection with “Conexions - a concert series curated by Fiona Talkington (BBC) - read more about the concert here
