Sound offers a small but exciting selection of international musicians who are consistently creative and original.
All of these artists welcome working in new and interesting settings and are open to discussing new projects and commissions.
Dhafer
Youssef – oud & voice
(Tunisia)
Breaking the boundaries of world music and jazz, Dhafer Youssef’s emotive voice creates a magical sound world where the intense spiritually of the Sufi tradition is enhanced by the atmospheric electronics of Norwegian jazz.
Sacred Voices
Sacred Voices brings together two universally acclaimed talents, Tunisian vocalist and Oud player Dhafer Youssef and Estonian choir Vox Clamantis. This new work focuses on the pure sound of the human voice, drawing on the contrasting spiritual vocal traditions of Gregorian chant and Sufi but reaching beyond these to create a magical new choral sound.
Groups available:
Duo – Nguyen Lê (guitar)
Quartet – Eivind Aarset (guitar), Audun Erlien (electric bass), Rune
Arnesen (drums)
Sextet –Dhafer Youssef, Jathinder Thakur (tabla) and String Quartet
Arve Henriksen - trumpet
(Norway)
Arve Henriksen is without doubt one of Norway’s leading instrumentalists, a master of the trumpet. He is also a searching musician, whose investigations have led him to Japanese music, Balinese sounds, Mongolian overtone singing, Sidsel Endresen's vocal sounds, electronics and instruments such as the koto, the biwa and the shakuhachi. The tonal quality of the shakuhachi flute in particular has long been an inspiration for him, giving him a sense of direction in the development of his own sound.
Arve performed a co-commission for a piece for trumpet and orchestra written by Peter Tornquist and himself, for FUSELeeds ’06 with London Sinfonietta.
Groups available:
Solo
Solo with orchestra
Trio – Jan Bang (electronics), Audun Kleive (drums)
Supersilent
Nils
Petter Molvaer - trumpet (Norway)
New album and tour dates available November 2008.
One of the first names to herald the exciting developments in the Norwegian jazz scene, Nils Petter’s captivating breathy trumpet sound and break beats have elevated him to legendary status.
Groups available:
Solo
Band – featuring Sidsel Endresen (voice), Jan Bang (electronics),
DJ Strangefruit (turntables/ samples), Rune Arnesen (drums).
Kimmo
Pohjonen – accordion
(Finland)
Kimmo Pohjonen is one of the most respected and in-demand musicians and performers in Finland. An accordionist of exceptional ability and imagination, Kimmo's musical history goes back more than twenty years in rock, folk, avant-garde, improvisation, classical, dance and theatre music projects. In 1996 he embarked on a solo career with his solo 5-row accordion project, featuring extreme and original compositions, live loops and effects, a dynamic and animated stage performance, orchestrated lights and surround sound.
Groups Available;
Kluster Kimmo Pohjonen - accordion, voice, effects
Samuli Kosminen - accordion samples, voice samples, effects
Animator Solo multi media project
Nils
Økland – hardanger fiddle / violin
(Norway)
Nils Økland has been described as one of the best things to happen in Norwegian folk music in 100 years. He is an innovative violinist and Hardanger fiddle specialist who is committed to creatively expanding the range of the traditional music of his homeland. He is a re-newer of folk music, constantly building bridges between classical, contemporary and improvised music. His playing combines freedom with respect for Norway’s musical heritage. He is concerned both with the preservation of the oral folk music tradition and with the possibilities of the music when it is charged with modern ideas.
Groups Available:
Trio – violin, organ and voice
Quartet – violin, organ, trumpet/guitar and voice
BANDS
Iain Ballamy – saxophones; June Tabor – voice; Huw Warren
- piano
Three of the UK’s leading performers, all of whom have brought the
evocative qualities of English and Welsh traditions into the present.
Bringing together jazz and folk mix of words and music encompassing jazz,
folk and traditional songs in contemporary settings.
Iain Ballamy and Stian Carstensen – (UK and Norway)
Iain Ballamy – saxophones; Stian Carstensen - accordion
Exquisite melodies, twisted versions of standards, outstanding musicianship
and captivating performers. This is one of the most delightful duos in
Europe.
Iain Ballamy and Stian Carstensen – (UK and Norway)
Iain Ballamy – saxophones; Stian Carstensen - accordion
Exquisite melodies, twisted versions of standards, outstanding musicianship and captivating performers. This is one of the most delightful duos in Europe.
Farmers Market – (Norway)
Stian Carstensen – accordionist; Trifon Trifonov – saxophones;
Nils-Olav Johannsen – guitar; Finn Guttormsen – electric bass;
Jarle Vespestad – drums.
Led by one of the most phenomenal performers you’ll ever see – accordionist Stian Carstensen – Farmers are exuberant, astonishingly virtuosic and brilliant entertainers. Mixing up Bulgarian folk, Norwegian jazz and euro pop they create, in their own words ‘speed, Balkan boogie’.
Solveig Slettahjell Slow Motion Ensemble – (Norway) - photo
Solveig Slettahjell voice; Sjur Miljeteg – trumpet; Morten Qvenild – piano; Mats Eilertsen – double bass; Per Oddvar Johansen – drums
A bewitching singer who’s soulful voice is matched by a playfulness and love of words which marks her out as utterly unique.
In her native Norway Solveig Slettahjell has for some time been considered one of their most celebrated jazz singers. Her diverse repertoire - mixing country, jazz standards, with the odd song by Prince or Tom Waits thrown in – is sung in her utterly captivating and voice. Taking inspiration from the distinctive voice of fellow Norwegian Sidsel Endresen, yet strongly influenced by the gospel that filled her youth, Solveig has carved out a unique sound.
Ilmiliekki – (Finland)
Verneri Pohjola - trumpet and melodica; Tuomo Prättälä - piano; Antti Lötjönen - bass Olavi Louhivuori - drum.
Ilmiliekki somehow manage to sound as classy and powerful as performers twice their age, yet possess a distinctly modern sound that reflects their youth. First class writing and playing combined with the influences of their generation, create one of the most striking young quartet's in Europe. Versatile influences ranging from the masters of jazz, such as Ornette Coleman and Kenny Wheeler, to the more challenging representatives of today’s rock music, such as Björk and Radiohead.
Christian Wallumrød Ensemble – (Norway)
Christian Wallumrød – piano; Arve Henriksen – trumpet; Nils Økland – violin; Per Oddvar Johansen - drums
Debut UK tour for this atmospheric piano quartet which brings together four of Norway’s most distinctive and creative musicians. ’As close to perfection as you’re likely to hear.’ Jazzwise
The Great Voices of Bulgaria
Capturing the powerful sound of Russian Orthodox and Bulgarian folk music.
The Great Voices of Bulgaria goes against the usual trend of choirs where homogeneity of voices is key, and is made up exclusively of authentic soloists. Many of these perform individually as soloists in recitals of classical music or in folklore ensembles, or lend their support to performances of grand operas. The Great Voices exists as three versions- Man’s, Women’s and Mixed choirs. The Women’s choir of The Great Voices of Bulgaria gained international fame under the name Le mystere des voix bulgares.
MIXED CHOIR
Performers: 16 female singers, 6 male singers, 1 conductor, 1 tour manager
Program
Part One - Bulgarian and Russian Orthodox Chants
Part Two - Bulgarian Folklore
Duration of the concert 90- 100 min. with intermission.
WOMEN’S CHOIR
Performers: 18 female singers, 1 conductor, 1 tour manager
Program
Bulgarian Folklore
Duration of the concert 70- 80 min. without intermission.