The Squid's Ear Magazine


Friends & Neighbors (Roligheten / Johansson / Gronberg / Rune Strom / Ostvang): What's Next? (Clean Feed)

A great example of the Norwegian creative jazz scene, the quintet of Andree Roligheten on sax & clarinet, Thomas Johansson on trumpet, Oscar Gronberg on piano, Jon Rune Strom on double bass, and Tollef Ostvang on drums take their name from an Ornette Coleman LP, as they show us 'What's Next' by blending lyrical and free approaches with unexpected twists and turns.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Andree Roligheten-tenor saxophone, bass clarinet

Thomas Johansson-trumpet

Oscar Gronberg-piano

Jon Rune Strom-double bass

Tollef Ostvang-drums


Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.




UPC: 5609063004991

Label: Clean Feed
Catalog ID: CF499
Squidco Product Code: 26508

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2018
Country: Portugal
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded at Athletic Sound, in Halden, Norway, on February 8th and 9th, 2018, by Dag Erik Johansen and Kai Andersen.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"When a story is good and the following one is even better you naturally expect that new narratives coming next will explode your expectations, and here it is, with a title saying it all about what you'll find inside: "What's Next". And what you'll find inside is one more aspect of a huge field of possibilities when dealing with the "neo-New Thing sensation", an expression used by the magazine Downbeat to describe what is at stake in a Friends and Neighbors record: a recriation of the free jazz spirit of the Sixties and Seventies, going from Ornette Coleman to John Carter, through Archie Shepp and Pharoah Sanders, but with a perspective very much of the present times (at the end of the second decade of the 21st century is obvious we love melodies, and that's what you have here: melodic free jazz) and a playing style with all the characteristics of Norwegian jazz.

If you know the subgenre you're certainly aware that free jazz is many different things, so Andree Roligheten, Thomas Johansson, Oscar Gronberg, Jon Rune Strom and Tollef Ostvang have a wide variety of references to tell their stories, keeping them fresh and surprising, despite all the weight of history. Yes, the Old New Thing is a New New Thing again with these five brilliant and incredibly imaginative cultural recyclers."-Clean Feed


Artist Biographies

André was born in Skien, Norway in 1985. He started playing the saxophone at the age of 8 and early on became interested in improvised music. Roligheten has studied to Bachelor at the Jazz Academy at NTNU in Trondheim, with teachers and mentors like John Pål Inderberg and Erling Aksdal. Now he recently finished his Masters degree in improvised music at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo.

One of Rolighetens main projects is the duo "Albatrosh". After winning the prestigious Norwegian "JazzIntro" award in 2008, "Young Jazz Musicians of the year", Albatrosh has had busy years. In 2009 they released their critically acclaimed debut album, "Seagull Island" (InnerEar), as the cohesive press celebrated with solid rolls of the dice, and by the big Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet described as "perhaps the most exciting release in Norwegian elite jazz in many years". And John Kelman from All about jazz: "Roligheten and Dale manage to say much without ever resorting to excess. A fine debut from a duo with a bright future, Seagull Island doesn't just suggest great promise; it delivers on it as well." In 2010 they released their second album "Mystery Orchestra with Grenager & Tafjord", featuring cellist Lene Grenager and horn player Hild Sofie Tafjord. This album received great reviews as well, and the Norwegian newspaper Dagsavisen ranked it to be the best Norwegian jazz record of 2010. At North Sea jazz 2009 they took part in the European Jazz Competition, and won the prestigious 1st prize "Best Band". Jury chairman, Maria Schneider said: "Most original, great interplay and amazing improvisation, effective and colorful compositions paired to amazing improvisation." This meant radio play across Europe as well as a dedicated concert at North Sea Jazz 2010.

During "Young Nordic Jazz Comets 2008", the jury awarded Roligheten with the Soloist Prize "because of his virtuous technique and his dynamic play. In 2009 André went on a Europe tour with European Jazz Orchestra conducted by Peter Herbolzheimer, where he played with some great fellow musicians from 20 countries all over Europe. Some of Rolighetens other current projects are "Team Hegdal", fellow saxophonist Eirik Hegdals new quartet (Hegdal, known from a.o. Trondheim Jazz Orchestra with Joshua Redman). André is also playing with Trondheim Jazz Orchestra (TJO). At Molde Jazzfestival 2010, he played with TJO ́s project with Ståle Storløkken (Super Silent) and the legendary Norwegian rock group Motorpsycho. Roligheten has also played and worked with musicians like: Andrew D ́angelo, Theo Bleckman, Django Bates, John Edwards, Paul Lovens, Axel Dörner, Robin Hayward, Raymond Strid, Bugge Wesseltoft, Mathias Eick, Ola Kvernberg, Paal Nilssen-Love, Per Zanussi

-Andree Roligheten Website (https://roligheten.com/about/)
4/21/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Thomas is born and raised in Skien,Telemark. With a bachelor degree from the University of Stavanger, and Masters from The Norwegian Academy of Music, he is a part of the strong young Norweigan jazz elite. He has done extensive touring in Scandinavia, Europe, Japan and USA, with both his own projects and as a sideman in several other bands.

His main project is Cortex, which is a quartet consisting of Thomas, Kristoffer Alberts, Ola Høyer and Gard Nilssen. Cortex is a Norwegian band which plays enerergetic jazz of the finest brand. With over one hundred live perfomances and four highly acclaimed albums, they position themselves as one of the strongest additions to the Norwegian jazz scene.

Thomas is also active in several other projects, such as: All Included, Friends & Neighbors, Paal Nilssen-Love Large Unit, and Scheen Jazzorkester.

Thomas currently lives in Skien, working as a freelance trumpet player and composer. Thomas has in recent years toured and played at several festivals and clubs at home and abroad, with both his own and others projects. For projects and livedates, check the pages on the menu at the top of the page."

-Thomas Johansson Website (http://www.thomasjohansson.no/?page_id=22)
4/21/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Grönberg is a graduate of the Jazz program at Trondheim Musikkonsevatorium in 2011,[1] where he joined the Hanna Paulsberg Concept.[2]

O. G. Trio, including Trygve Waldemar Fiske (double bass) and Tomas Järmyr (drums), is a new, young, creative, exciting and fearless trio that played its debut concert in 2009. Together they create a world of groove, improvisation, humor and playful interaction, all based on Grönberg's subtle and original compositions. The trio is at the same time deeply respectful of the compositions, but also irreverent and free in their interactions over the well-established and endangered species line. The music is inspired by the likes of Thelonious Monk, Ahmad Jamal and Andrew Hill."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Gr%C3%B6nberg)
4/21/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Strøm grew up on an island in the north-west of Norway. Influenced u. A. By Gary Peacock and Frode Gjerstad , with the first shots were (East of the West, 2011), he plays in the Norwegian free jazz scene with Paal Nilssen-Loves Group Large Unit, Petter Wettre and Mats Gustafsson Nu Ensemble, also with musicians like Mats Äleklint , John Dikeman , Martin Kitchen , Thomas Johansson and Tollef Østvang in formations such as SAKA Trio, Universal Indians, All Included and Friends & Neighbors. 2013, it issued a solo album Jøa.

-Wikipedia (translated Google) (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Rune_Str¿m)
4/21/2025

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"Tollef Østvang (b. 1985 in Røros), is a norwegian drummer/improviser currently living in Trondheim. He´s mostly dedicated to free jazz and other forms of improvised music. Except from playing with his main projects, he have also performed with notable improvisers such as Joe McPhee, Ab Baars, Ig Hennemann, Tobias Delius, Wolter Wierbos, Eric Boeren, Michael Moore, Wilbert de Joode, Dave Rempis, Lasse Marhaug, Josh Berman, Keefe Jackson and Jaap Blonk."

-Tollef Ostvang Website (http://www.tollefostvang.com/www.tollefostvang.com/Bio.html)
4/21/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. What's Wrong? 7:50

2. Fool Pay 6:49

3. Friends 4:36

4. Duality 6:21

5. Jaguar 4:56

6. Melting Snow 4:18

7. Nokken 7:10

Related Categories of Interest:


Clean Feed
Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
European Improvisation, Composition and Experimental Forms
Quintet Recordings
Staff Picks & Recommended Items
Squidco's Clean Feed 50% Sale

Search for other titles on the label:
Clean Feed.


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