The Squid's Ear Magazine


Chrome Hill (Lerheim / Arntzen / Lofthus / Nymo): This is Chrome Hill (Clean Feed)

Self-described as Scandinavian jazz rock noir, the Chrome Hill quartet of Asbjorn Lerheim on baritone guitar, Roger Arntzen on double bass, Torstein Lofthus on drums & vibraphone, and Atle Nymo on tenor saxophone, present a dramatic album of contrasts inspired by cinematic and musical moods, merging elements of folk, Delta blues and cowboy rock into their darkly cool sound.
 

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Personnel:



Asbjorn Lerheim-baritone guitar

Roger Arntzen-double bass

Torstein Lofthus-drums, vibraphone

Atle Nymo-tenor saxophone


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UPC: 5609063005578

Label: Clean Feed
Catalog ID: CF557
Squidco Product Code: 29791

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2020
Country: Portugal
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded at Amper Tone Studio, in Oslo, Norway, on November 25th, 26th and 27th, 2019, by Bard Ingebrigtsen, and Kim Lillesol.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"The band Chrome Hill is back, and wow, what a record they have made! Once again with the kind of attitude of a fearless newcomer: "This is Chrome Hill", says the cover title of this new opus. But Chrome Hill is far from any newcomer! Asbjorn Lerheim, Atle Nymo, Torstein Lofthus and Roger Arntzen keep changing the parameters and inner aspects of their music from record to record, and they have dug deeper inside the purpose of playing Americana songs, in their case a mix of Appalachian folk, Delta blues and cowboy rock, within a jazz frame and feeling.

No American musician could do it this way - only a group of foreigners (these guys are from Norway) would have the necessary cultural distance to arrive at something like this. And if it sounds so natural, it's because we're facing some of the very best sound creators around, people with big ears, full knowledge of what they do and an incredible musical imagination. You don't want to miss it!"-Clean Feed



"Scandinavian jazz rock noir. This is the basic mood of the album "This is Chrome Hill". The album is full of contrasts and inspired by cinematic and musical moods. Think Twin Peaks and Tom Waits. Death. Life. Light. Darkness. Contrasts. Phases of life. Not one special event, but the sum of many. The songs have a greater seriousness and darkness than on previous releases. 2020 has been a different year. At the same time, they end with a song that carries a hope in it. With the song "Light", they want to put an end to something big and important. It gets better. It needs to get better.

The contrasts are reflected in the music. Chrome Hill has a strong connection to Japan and have been touring in the land of the rising sun for years. A beautiful but tense country where the contrasts are drawn to the extreme. There they have played with Japanese musicians several times and these experiences have also inspired this record. From a calm zen- like atmosphere in a completely quiet park with beautiful bridges and trees, to Shinjuku's crazy, almost nightmarish game bumps.

Asbjørn Lerheim, Atle Nymo, Torstein Lofthus and Roger Arntzen keep changing the parameters and inner aspects of their music from record to record. They have dug deeper inside the purpose of playing Americana songs, in their case a mix of Appalachian folk, Delta blues and cowboy rock, within a jazz frame and feeling. No American musician could do it this way, only a group of foreigners from Norway would have the necessary cultural distance to arrive at a masterpiece like this."-Chrome Hill

Also available on vinyl LP.

Artist Biographies

"Asbjørn Lerheim: Norwegian guitar player and composer, situated in Oslo from age 19. Born in Ålesund, 1977, and raised in Langevåg. Started playing guitar at age 12, after some years on the flute and some not- so- hard efforts on trying to learn to play the piano. Different bands, singing in the local "ten-sing" choir", a general inspiration from all the professional musicians from Langevåg and a familiy where the music was an integrated part of the everyday life, it was no really no other alternative than playing music. Later high school music studies in Ålesund, and listening to several concerts in Ålesund at the jazzclub, pointed out an interest towards the world of improvisation and jazz, after having played mostly blues and rock music before. After haven been chosen to join a masterclass at the Molde International Jazz Festival at age 17, with Django Bates, Arve Henriksen and Helge Sunde, he was convinced that to go on further with playing the guitar and writing music what was he wanted to do.

After high school studies, he moved to Gjøvik, for one year at Viken Folkehøgskole, with further music studies. He moved to Oslo at age 19, for music studies at the University of Oslo, and later the Norwegian Academy of Music. Here he studied with musicians and teachers like Nils Olav Johansen, Jon Eberson, Torgrim Sollid, Håkon Storm- Mathisen, Sidsel Endresen and Rob Waring. Joined several bands in this period, amongst others oj trio, formed by trumpet player Ole Jørn Myklebust. This trio released the album "Breaks Even" in 2001, and did approximately 100 gigs the following years. In this period he also did gigs at several jazz clubs in Norway, and was also touring with the Norwegian Concert Institute with different musicians. He also seriously began working with his own compositions at this time, and started the still active quartet Damp with Jørgen Munkeby, Roger Arntzen and Torstein Lofthus in 2000. In 2001 Damp were picked out from one out of four bands in Europe to represent Norway under the "Avignon Jazz Contest" in France. Damp released the albums "Mostly Harmless (Songs)" in 2003, and "Hoatzin" in 2005 .

He also were one of the formers of the group Subtonic, who did several tours in Norway. The group also played at the Vilnius Jazz Festival in Lithuania. Subtonic were one of the first bands being sponsored by the Norwegian oil company Statoil in collaboration with the Oslo International Jazz Festival . The band existed from 2002- 2006, and released the album "In this House" in 2003.

In 2005 he got a cultural grant from the Norwegian Fund For Performing Artists, and went to Boston and New York for a month, taking lessons with Mick Goodrick, Jon Damian, Bob Moses and Ben Monder. He was also touring in Norway with New York saxophone player Jon Gordon, Håkon Mjåset Johansen and Roger Arntzen in 2006.

Asbjørn Lerheim has worked as a professional musician, composer and teacher in Oslo the last 10 years, and are right now focusing on Chrome Hill and Quite Quiet Project. He is also now working as a teacher at Oslo Private Musikkskole, Fjellhaug Internasjonale Høgskole and Universitetet i Oslo."

-Asbjorn Lerheim Website (http://asbjornlerheim.com/Biography.html)
3/13/2024

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

"Studied music at the University of Oslo from 1998-1999 and at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo from 1998-2006. He is known from the piano trio In The Country, who was awarded "Young Jazz Musicians Of The Year 2004" in Norway. The trio has released three albums on the Norwegian indie-label Rune Grammofon to much acclaim. He is a regular together with Shining-leader Jørgen Munkeby with the noise-rock-jazz-quartet Chrome Hill and has teamed up with Chrome Hill-drummer Torstein Lofthus as two thirds of Håvard Stubø Trio. He has also worked with downtown NYC icon Marc Ribot and pedal-steel guitarist Bob Hoffnar, and other international artists such as Neil Metcalfe, Terry Day, John Russell, Sidsel Endresen, Susanna Wallumrød og Stian Carstensen."

-Ballrogg Website (http://www.ballrogg.no/bio.html)
3/13/2024

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

"Torstein Lofthus (born 10 March 1977, in Øystese, Kvam, Norway) is a Norwegian drummer and composer, married to Hege Lofthus (b. Sørvig, 1981), and known from bands like Shining, Elephant9, Mathias Eick Band, D'Sound and Ebersson/Zanussi/Lofthus.

Lofthus has had a major influence on Norwegian music through studio work, live concerts and teaching at Norwegian Academy of Music and at University of Agder (the Faculty of Fine Arts). Based in Oslo, he now tours Norway and Europe with different bands and artists after finishing his master at the Norwegian Academy of Music spring 2006. He plays several genres, well known with both jazz and pop music. He has been the most sought drummer in Norway recent years, if not on tour with Vamp, Jarle Bernhoft, Oslo Gospel Choir, Mathias Eick or Marit Larsen, he collaborates with Maria Mena, Kurt Nilsen, Torun Eriksen, Bertine Zetlitz, Silje Nergaard, Eivind Aarset, D'Sound, Noora Noor, The Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Jon Eberson and Per Zanussi, to mention a few, both in studio and on stage."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torstein_Lofthus)
3/13/2024

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

"Atle Nymo (born 9 June 1977 in Valnesfjord near Fauske, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz musician (tenor saxophone and bass clarinet), and the younger brother of Jazz saxophonist Frode Nymo. He is known for his contributions with the orchestras Motif, one of his main projects, and Trondheim Jazz Orchestra in which he has worked with Jazz greats like Pat Metheny and Chick Corea.

Nymo participated in "Bodø Big Band" under his teacher Henning Gravrok, and was later educated at the Jazz program at Trondheim Musikkonservatorium, and has also played in Håvard Stubø's Quintet North. The later years He has played with Ole Morten Vågan's band Motif where he was to be named "Young Jazz Comets" 2001 at Copenhagen Jazz Festival. In "next MGN Trio" he cooperates with Mats Monstad and Ketil Gutvik, and in the latter band "Gutvik5". Otherwise, and also played with Kaizers Orchestra.

Nymo also has his own album release with "Atle Nymo & Frode Nymo Quartet" (Håkon Mjåset Johansen drums and Ole Morten Vågan bass). In his own band "Atle Nymo Quartet" he cooperates with Vigleik Storaas (piano), Magnus Forsberg (drums) and Ole Morten Vågan (bass). The first mentioned played in Quintet with guest Roger Kellaway (piano), and they released an album Inner Urge in 2001 with concert recordings from "Oslo Jazz Festival". Together with Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and Håkon Mjåset Johansen he made the album Complete communion in 2006, and with the Swedish trumpet player Magnus Broo as the fourth member, the group was called IPA and they have released the albums Lorena (2009), It's A Delicate Thing (2011) and Bubble (2013). He is also involved in tow other band projects "Saxwaffe" (Frode Nymo, Klaus Holm, Eirik Hegdal, Espen Reinertsen) and "Juxtaposed" (Petter Vågan, Erik Nylander, Ole Morten Vågan)

Nymo is a frequently used big band musician and is attending such as the drummer Børre Dalhaugs "Big Band Blast" (2004) and trombonist & composer Helge Sundes "Denada" (2005), and was from 2002 to 2003 a member of Geir Lysne Listening Ensemble. He also played in Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, and attended the orchestra's cooperation projects with Chick Corea in 2000/2001 (Moldejazz) and Pat Metheny in 2003."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atle_Nymo)
3/13/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. Clockwork 6:07br>
2. Limbo 4:20

3. Ascend 3:10

4. Interlude 4:11

5. 10-4 6:51

6. Particle 2:48

7. Within 5:34

8. Light 4:44

Related Categories of Interest:


Clean Feed
Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
European Improvisation, Composition and Experimental Forms
Quartet Recordings
New in Rock Forms
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