The Squid's Ear Magazine


Friends & Neighbors (Roligheten / Johansson / Gronberg / Rune Strom / Ostvang): The Earth Is # (Clean Feed)

Referencing 60s free jazz (the band's name is from an Ornette Coleman album) and structuring their tunes with melodic heads that develop into intricate structures giving the players room for impressive soloing, this is the 5th album from the Scandinavian quintet of Andre Roligheten (winds), Thomas Johansson (trumpets), Oscar Gronberg (piano), Jon Rune Strom (bass), and Tollef Ostvang (drums).
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Andre Roligheten-tenor saxophone, flute, bass clarinet and bass saxophone

Thomas Johansson-Trumpet, flugelhorn and percussion

Oscar Gronberg-piano

Jon Rune Strom-double bass

Tollef Ostvang-drums and percussion


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UPC: 5609063105844

Label: Clean Feed
Catalog ID: CF584
Squidco Product Code: 31153

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2021
Country: Portugal
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded April 9th, 10th and 111h, 2021 by Dag Erik Johansen at Athletic Sound, Halden, Norway. Mixed by Ingar Hunskaar. Mastered by Fridtjof Lindeman. Tracks 1 and 6 by Tollef Østvang (TONO/NCB). Tracks 2 and 4 by Oscar Grönberg (TONO/NCB). Track 3 by André Roligheten (TONO/NCB). Tracks 5 and 7 by Jon Rune Strøm (TONO/NCB)

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"No, Roligheten, Johansson, Grönberg, Strøm and Østvang aren't newcomers in the Flat Earth Society. They're stating something much more exciting than a pizza-like world: that the Earth is music, with all its flats and sustains. That music as they love it is the Sixties and Seventies free jazz sound, the one invented by the likes of Ornette Coleman, Archie Shepp, Pharoah Sanders and John Carter. Energetic and melodic free jazz, to be more specific, with simple and suggestive tunes you can sing, as pop or folk songs, but with complex, multi-layered, improvised developments that can go to the extremes of rage and joy.

Friends & Neighbors are, as you know by now, a Scandinavian band, but they're as authentic and hot driven as the real thing, and we only can distinguish them from the music played 50 years ago because they stretch those ideas from the past to the limit and go deeper with the embraced expressionism, in a sort of hyper-realistic approach. Can the metaphor of something be more than that something? Check it for yourself."-Clean Feed


Artist Biographies

"Norwegian saxophonist, improviser and composer.

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. Especially his technique combined with the ability to improvise in very tight arrangements made the choice. He is disciplined - in control - and plays with an impressive rhythmic and melodic combination. He is a young talent!"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). Terje Mosnes wrote in the Norwegian Newspaper Dagbladet about the first record: "..sparkling solos and swinging hard drive, and two saxophonists that ardent each other to the most "harmolodical" deeds I can ever recall hearing from Norwegian musicians."The record ("Volume 1") was also awarded this year's record of 2010 by the Norwegian magazine Jazznytt.

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

André have played on festivals like Molde Jazzfestival, Kongsberg Jazzfestival, Oslo Jazzfestival, Norh Sea Jazz, Münster Jazz, Süd Tyrol Jazz, 12 Points, Dølajazz, Nattjazz, Jazzfest, Maijazz, Soddjazz, Vossajazz. And done several tours in Scandinavia, Germany, Poland, Czech, Slovenia, France, Italy, China and USA."

-Andre Roligheten Website (https://roligheten.com/about/)
3/13/2024

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)
3/13/2024

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)
3/13/2024

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)
3/13/2024

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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)
3/13/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. The Earth Is # 9:26

2. Father's Birthday 8:37

3. Halifax 9:02

4. Joseph 10:15

5. Salad Days 2:52

6. Sidelinja 3:58

7. Untitled 6:35

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
European Improvisation, Composition and Experimental Forms
Quintet Recordings
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Clean Feed.


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