Håkon Mjåset-Johansen Quartet feat. Chick Corea
Håkon Mjåset Johansen belongs to the 1995 cohort from The jazz line at NTNU in Trondheim and established himself as one of the country's finest and most stylistically versatile young drummers in the late 1990s. He was a strong contributor to the establishment of the "young jazz environment in Norway" which, originating from Jazzlinja, resulted in groups that are still gaining recognition on international jazz scenes. This environment released a unique musical chemistry that is expressed in countless groups Håkon Mjåset Johansen is represented in. The playful improvisation is a trait he carried with him from his childhood musical home. He first became known as a member of the trio Urban Connection, named "Young jazz musicians of the year" in 1998. In the years around the turn of the millennium, he also played in, among other things, the quartet come shine (the best-selling jazz band on record 2002/2003) and in 1999 helped start the band Motif, which he is still a part of. Other bands where he is a regular member today are Maryland, IPA, Urban Connection, Håvard Wiik Trio, Ensemble Denada, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, Håvard Stubø Quartett, Steinar Raknes Quartett, Svein Olav Herstad Trio, Solid !, Excess Luggage, Kjersti Stubø Quartett and We Love Wes. Håkon Mjåset Johansen has also toured with Steve Grossman and Jan Garbarek.
When Mjåset Johansen was asked what kind of concert he envisions, he said:
“I've had a wild idea! What if I put my most important drummer colleagues on stage, along with the world's worst bass players. Then I would sit in the hall myself and watch them sweat!”
Mjåset Johansen has instead chosen to put together an ensemble of musicians he knows well, and has invited an old acquaintance. The Trondheim Jazz Orchestra's humble beginnings were the so-called "miracle concert" at Moldejazz in 2000, where a handful of musicians from the Conservatory of Music at NTNU brought their very Chick Corea as a guest soloist. Since then, they have toured together several times, and when Håkon asked Corea to contribute to his award-winning concert, there was no doubt. Thus, we can welcome one of jazz's absolute superstars back to create new magical moments at the Kongsberg Jazz Festival.
Chick Corea became a megastar as a band member with Miles Davis, and has been considered one of jazz's tone-setting performers since the late 60s. He has contributed to the development of jazz in all the years he has been around, through bands such as Return To Forever and electric and acoustic groups. The vital 70-year-old is still up to date with new projects and constellations, and has always been concerned with raising new voices.
For the award-winning concert, Håkon Mjåset Johansen brings together Chick Corea with the Austin, Texas-based bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flåten and the Swedish sax star Jonas Kulhammar, so there's no doubt that this will be a night of action!
