Kongsberg big band celebrates 1995-2015
Kongsberg Storband is an important part of the active jazz environment in Kongsberg. In 2015, it has been in existence for 20 years - and that must of course be celebrated! The big band milieu had been rather fallow for several years when the association Ung Musikk took the initiative to form Kongsberg Storband in 1995. Per-Einar Løvgren was musical director for many years and an important person for the big band's development. Now, Jon Gunnar Tovsrud has been the band's driving force and inspiration for several years, and he has done, and continues to do, a formidable job. Kongsberg Storband always has many young musicians. It also means that there has always been a certain pull through in the crew; the young people usually go from Kongsberg to get an education. But all along there have been some solid pillars in the band who have ensured continuity. The band delivers fresh, rocking and swinging big band music.
Kongsberg Storband has always had a good collaboration with Jazz Evidence and Kongsberg Jazzfestival. It has played at a number of concerts under the auspices of Jazz Evidence, and every single year it spreads happy and good tones beyond Festivalkongsberg. A preliminary highlight was the concert at Kirketorget in 2014 with guest soloist Marian Aas Hansen. Then the band played for 800 very satisfied audiences.
A striking number of good jazz musicians come from Kongsberg, and the big band has largely contributed to that. Musicians who today are prominent in both Norwegian and international jazz have received musical education in Kongsberg Storband, e.g. Morten Qvenild og Christian Meaas Svendsen. Now Kongsberg Jazzfestival wants to emphasize the importance this big band has had, and invites you to an anniversary concert at Kirketorget in 'prime time' on Saturday 4 July. And this will be a very special concert, because a number of musicians with a past in the big band and who are now making their mark in Norwegian jazz life, will appear on stage during the concert. Marius Hoven, known from Christianssand Ensemble, is writing a new composition for the band and will be a soloist himself. Morten Barikmo arranges a composition for the vocalist Oda Westley. We also get to hear the guitarist Magnus Grimnes, and very likely we will get a bass meeting between Christian Meaas Svendsen and the big band's current bassist Øystein Skjelstad Østensen. And don't overlook surprises!
