Pat Thomas & Kitchen Orchestra: Madad – commissioned work
One of the highlights from this year's Only Connect festival in Stavanger is coming to Kongsberg!
Together with the New Music Association, Kongsberg Jazz Festival has commissioned the work Help from the British composer and pianist Pat Thomas, which he has composed for the Norwegian Kitchen Orchestra.
The work was recently performed at Ny Musikk's Only Connect festival in Stavanger – and is described as one of the festival's highlights!
When: Pat Thomas og Kitchen Orchestra Join forces, anything can happen! With Thomas' groundbreaking ABJAD notation and the Orchestra's playful experimentation, the boundaries of improvisation and interaction are expanded. Help is a word with multiple meanings in Arabic – extend, support og expand, to name a few. The work Help takes these concepts to a new level – a concert experience where jazz meets the unpredictable.
British Pat Thomas started with classical piano at the age of eight, but became fascinated by reggae early on – and later fell deeply in love with jazz after seeing oscar peterson on TV at the age of 16. Since 1979 he has been a prominent improviser and collaborated with stars such as Tony Oxley, Okkyung Lee, Matana Roberts and Moor Mother.
He is known for his creative solo playing and his work in a number of exciting projects such as Black Top (with Orphy Robinson), Shifa (with Rachel Musson and Mark Sanders) and Ahmed (with Seymour Wright, Joel Grip and Antonin Gerbal). Thomas is constantly exploring new musical landscapes in collaboration with some of the most innovative names in contemporary music.
In 2014, he received the Paul Hamlyn Award, and in 2022, he received a prestigious fellowship from the Robert D. Bielecki Foundation – a well-deserved tribute to his unique artistry!
Kitchen Orchestra breaks musical boundaries by bringing together talented Stavanger musicians with international artists and composers in unique orchestral projects!
Through improvisation-based working methods and collaboration with renowned orchestra leaders, the ensemble has developed a distinctive sound and playing style that constantly challenges the relationship between individual and collective.
The orchestra has no permanent leader, but rather works with external artists and leaders from within its own ranks – to shape new music, expand its own flexibility and give each project its characteristic Kitchen touch.
Pat Thomas – Piano
Signe Irene Time – Vocals
Gunhild Seim – Trumpet
Kristoffer Alberts – Saxophone (soprano, alto and baritone)
Gro Austgulen – Violin
Olav Stener Olsen – Cello
Johan Egdetveit – Accordion
Dag Egil Njaa – Electronics
Vidar Schanche – Guitar
Thomas Bang – Bass
John Lilja – Bass
Dag Magnus Narvesen – Drums
Marius Munthe-Kaas – Drums
