Særingfest

Solberg and Nilssen-Love are best known for their championing of free improvisation and the most avant-garde edge of experimental jazz. They bring the best acts to the stage in Kongsberg, so expect a night of wild partying and intimate moments. 

Doors open 18:00 / Concert start 19:30

On the programme:
Agnes Hvizdalek / Joe McPhee / John Butcher / Pascal Niggenkemper / Ståle Liavik Solberg
Mat Maneri / Randy Peterson
Susana Santos Silva / Kaja Draksler
Arashi (Akira Sakata/ Johan Berthling/ Paal Nilssen-Love)

Agnes Hvizdalek / Joe McPhee / John Butcher / Pascal Niggenkemper / Ståle Liavik Solberg

A combination of musicians from both sides of the pond: Joe McPhee, who has been at the front of the avant-garde scene for over 50 years; John Butcher, a British legend in the small world of free jazz; Austrian vocal improvisation artist Agnes Hvizdalek; Pascal Niggenkemper, a German/French bassist (based in New York) who makes even the most hardened avantgarders seem conventional; and Ståle Liavik Solberg, one of this evening’s curators, who in addition is a very busy drummer who, in addition to his many collaborations, is just about to release his solo debut recording, “True Colours”.

Mat Maneri / Randy Peterson 

Violinist Mat Maneri (son of saxophonist Joe) has long been active on the jazz scene, working with prominent musicians such as Cecil Taylor and one of our other guests tonight, Joe McPhee – as well as drummer Randy Peterson, who has collaborated over many years with Manieri sr and jr.

Susana Santos Silva & Kaja Draksler 

Portuguese trumpeter Susana Santos Silva is considered one of the strongest emerging voices in contemporary jazz. She has played in Norway many times over the last few years, and is currently enjoying success with the groups Fire! Orchestra and Life and Other Transient Storms. This evening she performs with Slovenian pianist Kaja Draksler, who is at present based in the Netherlands where she collaborates with the best musicians out there!

Arashi (Akira Sakata/ Johan Berthling/ Paal Nilssen-Love)

Arashi means «storm» in Japanese – and this group’s name is no misnomer. Saxophonist Akira Sakata has been one of Japan’s leading musicians for over four decades and has worked with a variety of musicians. Over the last few years he has been collaborating with two of our favourite Scandinavians – Paal Nilssen-Love og Johan Berthling.

Nilssen-Love has been messing around with some of the world’s biggest names in free-impro since the mid-nineties. Over the last few years he has (among many other projects) led his own band, Large Unit – as well as being one of our curators tonight.

Johan Berthling has his own reputation as a badass free-jazzer with groups such as Nacka Forum, LSB og Sten Sandell Trio to defend this evening. We expect to be completely wrecked by the end of Arashi’s set tonight.