SNØ

Ingar ZACH (percussion), Espen REINERTSEN (tenor saxophone), Eivind LØNNING (trumpet), Frédéric BLONDY (piano)

Excerpt from the concert at Rendez-Vous Contemporains - eglise Saint-Merry, Paris

May 30, 2014

Sound engineer : Augustin Muller

"Listenning to SNØ is a mesmerizing experience.
Extraordinary deepness and infinite delicacy.
An enchanting world that takes us from the water's depths to the frozen steppes."

Ingar ZACH

In the 1990s Zach played within Chateau Neuf Spelemannslag and 'Harnihomba', while studying music at the University of Oslo (1993) and composition on Jazz program at Trondheim Musikkonsevatorium (1994–97).[2] Within the trio 'Tri-Dim' (1997–2000) he released two albums together with Håkon Kornstad (saxophone) and David Stackenäs (guitar). With the steel guitarist Ivar Grydeland he established the record label Sofa, releasing improvisational music (2000), a collaboration that led to a Master's degree in improvisation (2004) and the trio Huntsville including with Tonny Kluften (five albums, 2013).

Zach also collaborated in a duo with free jazz guitarist Derek Bailey (1943–2005), the Norwegian ditto Anders Hana, within the Norwegian trio 'No Spaghetti Edition' (four releases), and in the two orchestras Batagraf and Magnetic North Orchestra led by Jon Balke. In addition Zach has played on releases by Karl Seglem and Carl Petter Opsahl. He lives in Madrid (2004),from where he runs the record label Sillòn of solo albums (subsidiary of Sofa, which is now headed by Grydeland).

http://ingarzach.com/

Espen REINERTSEN

Espen Reinertsen (b. 1979), living in Oslo, has studied the extended techniques for the saxophone for several years. This has been put to use in different constellations, most of all in the duo Streifenjunko with trumpeter Eivind Lønning, a duo which has played numerous concerts all over the world in the last few years. He is also a member of Christian Wallumrød Ensemble, and the improvising quintet Koboku Senju with Eivind Lønning, tubaist Martin Taxt, guitarist Tetuzi Akiyama and no-input-ist Toshimaru Nakamura. In addition he has worked with Sidsel Endresen, Michel Doneda, Keith Rowe and Kjell Bjørgeengen, and he is a regular workhorse in the Trondeim Jazz Orchestra, playing various commisions by Norwegian and international composers.

http://www.espenreinertsen.no/

Eivind LØNNING

Born 1983, living in Oslo, Eivind Lønning is one of the most prominent and active young musicians on the Norwegian creative music scene, playing in bands like Streifenjunko, Christian Wallumrød Ensemble, Motif, Koboku Senju, and Trondheim Jazz Orchestra.
Eivind grew up playing classical trumpet, his education contains a jazz bachelor from the Trondheim Conservatory and a master degree in improvised music from the Academy of Music in Oslo. He is experienced in both jazz and classical music, and has developed a very personal sound with unusual melodic qualities.
In the duo Streifenjunko with sax player Espen Reinertsen, Eivind Lønning has worked with modern improvisation and extended playing techniques for the trumpet. They have worked closely together for many years to present a truly unique repertoire, a mix between composed structures and improvisations, and have collaborated with Keith Rowe, Tetuzi Akiyama, Toshimaru Nakamura, Jim Denley, Christian Wallumrød, Sidsel Endresen and video artist Kjell Bjørgeengen.
During the last few years, Streifenjunko have played more than 100 concerts all over the world, including Japan, USA, South-Africa, Australia and most of Europe.
Streifenjunko released their debut cd «No Longer Burning» in 2009 on the record label Sofa. In 2010 the duo recieved the prestigious Young Lindeman Award. In 2012 they released their second album, «Sval Torv», on Sofa.
In 2011 Eivind also started playing solo performances, he has done tours in Scandinavia and performed at the opening concert of the Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival in 2011.
In 2008 Eivind replaced Arve Henriksen in the Christian Wallumrød Ensemble, and in 2009 he featured on the ECM release “Fabula Suite Lugano” which received remarkable critical acclaims, and was nominated for “The Nordic Council Music Prize 2010”.
As part of Trondheim Jazz Orchestra he has performed with Joshua Redman, Dave Holland and Chick Corea, and performed comissions by Eirik Hegdal, Per Zanussi, Kim Myhr, Ståle Storløkken, Motorpsycho and Erlend Skomsvoll. .

http://www.eivindlonning.no/

Frédéric BLONDY

On completing his studies in Mathematics and Physics at Bordeaux University, Frédéric Blondy dedicated himself full time to the piano, firstly as a jazz pianist and subsequently as a student at the Bordeaux National Conservatory. Since moving to Paris he has worked with Marie-Christine Calvet at the "International Piano Center", refining a body-based approach to the instrument.

As an improviser, Frédéric Blondy has performed in many festivals and venues in Europe, North America, Middle East and Asia, working with, amongst others Paul Lovens, Rhodri Davies, Lê Quan Ninh, Michel Doneda, Joëlle Léandre, Urs Leimgruber, Thomas Lehn, Daunik Lazro, Radu Malfatti, John Tilbury, Otomo Yoshihide, Mats Gustafsson,.... and developed a thorough work with ensembles like Hubbub, Ethos.

http://fredericblondy.net