Jazz Articles

Solveig Slettahjell: Antologie

by John Kelman
August 13, 2012

It's been two years since Solveig Slettajhell's Tarpan Seasons (Universal Music Norway, 2010), and in the intervening years she's been a little busier than usual, taking time off to give birth to her first child. Delivering a thoroughly captivating duo showcase with In the Country keyboardist Morten Qvenild at this year's Jazzahead! in Bremen, Germany--playing music largely culled from Antologie--it was clear, however, that family responsibilities haven't stopped the Norwegian singer from further stretching the concept she's been honing in ...

Jokleba: Jokleba! / nu jok?

by John Kelman
June 26, 2011

Jøkleba Jøkleba! / nu jøk? Universal Music AS, Norway 2011 (1992) It was the show of the year. When veteran bassist Dave Holland had to pull out of his performance at Norway's Vossa Jazz 2011 due to a serious family illness, the festival approached another veteran with a desperate plea for help. From 1991-96, Jøkleba was a Norwegian collective that wasn't quite yet a super group, but has ultimately proven to be one: keyboardist ...

Solveig Slettahjell / Slow Motion Orchestra: Tarpan Seasons

by John Kelman
May 9, 2010

From a simple idea, great things can sometimes come. When Solveig Slettahjell formed Slow Motion Orchestra for a 2001 performance that became the 15-piece group's eponymous first recording on Norway's Curling Legs, the premise was simple: take a collection of songs from the Great American Songbook, and slow them down. Way down. But over the course of three albums and an eye-opening performance at Kristiansand's 2007 Punkt Festival, the Norwegian singer and her trimmed-down quintet proved that slow, powerful and ...

Kristin Asbjornsen: Wayfaring Stranger - A Spirtual Songbook

by Eyal Hareuveni
December 7, 2006

Kristin Asbjørnsen Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook Universal Music Norway 2006

Norwegian vocalist Kristin Asbjørnsen is gifted with a voice that sounds quite southern: deep and lustrous, with some hoarseness, lots of passion and a wide range. Her spiritual songbook Wayfaring Stranger demonstrates these qualities beautifully, as well as her impressive control of tone, color and phrasing.

Asbjørnsen began her recording career a decade ago with the all-female vocal quartet Kvitretten, ...