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Marius Neset

In April 2011 Marius Neset released Golden Xplosion, an album that led to the saxophonist and composer becoming one of the most talked about newcomers on the European jazz scene in recent years. At just 25 years old, he was described by Terje Mosnes in Norway’s Dagbladet as “the most talented Norwegian saxophonist since Jan Garbarek in the 1960s”, but it is the maturity in both his writing and playing, combined with the extraordinary energy and commitment he puts into every performance which really impresses.

Released on the British label Edition Records, and featuring a stellar lineup of Django Bates (keyboards), Jasper Høiby (bass) and Anton Eger (drums), Golden Xplosion won 5-star reviews from the Guardian, Telegraph and Irish Times in addition to rave reviews in Danish Magazine, Jazz Special and Norway’s Jazznytt, praising both the virtuosity and musicianship of the compositions and performance.

Born in Bergen, Norway, Neset moved to Copenhagen in 2003 to study at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory where he met British musician Django Bates, who became a hugely important figure in the early part of Neset’s career. Bates was quick to notice his talent, asking him to join his stoRMChaser big band and, later on, his small group Human Chain. Neset’s main project since 2005 has been JazzKamikaze. With its eclectic mix of jazz, rock, electronica and classical music, the group has had great international success playing concerts in Europe, Asia, North and South America and Africa.

In July 2011, Neset won the prestigious JazZtipendiat Prize, awarded to a musician of outstanding capabilities. This substantial monetary award will be used to create new music with the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra to be performed at Molde Jazz Festival in 2012.

Throughout 2011 Neset toured extensively throughout Europe, including performances at Molde, Copenhagen, Cork and Manchester Jazz Festivals as well as a hugely successful 8-date UK tour. His debut London concert at Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho in September, was recorded for national broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and saw every major UK jazz journalist attend to see him perform to a sell-out crowd.

With a nomination for best newcomer at the Danish Music Awards in November, a run of 30 European performance dates and the German release of Golden Xplosion planned for early 2012, in less than a year Marius Neset has developed into one of the leading new names in European Jazz.

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Album Review

Marius Neset: Geyser

Read "Geyser" reviewed by Chris May


Geyser is Norwegian saxophonist Marius Neset's third album with new-music ensemble London Sinfonietta. The piece was commissioned for the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, where this recording was made on September 3, 2022. As on the two previous albums, the Sinfonietta are joined by Neset's high-voltage jazz quintet with pianist Ivo Neame, vibraphonist Jim Hart, bassist Conor Chaplin and drummers Anton Eger. Geyser is a striking wide-screen work that justifies the use of the frequently ...

Album Review

Arild Andersen: Affirmation

Read "Affirmation" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


Il contrabbassista norvegese Arild Andersen è uno dei protagonisti di quella generazione di musicisti (insieme a Jan Garbarek, Terje Rypdal, Jon Christensen, Bobo Stenson, Edward Vesala) che grazie all'etichetta ECM, nel cui catalogo è presente con regolarità fin dal lontano 1971, ha contribuito all'affermazione del jazz scandinavo fino ad allora praticamente sconosciuto. Per il suo più recente progetto ha costituito un nuovo quartetto chiamando a sé alcuni musicisti, anch'essi norvegesi, appartenenti a generazioni successive alla sua, ma già completamente affermati ...

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Album Review

Arild Andersen Group: Affirmation

Read "Affirmation" reviewed by Karl Ackermann


For almost half a century, Arild Andersen has been a pillar of Manfred Eicher's ECM label. His ECM albums have traversed dissimilar territory, from the brooding Shimri (1976), the folk-influenced Sagn (1990), to the orchestral grandeur of Live at Belleville (2008). At seventy-seven, the Norwegian bassist offers the almost entirely improvised Affirmation. Andersen is joined by tenor saxophonist Marius Neset, pianist Helge Lien, and drummer Håkon Mjåset Johansen. Andersen recorded with Lien on The Rose Window (Deutsche Media Productions, 2016) ...

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Album Review

Arild Andersen Quartet: Affirmation

Read "Affirmation" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Arild Andersen began his association with ECM Records in 1975, with the release of his album Clouds In My Head. He has released over 20 more recordings in a leadership role for the label, and has participated in even more albums--for ECM and other labels--in a sideman role, joining artists as diverse as pianists Bobo Stenson, Ketil Bjornstad and Yelena Eckemoff, saxophonists Jan Garbarek and Tommy Smith. trombonist Roswell Rudd and singer Sheila Jordan. He has proved himself a prolific ...

6
Album Review

Marius Neset: A New Dawn

Read "A New Dawn" reviewed by Ian Patterson


The title of Marius Neset's seventh release as leader on the ACT Music label is an optimistic allusion to a post-Covid-19 world and the eventual return to a semblance of normality. But it could also reference a new chapter in the Norwegian saxophonist's career, as A New Dawn marks his first recording since resettling in Oslo after seventeen years in Copenhagen. In those years, in addition to stirring small ensemble outings, Neset produced breathlessly imaginative, orchestrally-framed albums such as Snowmelt ...

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Live Review

TD Ottawa Jazz Festival 2018

Read "TD Ottawa Jazz Festival 2018" reviewed by John Kelman


2018 TD Ottawa Jazz Festival Multiple Venues Ottawa, Canada June 21-June 26, 2018 For its 2018 edition, the 39th annual TD Ottawa Jazz Festival faced a number of significant logistical challenges. First, Confederation Park, which has traditionally been the location of its large, outdoor venue, a food court and number of shops where attendees can pick up CDs of the artist they just saw, T-Shirts and more, is currently under renovation and, therefore, ...

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Album Review

Marius Neset: Circle of Chimes

Read "Circle of Chimes" reviewed by Vincenzo Roggero


Prosegue con ottimi risultati la collaborazione tra il pluripremiato sassofonista norvegese Marius Neset e la prestigiosa etichetta tedesca Act. E va sempre più definendosi quella che sembra essere la qualità preminente del trentaduenne musicista di Bergen ossia la scrittura per formazioni di medie/grandi dimensioni. Se nel precedente Snowmelt era addirittura la London Sinfonietta a dar voce alle sue composizioni in Circle of Chime il quintetto che aveva dato alle stampe l'ottimo Pinball viene allargato a ottetto con l'innesto, tra gli ...

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“Twenty-five-year-old saxophonist Marius Neset is a marvel. He makes his instrument dance like a gazelle and soar like an eagle, and he’s an ingenious composer too” – Ivan Hewitt (Telegraph*****)

“Mark the name. At 25, this Norwegian saxophonist will surely be a major figure on the European jazz scene if this astonishing – and astonishingly personal – album is any indication”. Ray Comiskey – (Irish Times*****)

“Marius Neset combines Brecker’s power and Jan Garbarek’s tonal delicacy, but has a vision that makes all 11 originals on this sensational album feel indispensable, and indispensably connected to each other

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Geyser

ACT Music
2023

buy

Affirmation

ECM Records
2022

buy

A New Dawn

ACT Music
2021

buy

Snowmelt

ACT Music
2017

buy

Circle of Chimes

ACT Music
2017

buy

Pinball

ACT Music
2015

buy

Short Story

From: Affirmation
By Marius Neset

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