Jaga Jazzist | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Tønsberg, Norway |
Genres | |
Years active | 1994–present |
Labels | Smalltown Supersound, Ninja Tune |
Members | Martin Horntveth Lars Horntveth Marcus Forsgren Even Ormestad Andreas Mjøs Line Horntveth Øystein Moen Erik Johannessen |
Past members | Mathias Eick Harald Frøland Ivar Chr. Johansen / Ravi Jonas Bendiksen Lars Wabø Mads Jansen Marius Hesby Thomas Viken Lars Erik Myran Jørgen Munkeby Håvard Myklebust Torgeir Audunson Bjørn Strand Sjur Miljeteig Morten Qvenild Ketil Einarsen Andreas Hessen Schei Nils Martin Larsen Anders Hana Stian Westerhus |
Website | jagajazzist.com |
Jaga Jazzist (also known as Jaga) is a Norwegian experimental jazz band, that rose to prominence when the BBC named their second album, A Livingroom Hush (Smalltown Supersound/Ninja Tune), the best jazz album of 2002. [1] [2] [3]
The core of the band are the brothers and the main songwriters, Lars and Martin Horntveth. Martin formed Jaga Jazzist together with Ivar Christian Johansen in 1994 while they still were in their teens, though Johansen later left the group. The brothers are also prominent figures of the Norwegian pop act The National Bank.
Jaga Jazzist nearly created a sensation with their debut album Jævla Jazzist Grete Stitz (1996), that contained playful, humorous jazz with elements of rap. The EP Magazine (1998) showed signs of the catchy, cinematic approach to jazz music they later became known for. The very young Lars Horntveth became increasingly involved in composing the music they played. [1]
After Magazine word spread about their fresh musical expressions and energetic live shows, and the band toured extensively before they signed a recording contract with Warner Music of Norway in 2000. The highly anticipated debut album for Warner, A Livingroom Hush, was released in 2001 and consists of a melodic and energetic mix of lounge jazz, cinematic themes and instrumental rock. The producer Jørgen "Sir Duper Man" Træen played an important role during the recording, and left his mark on the disc with his crackling electronics. A Livingroom Hush won the Norwegian music award Alarm Prize in 2002 and the same year was named Jazz Album of the Year by BBC listeners.
The band features trumpets, trombone, electric guitar, bass, drums, tuba, bass clarinets, Fender Rhodes, vibraphone and a rack of electronics, as well as strong melodies and rhythms. Talk Talk, Soft Machine, John Coltrane, Don Cherry, Aphex Twin, Stereolab, Squarepusher and Tortoise are frequently mentioned as sources of inspiration. Jaga Jazzist is widely considered to be one of the premier acts of the so-called nu-jazz movement of Scandinavia. Also, The Mars Volta cite Jaga Jazzist as one of their favourite bands. [4] Jaga Jazzist's studio album, One-Armed Bandit , was released on January 25, 2010, on Ninja Tune. [5]
In May 2013, Jaga Jazzist collaborated with the Britten Sinfonia to release Live with Britten Sinfonia on Ninja Tune, to a positive critical reception. All About Jazz's John Kelman wrote of the album:
"That Live with Britten Sinfonia was an album not necessarily intended to happen at the time of the recording only makes its release all the sweeter. This 35-piece marriage of Jaga Jazzist and Britten Sinfonia is capable of everything from earth-shattering power to refined beauty. With Britten conducted by the world-renowned Christian Eggen, Live with Britten Sinfonia is the vital document of an opportunity that no longer need feel missed by so many Jaga fans around the world—an album that, transcending their already significant accomplishments, demonstrates even greater potential for Lars Horntveth's writing and Jaga Jazzist's effortless (and faultless) performances." [6]
Jaga Jazzist released their album Starfire in 2015 on Ninja Tune.
The National Bank is a Norwegian rock/pop band, whose debut album was released in Norway in 2004 and featured the hit song "Tolerate".
Smalltown Supersound is an independent record label, founded in Flekkefjord in 1993 and now based in Oslo, Norway. It is dedicated to new forms of jazz, rock and electronic music.
Phanerothyme is the ninth full-length studio album by the Norwegian band Motorpsycho. It was released through Stickman Records (Europe) and Sony (Norway). It was also released in Japan through P-Vine.
In the Fishtank 10 is a 2003 EP by Motorpsycho and Jaga Jazzist Horns, recorded in 2002 during their European tour and released by the Konkurrent label in 2003. Motorpsycho did a handful of gigs with the horn section of Jaga Jazzist and used the opportunity to record their addition to the Fishtank series.
Mathias Eick is a Norwegian jazz musician, and the brother of the jazz musicians Johannes Eick and Trude Eick. He is mainly known from his releases on the jazz label ECM Records. His main instrument is the trumpet, but he also plays upright bass, vibraphone, piano and guitar. He has performed with several well-known music groups and musicians, e.g. Jaga Jazzist, Manu Katché, and the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra together with Chick Corea and Pat Metheny. Besides this he is also known for his collaboration with Norwegian singer-songwriter Thomas Dybdahl, and recordings with the Norwegian bands Turboneger, DumDum Boys, Motorpsycho, D'Sound and Bigbang.
One-Armed Bandit is the fifth studio album by the Norwegian band Jaga Jazzist. It was released January 25, 2010 by Ninja Tune to positive reviews. Compared to their earlier work, it features a substantial progressive rock influence. Different editions of the album carry different fruit symbols on the front cover.
A Livingroom Hush is the second album of Jaga Jazzist, released in 2001 by Ninja Tune under the authority of the Warner Music Group. The BBC named it the best jazz album of 2002. The album features ten instrumental songs, most of which having been composed by Lars Horntveth and Jørgen Munkeby.
Lars Horntveth is a Norwegian musician, band leader, and composer. He is the younger brother of tubaist Line Horntveth, but best known as a key member of the bands Jaga Jazzist and The National Bank, together with his brother Martin Horntveth.
Martin Horntveth is a Norwegian musician, composer and electronica artist. He was born in Tønsberg, and is the younger brother of tubaist Line Horntveth, but is best known as the drummer and key member of Jaga Jazzist and The National Bank together with his brother Lars Horntveth.
What We Must is the fourth studio album by the Norwegian band Jaga Jazzist. It was released 25 April 2005 by Ninja Tune.
Øystein Moen is a Norwegian jazz pianist and composer known for his participation in the bands Jaga Jazzist and Puma.
Even Enersen Ormestad is a Norwegian bass guitarist and music producer, known as a member of the band Jaga Jazzist.
Andreas Mjøs is a Norwegian musician, record producer and composer, known from a series of performances and albums within Jaga Jazzist. He is also on a number of other album releases both as performer and producer.
Jørgen Munkeby is a Norwegian jazz and heavy metal musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, known as the frontman in the band Shining and former member of Jaga Jazzist.
Live with Britten Sinfonia is a live album by Norwegian band Jaga Jazzist and English orchestra Britten Sinfonia. It was recorded in 2012 and released in May 2013 under Ninja Tune.
Jørgen Træen also known by his stage name Sir Duperman is a Norwegian record producer, musician and electronica artist from Bergen. He is best known for his work as a music producer and for the studio Duper Studio, which he runs together with Yngve Sætre.
Line Horntveth is a Norwegian musician, the sister of the musicians Martin and Lars Horntveth, married to the upright bassist Bjørn Holm, and known from a series of recordings within Jaga Jazzist.
Ensemble Denada or Norske Store Orkester is a Norwegian miniature big band run by "Østnorsk jazzsenter".
Starfire is the sixth studio album by the Norwegian band Jaga Jazzist. It was released 1 June 2015 by Ninja Tune to positive reviews.
The Stix is the third studio album by the Norwegian band Jaga Jazzist. It was released on 6 May 2003 by Ninja Tune to positive reviews.