Jaga Jazzist

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Jaga Jazzist
Tauron Nowa Muzyka 2014 - Jaga Jazzist (02).jpg
Jaga Jazzist at Tauron Nowa Muzyka 2014 in Katowice, Poland
Background information
Origin Tønsberg, Norway
Genres
Years active1994–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]

Contents

Biography

Jaga Jazzist at Tauron Nowa Muzyka 2014. Tauron Nowa Muzyka 2014 - Jaga Jazzist (01).jpg
Jaga Jazzist at Tauron Nowa Muzyka 2014.

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.

Jaga Jazzist at Vossajazz 2014. Jaga Jazzist at Voss 2014.jpg
Jaga Jazzist at Vossajazz 2014.

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 live in Hamburg 2011. Jaga Jazzist (Hamburg, Kampnagel 2011-04-03).jpg
Jaga Jazzist live in Hamburg 2011.

Jaga Jazzist released their album Starfire in 2015 on Ninja Tune.

Members

Current members

Past members

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Live

DVDs

Collaborations

Contributions

Related Research Articles

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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.

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<i>In the Fishtank 10</i> 2003 EP by Motorpsycho and Jaga Jazzist Horns

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mathias Eick</span> Norwegian jazz musician

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.

<i>One-Armed Bandit</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Jaga Jazzist

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.

<i>A Livingroom Hush</i> 2001 studio album by Jaga Jazzist

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lars Horntveth</span> Norwegian musician, band leader, and composer

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Horntveth</span> Norwegian musician and composer

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.

<i>What We Must</i> 2005 studio album by Jaga Jazzist

What We Must is the fourth studio album by the Norwegian band Jaga Jazzist. It was released 25 April 2005 by Ninja Tune.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Øystein Moen</span> Norwegian jazz pianist and composer (born 1980)

Øystein Moen is a Norwegian jazz pianist and composer known for his participation in the bands Jaga Jazzist and Puma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Even Ormestad</span> Musical artist

Even Enersen Ormestad is a Norwegian bass guitarist and music producer, known as a member of the band Jaga Jazzist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andreas Mjøs</span> Musical artist

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jørgen Munkeby</span> Musical artist

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.

<i>Live with Britten Sinfonia</i> 2013 live album by 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Line Horntveth</span> Musical artist

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".

<i>Starfire</i> (Jaga Jazzist album) 2015 studio album by Jaga Jazzist

Starfire is the sixth studio album by the Norwegian band Jaga Jazzist. It was released 1 June 2015 by Ninja Tune to positive reviews.

<i>The Stix</i> 2003 studio album by Jaga Jazzist

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References

  1. 1 2 "Jaga Jazzist Norsk Musikkinformasjon". Mic.no. (in Norwegian)
  2. "David Jeffries, Allmusic". Posted on Emusic.com
  3. "Entry". Indigoflow.co.uk.
  4. "The Mars Volta + Jaga Jazzist - Listen to Norway". Mic.no.
  5. "Jaga Jazzist - Pyramid". Jagajazzist.com.
  6. "Jaga Jazzist: Live with Britten Sinfonia". Allaboutjazz.com. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
Awards
Preceded by Recipient of the Open class Spellemannprisen
2010
Succeeded by
Preceded by Recipient of the Jazz class Gammleng-prisen
2015
Succeeded by
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