HÅVARD STUBØ QUARTET

SPRING ROLL INSOMNIA (BLGCD016)

Released 08.04.11

Exciting new music on this second outing from Stubø´s Scandinavian dream team!
The band has been touring extensively since their critically acclaimed, Norwegian Grammy-nominated debut album Way Up (Way Down) (BLGCD009), and as the title suggests, they´ve done several tours in Asia. Their hard work has clearly paid off: the band´s music is even more distinct than on their debut album, yet somehow it seems more adventurous, effortless and free. The cornerstone of the album is Stubø´s three-piece Bjørnfjell Suite, though two strong contributions by Zetterberg open and close the album, complementing Stubø´s writing beautifully. The result: fortyfive exhilarating minutes of fresh, modern jazz music.

WAY UP (WAY DOWN) (BLGCD009)


For Bolage´s ninth release, guitar player Håvard Stubø has put together his dream band, featuring some of Scandinavia´s strongest players. Stubø has composed a brand new reportoire for the band, and this debut album was recorded while they were touring in Norway in March 2009. The result: groovy acoustic jazz, inspired by Eddie Harris, Wayne shorter, John Scofield and Jim Hall, but also with clear references to newer Nordic/European jazz. The album also features two beautiful originals by Torbjörn Zetterberg.

NRK Jazzradio commented on the band´s recent radio recording at Oslo Jazz Festival 2009:

”Amazing interplay– things just exploded – and Riisnæs outdid himself.
It was truly a fantastic evening”. Erling Wicklund


Knut Riisnæs – saksofon
Regarded by many as the Norwegian sax player, Riisnæs established himself as one of Norway´s leading saxophonists in the sixties, originally inspired by bebop, 50s modernism and John Coltrane. His recording debut was with Karin Krog/Public Enemies in 1966. Riisnæs´signature sound has since been heard on many important Norwegian records, such as Terje Rypdal´s Bleak House (1968), Egil Kapstad Syner (1967), Østerdalsmusikk (1975), and with Radka Toneff (1977). He has won the Norwegian Grammy twice, for Flukt (1981), and together with Jon Christensen for Featuring John Scofield and Palle Danielsson (1992).

Torbjörn Zetterberg – double bass
Torbjörn Zetterberg was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1976. Torbjörn has released seven albums as a leader, and two of them were nominated for the swedish Grammy: "Förtjänar Mer Uppmärksamhet" (2004) och "Krissvit" (2005). During his years as a professional musician, he has worked with such artists as Carlos Garnett, Marcus Strickland, Bobo Stensson, Rebecka Törnqvist, Stefan Sundström, Nicolas Payton, Ron Blake, Nicolai Dunger, Benny Bailey, Hilde Marie Kjersem, Benny Golson and Mark Murphy, to name a few.

Håkon Mjåset Johansen - drums
Established himself from an early age as one of Scandinavia´ most active drummers. He has won the Norwegian grammy with the bands Urban Connection and Come Shine, and has been touring and recording with artists such as Jan Garbarek, Michael Brecker, Steve Grossman, and Chick Corea. He is active in many notable bands, for example Motif, Maryland and Håvard Wiik Trio.

Håvard Stubø – guitar
From Narvik, Northern Norway, born in 1977. Recognized as one of Norway´s finest jazz guitarists.
Works regularly with several bands, most notably JUPITER featuring Jonas Kullhammar, Wes! w/ Daniel Franck and Håkon M. Johansen and Jazz & Fly Fishing (www.jazzandflyfishing.com), a TV-documentary project about jazz and flyfishing which also features Blue Note recording artist Joona Toivanen. Has worked with many prominent musicians such as Jimmy Owens and Arve Henriksen, and substituted in Tomasz Stanko Quintet. Currently lives in Oslo.


From the reviews of Way Up (Way Down):

”This is a fire-breathing group that cooks mightily”
Cadence Magazine (US)

”This is jazz that with a catchiness normally found in pop music – a happy bulldozer that runs over any obstacle, possesses you and says ”let´s party”. (...) Eight songs later I´m left feeling slightly dizzy by the total treatment Håvard Stubø Quartet has given me, immedeately aching for more.”
Lira (SE)

”Guitarist Havard Stubo is one of the freshest talents working in the contemporary Scandinavian scene (...) a groove that's overflowing with fresh, new ideas in jazz (...) music that bursts out right away with an immediate appeal, even to anyone new to the music of Stubo and his associates”
Dusty Groove (US)

”Distinct and dynamic – a radiant album from this new quartet.(...) An album to be counted among this year´s finest releases.” Terje Mosnes, Dagbladet (NO)

”Amazing interplay – things just exploded – and Riisnæs outdid himself. It was a truly fantastic evening.” Erling Wicklund on Norwegian state radio about the quartet´s release concert at Oslo jazzfestival.