Gjenskinn

Description

Nils Økland is interested in the journeys and dialogues of music across time and space, a music without national and traditional borders. At the same time, he is also very inspired by the local music of many places and often prefers old fiddlers and singers who have a unique personal playing style. The first concert with the Nils Økland Band took place in 2014, and since then, they have released the Norwegian Grammy-nominated album "Kjølvatn" on ECM and "Lysning" on Hubro, which won the award. Seven years have passed since their last release. On March 1, the highly anticipated album "Gjenskinn" (Gleam) is set to be released. The band has been working on the album for a long time, resulting in a coherent and genre-defying work inspired by influences from around the world. Nils Økland, known for his innovative playing style on the violin, Hardanger fiddle, and viola d'amore, comes from the tradition of folk music and is recognized internationally. He has collaborated with major orchestras, composed music for various media, and played on albums with renowned musicians. Additionally, he is a member of the rock trio Lumen Drones (ECM), whose latest release (Umbra) came out on Hubro, and he was a member of the improvisation group 1982 (Hubro), bridging folk, classical, and improvised music. The Nils Økland Band consists of several of Norway's top musicians: Rolf-Erik Nystrøm (saxophone), Sigbjørn Apeland (organ), Håkon Mørch Stene (percussion), and Mats Eilertsen (double bass). These musicians have individually collaborated with Økland for a long time, but many of them had not played together before Økland formed the band. Rolf Erik Nystrøm has been playing in the contemporary music trio Poing for several decades, in addition to being a soloist with major orchestras, performing with world and folk musicians, and in various jazz groups. Sigbjørn Apeland has a long history of collaboration with Økland. They often play in duo and also played in the group 1982 for ten years, alongside drummer Øyvind Skarbø. Percussionist Håkon Mørch Stene plays in the contemporary ensemble Asamisimasa and has also released critically acclaimed albums featuring music by Laurence Crane, Gavin Bryars, and Michael Pisaro on Hubro. Mats Eilertsen is the leading jazz bassist of his generation. He has played with several prominent jazz musicians such as Tord Gustavsen, Trygve Seim, Bendik Hofseth, and has released several albums under his own name on both Hubro and ECM. The Band - Nils Økland: violins and fiddle, Rolf-Erik Nystrøm: alto and baritone saxophones, Sigbjørn Apeland: harmonium and Fender Rhodes, Håkon Mørch Stene: percussion, vibraphone, and electronics, Mats Eilertsen: double bass.