The ensemble represents a long awaited forum for Brække to compose for a smaller chamber format, a kind of music rooted in modern jazz, with inspirations from both American and European Jazz influences the last 40 years, yet mixed with elements of classical Western music, rock, and hints of folk music. By August 2023 the band has performed 20 concerts since its start in the fall of 2019, - all over Norway and in Germany and Austria.

The musicians are: Øyvind Brække - trombone, Jørgen Mathisen - saxophones, Jacob Young - guitar, Bergmund Waal Skaslien - viola, Bárður Reinert Poulsen - bass, Erik Nylander -drums

The musicians in the group are all frequent instrumentalists and band leaders with projects on the Scandinavian Jazz scene as well as in Europe and other parts of the world. The album, entitled «From Now On» was recorded in Athletic Sound in Halden in South Eastern Norway, with engineer Dag Erik Johansen, and the final mix was done by Erik Nylander in his Monkey Bar studio. The mastering was made by Fridtjof Lindeman at Svenska Grammofon, Gothenburg.

«From Now On» is a collection of six pieces - for six musicians, all small considerations or remarks over our current times; there are reflections on the pandemic period; like a hymn inspired of the 1920s musically juxtapposed to our current 2020s, and the «Plexi Encounters» - a looped groove that rides down the plexi barriers we found in all shops were rund down hard. You also find other musical reactions over modern life the last few years throughout the album!

The music is solely written by Brække, in a melodic jazz landscape. The viola in the ensemble gives the most obvious connotations towards more Western classical music and the folk influences at times.

For more information use this email: jacob@jacobyoung.no

On one long day in the wooded hills outside Oslo at Øystein Sevåg’s Blueberry Field Studios, we improvised the music you now hear. Hopefully you get the mixture of cultures and traditions by three musicians listening at the edge of the worlds they know, towards an in-between-state that no one has heard before now. We don’t care about where to pigeonhole this music. We have come together from all over the world, and made something new together out of the moment.
Far away on other planets the aliens just might be listening,
tuning into the sounds of a distant place called Earth. Their techn-ologies are picking up an amalgamation of all music, the blending of sounds North and South, known and unknown. They say hu-mans exist, but no one can be sure. Until they detect our music. Then they know.

Øyvind Brække (50) is regarded as a hidden treasure on the jazz scene and one of the foremost trombone players and improvisers in Europe today - among Norways leading jazz musicians. He is known for his work with the ECM quartet The Source but also for his work with bigger ensembles like The Trondheim Jazzorkester. He has written and arranged music on commission for The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and Tommy Smith and worked as a soloist with musicians like legendary Chick Corea and The Prague Symphonic Orchestra in 2018 and composer for Arild Andersen, Håkon Kornstad, Tora Augestad, a.o.

Knut Riisnæs (73) is a legend on the Norwegian jazz scene. Widely regarded as one of Europes leading tenor sax players He received the Norwegian Grammy “Spellemannspris” in 1980 for his album “Flukt” and has participated on a long list of albums with Arild Andersen (ECM), Terje Rypdal, John Scofield/ Jon Christensen/ Palle Danielsson/ Knut Riisnæs Scandinavian Quartet, a.o.

Bergmund Waal Skaslien (53) has worked with Jo Strømgren Ensemble asa performer and musician, often in collaboration with Trondheimssolistene. He has performed with Nils Økland, Ola Kvernberg, Anja Garbarek, John Scofield, a.o. He has helped define the viola as an instrument splendid for improvisation on the Norwegian scene both in the contemporary music field but also in Jazz.

Jacob Young (49) he is regarded as one of the leading jazzguitarists on the European scene today. He has recorded three albums as a leader for ECM, toured with singer Karin Krog for years and his own Quintet with the Marcin Wasilewski Trio and Trygve Seim as members of his band. Toured the world with the Siril Malmedal Hauge/ Jacob Young duo project and worked as a sideman with other artists like; Bendik Hofseth, Manu Katche, Jon Christensen, Jan Erik Vold, Sidiki Camara, a.o.

Per Zanussi (45) has during the last 15 years been one of Norways leading jazz bassists, and has collaborated with a long list of musicians on the free impro scene alongside hi9s own projects The Zanussi 5. He also plays in Trespass Trio, MZN3 og Wibutee, Petter Wettre, Jon Eberson, Marilyn Crispell, Mette Henriette (ECM).

Erik Nylander - (40) A swedish citizen that recides in Norway and has worked on topp level as a freelance drummer for more than a decade with musicians like; Kobert, Ola Kvernberg Trio, Trondheim Jazzorkester, Steamdome, Waldemar 4. He received the Norwegian Grammy for the album Liarbird” i 2014.

Marte Røyeng (b. 1990) is a singer-songwriter and composer hailing from the Norwegian harbour town Horten. Her album debut «REACH» will be released on 24 May 2019 on Oslo Session Recordings. She has previously made a solid impression on audiences and music critics with the release of her EP «No One» (2017).

A voice genuine and clear, Marte Røyeng approaches pop music with a refreshing originality and eclectic musicality that has become her trademark. Her songs varies between the bluntly emotional and the intelligent and witty. She always leaves behind the sense of being inviting, yet somewhat secretive.

"Pull of the Moon" - First single off Marte Røyeng's debut album "Reach" (Oslo Session Recordings). www.marteroyeng.com Single out 3 May Album out 24 May

Urban Gardening is coming to town…stay tuned. It’s gonna be awesome!