(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
In Ny Tid on January 24, we had a larger post about free improvised music based on the All Ears festival. We wrote about a form of music on the borderland between African-American jazz and modern European concert tradition, where concepts such as "organized sound", "sound structures" and "rhythmic pulse" have replaced traditional jazz terminology.
The Norwegian record company SOFA has a pure program profile for free improvised music. When I consciously use the word "music" instead of "jazz", it is because in much of the music we do not find any familiar jazz tone or jazz phrasing, the two elements that are most important when we define music. I would characterize most of it as improvised European art music – though performed by jazz musicians.
Sofa and spaghetti
The record company has nothing to do with the furniture industry; the name was an impulsive invention from the saxophonist Håkon Kornstad to two Norwegian avant-garde artists who started the releases four years ago. The two were percussionist Ingar Zach and guitarist Ivar Grydeland. The 33-year-old Zach appeared in the environment around Oslo Jazzhus in the early 90s, later studied in Trondheim and became known through Chateau Neuf Spelemannslag, the groups Tri-Dim and No Spaghetti Edition. Kongsberggutten Grydeland was a relatively unknown name when he participated in the Tony Oxley Project at the hometown jazz festival 1999; recording from there became the company's first record, "Triangular screen" (Sofa 501), with Grydeland, bassist Tonny Kluften and the English free jazz veteran, drummer Tony Oxley.
Zach, Grydeland and Kluften are the three most launched musicians on Sofa. Tonny Kluften is the leader of a group called No Spaghetti Edition, a band that has existed for four years with varying ensembles from 7 to 13 musicians. In addition to the three in the core, tenor Kornstad, accordionist Frode Haltli, pianist Pat Thomas and singer Phil Minton have been frequent participants. Three records have arrived on Sofa; the most recent is called “Real time satellite data” (Sofa 513) and contains recordings from Kampen church in June last year. In my opinion free improvisation in pure European tradition, for long periods very quiet sound art.
From the same month comes a recording with Grydeland, Kluften and a German free jazz veteran, drummer Paul Lovens ("These six", Sofa 512). Lovens was a member of the legendary Globe Unity Orchestra, in its time a centerpiece of European avant-garde. In his innovative playing style, the jazz character is definitely present.
Jazz phrasing and jazz projections are also audible in the Swedish-Norwegian Sten Sandell trio. Pulsating and energetic music with elements back to Cecil Taylor. In addition to the pianist Sandell, the trio consists of bassist Johan Berthling and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love. Two records have been released on Sofa; the most recent is called "Flat Iron", recorded in October 2002 (Sofa 514).
Minimalist
The small format has become one of the record company's special features. Already at the first record release in September 2000, there was a duo record with the founders, "Visiting ants" (Sofa 502). In January this year, the sequel, "You should have seen me" (Sofa 515) came with two long tracks of free improvisation, one recorded in Oslo, one from Geneva.
In solo format, the record company offers as many as four releases. With great ingenuity, the soloists explore the possibilities inherent in the instruments; this expansion of well-known musical instruments is also one of the beneficial characteristics of improvisational music. The phenomenon Paal Nilssen-Love was first out with "Sticks and stones" (Sofa 505), then followed the organist Nils Henrik Asheim with 16 pieces for organ (507), the bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten with "Double bass" (511), and recently Ingar Zachs “Percussion music” (516). With the latest, the company has come up with 16 productions of spontaneous and creative music for people who are willing to open their ears.
An extra quality of Sofa's releases is the minimalist design of the album covers – in cardboard of course and with the least possible text. I do not have all the plates, but I reckon that Thomas Hukkelberg is responsible for the design of the first six, most of them equipped with abstract images on the front. Then Stoffer Ganes takes over the design, first with a series of six plates with a single common typeface, then for the time being four in an even more tasteful design over a common idea. A role model for record producers.
