<\/p>\n
\u201dGl\u00f8detr\u00e5dar\u201d, the commissioned work for Vossajazz 2016, is a sort of \u201dback to the roots\u201d for Nils \u00d8kland. The area of Voss has been an important part of his musical development, in the 80\u00b4s as a student and later as the musical leader at Ole Bull Akademiet (1989-95). His time at the academy gave him important impulses that inspired his characteristic, personal style: the mix between jazz, free improvisation, contemporary music and folk music.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n “There have been numerous notable commissions at Vossa Jazz since the very first in 1983, but it’s hard to imagine there have been many quite as compelling as Nils \u00d8kland’s “Gl\u00f8detr\u00e5dar.”<\/i> \u2013 Ian Patterson, All about Jazz<\/p>\n In this work \u00d8kland holds true to his unique style with simple melodies and a sincere tone that go straight to the heart. At one moment it\u00b4s calm and meditative, the next we find ourselves in a rock universe with the distortion turned to max.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It has taken a long time from the premiere of the work in 2016 to the recording and release of the work:<\/p>\n \u201cI used all my energy to make a work that would hopefully make a good concert. I needed a long process before I was ready to work with the transition to an album, a totally different format\u201d.<\/i> \u2013 Nils \u00d8kland\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cGl\u00f8detr\u00e5dar\u201d is the finest example of compromises made between performers with strong voices that develops into extraordinary musical interaction. The music is primarily sketch based and played without notation, which means it has been developed through impulses from the musicians and inspiration from how \u00d8kland knows them:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI like to work with people over a long time so we can get to know each other musically. I\u00b4m not necessarily interested in the musicians\u2019 instruments, but their personalities. The most important thing is that we communicate well with each other.\u201d<\/i> \u2013 Nils \u00d8kland<\/p>\n The band is formed of musicians that each on their own has collaborated with \u00d8kland over a long time, but not all of them with each other before this project. Nils \u00d8kland plays with Per Steinar Lie and \u00d8rjan Haaland in Lumen Drones, Sigbj\u00f8rn Apeland, H\u00e5kon M\u00f8rch Stene, Mats Eilertsen and Rolf-Erik Nystr\u00f8m in Nils \u00d8kland band.In addition his brother Torbj\u00f8rn \u00d8kland features on this album, whom Nils has played with since they were young boys. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Nils \u00d8kland has released several solo albums on the labels ECM and Rune Grammofon, all of them critically acclaimed. He has played with several big orchestras, written music for London Sinfonietta, films, ballet and theatre. He has featured on albums with Christian Wallumr\u00f8d, Arve Henriksen, \u00c5sne Valland Norli and Bj\u00f8rnar Andreas. Nils \u00d8kland Band\u00b4s recording \u201cKj\u00f8lvatn\u201d (ECM, 2015) was awarded jazz album by the year by Aftenposten, nominated to the Norwegian Grammies and won a Folkelarm award. Their latest album \u201cLysning\u201d(Hubro, 2017) won the Norwegian Grammies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201dGl\u00f8detr\u00e5dar\u201d, the commissioned work for Vossajazz 2016, is a sort of \u201dback to the roots\u201d for Nils \u00d8kland. The area of Voss has been an important part of his musical development, in the 80\u00b4s as a student and later as the musical leader at Ole Bull Akademiet (1989-95). His time at the academy gave him important impulses that inspired his characteristic, personal style: the mix between jazz, free improvisation, contemporary music and folk music.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n