Minimal Sondre Ferstad Ensemble

• 1 Romskip I 02:42
• 2 Junior 05:48
• 3 Pianomute 08:58
• 4 Johannea 03:24
• 5 Romskip II 00:57
• 6 Danijelu 05:28
• 7 Minimal 05:08
• 8 Kjellarsalme 04:58
• 9 Romskip III 02:49
• 10 Vesle 06:05
• Total Runtime 46:17

Info for Minimal

Sondre Ferstad Ensemble is an eight piece band combining a classical string quartet and a jazz quartet, led by Sondre Ferstad, who is one of few professional jazz harmonica players on the European music stage.

“Minimal” is the ensemble’s debut album (produced by Ola Kvernberg), and is a solid statement from a young harmonica player, whose bringing out a big and warm sound from the small instrument. The compositions unify calmness, friction, and a sophisticated way of surrounding melodies with a strong harmonic signature.

The music on “Minimal” reflects Sondre’s influences from choral traditions from church music and Norwegian contemporary jazz music. After recording the album September 2017, the project took an unexpected direction, as Danish/Norwegian author Lars Saabye Christensen became involved.

Sondre Ferstad, harmonica
Vegard Lien Bjerkan, piano
Morten Berger Stai, double bass
Wilhelm Westerman, drums
Stefan Penjin, violin
Oliver Leonhard Bailey Dyb, violin
Björn Guo, viola
Astri Hoffmann-Tollaas, cello
Ola Kvernberg, bouzouki, percussion

Sondre Ferstad Ensemble
is an eight piece band combining a classical string quartet and a jazz quartet, led by me. We released our debut album, "Minimal", september 2018 on AMP Music&Records. The music on this record reflects my influences from choral traditions from church music and Norwegian contemporary jazz music, and is created in collaboration with the exceptionally fine musicians i the ensemble. After recording the album in September 2017, the project took an unexpected direction as Norwegian author Lars Saabye Christensen became involved. Poesiscena has commissioned him to write poems for the music on “Minimal”, which will be performed by him together with the band, at Poesiscena in collaboration with Høstscena Teaterfestival in Ålesund, September 2018. Christensen will also join us on our release tour.

In my music, I'm trying to unify calmness and friction, and I always strive to surround melodies with a strong harmonic structure. We often play in quiet dynamics. There's something truly fascinating about keeping the volume down, even if you are a lot of musicians. This is, I guess, reflected in the album title, "Minimal", although the album also features more outgoing and energetic tunes.

Norwegian violinist, composer and producer Ola Kvernberg has produced the album - and I am forever greatful for his ideas and intense engagement that has benefited our music.

This album contains no booklet.