Eik Trio
Biography Eik Trio
Ole Fredrik Norbye
I grew up in Northern Norway and started my piano career at the age of six. At the age of 16 I moved away after working as an organist in my home town for several years. I then embarked on music studies and completed my piano training at the Grieg Academy's jazz programme. During this time I had private studies with the country's leading teachers in both jazz and classical piano, as well as study stays in New York with teachers such as Jason Moran, Connie Crothers and Vijay Iyer, Marilyn Crispell and Frank Kimbrough.
During my studies and in the years since, I have been fortunate enough to perform with a number of Norwegian and international artists, but also performed a number of concerts in my own name. Currently I am a lecturer in piano at NLA University College and the Norwegian Academy of Music.
Lecturing and consulting activities
In addition to my education in music, I also have an MBA in management. This means that I have a professional background from two very different worlds. I combine this in my work as a consultant for organisations and businesses where I give lectures and workshops on topics such as creativity, innovation and leadership.
In my lectures, I use the piano and my musical background to create unique experiences for my clients.
Elisabeth Karsten
is a Norwegian singer and songwriter alternating her musical performances and sound between melodic jazz and pop music.
She was born in Skien, Telemark where she from a very early age begun classical, modern, show and jazz ballet training and performances.
Due to the various explorations of styles within both ballet and singing she started to create her own music and her search for one open and alternating emotional sound that could sum up her favorite experiences within the different musical arenas. She started collaborations with various musicians, performed in clubs, concerts halls and churches.
In 1999 she got a record contract with Kirkelig Kulturverksted which led to her debut album FLUX, recorded in both Norwegian and English and distributed globally.
In the same period of time she commuted between USA and Norway over a period of six years. In the States, she primarily cooperated with Miami Sound Machine and had live concerts in clubs.
After returning to Norway on a permanent basis in the early 2000, she gradually got severely ill and went through numerous hospital stays and surgeries. It was a long and difficult time that lasted for years. Personally, Elisabeth Karsten has described this, as her inner Pilgrims fare, and during this time, lots of new music and lyrics were written. Her music now to be released, is framed with elements of subtle insights she has had and now uses the landscapes of music to express.
Some of her collaborations: Arild Andersen, Celio de Carvalho, Pål Thowsen , Tore Brunborg, Rolf Lislevand, Bendik Hofseth, David Cabrerra, Rune Klakegg, Bjørn Klakegg, Kyrre Frizner, Daniel Eriksen, Frode Barth, Gunnar Dale, Håvard Rem, Chema Vilches, Andreu Jacob, Andre Kassen , Jon Øystein Rosslandand many other.
Her projects with Andreu Jacob has mainly been live concerts and soundtracks in Art & Symbiosis for instans for: Ian Brodie, Gotfried helwein, Thomas Todd.
Further on she has been invited as guest to NRK radio and TV in shows, TV Norge, P4, Radio Grenland and other media arenas.
John Børge Askeland
masters both the electrical bass guitar and the upright bass, and is a sought after instrumentalist and instructor for a wide variety of studio and live projects in Norway and abroad. Askeland has toured with Sissel Kyrkjebø and collaborated with Jan Groth, Hallgrim Bratberg and Benedicte Torget.
