Norwegian Snow on Tour in New York
Norwegian Snow
Siri Nilsen, Arne Hiorth, Helge Nysted, John Børge Askeland, and Thomas Hvale will be touring New York in December 2009. They will give concerts and be promoting the critically acclaimed CD “Snow”, as well as presenting Siri Nilsens debut album, which was released in October 2009.
During the time interval of December 9-11, Norwegian Snow will, in
cooperation with local musicians, arrange a Norwegian/South African mini
festival called Mmino. This festival will include three concerts which is listed below. Other participants at the festival will among others include the New York residing musicians Eivind Opsvik and Bjørn Vidar Solli from Norway, and Ramon de Bruyn and Nicky Schrire from South Africa.
Norwegian Snow started up as a duo in 2005, when trumpeter Arne Hiorth and pianist Helge Nysted began the recordings that would end up as the critically acclaimed album “Snø” in 2006. The album was reissued as “Snow” for the international market in 2007, followed up by tours to London, Berlin and other cities in Norway and abroad. In the fall of 2006 Hiorth and Nysted were joined by bass player John Børge Askeland and drummer Thomas Hvale. Another dimension was added to the group in the spring of 2008, when vocalist Siri Nilsen joined in. The group now does both instrumental and vocal performances.
Siri Nilsen grew up with influence from jazz, folk music and other
genres, and she has been recognized by the Norwegian press as one of the most promising young singers on the Norwegian music scene. During the fall of 2008 Siri received the prestigious Grappa newcomer award, which
includes a contract for her debut album.
Helge Nysted received classical piano training from an early age, and developed a love for jazz. Helge runs the music production company Dryhill Productions together with his brother besides being active as a freelance and session musician.
Arne Hiorth is a renowned Norwegian trumpet player, instructor, arranger and band leader. Since 1999 Hiorth has been actively involved in musical projects in South Africa.
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.
Thomas Hvale has been playing the drums for more than 20 years together with several of Norway’s leading improvising musicians. Hvale has played on a number of sessions and in a variety of genres both live and in studio.
The group will be on tour in New York the folllowing dates:
December 9, 1PM: Performance at the annual Christmas Lunch at the Norwegian Seamen’s Church.
December 9, 8PM: Concert with Norwegian and South African musicians at Ibeam, Brooklyn.
December 10, 7PM: Concert at the Norwegian Seamen’s Church.
December 11, 8PM: Concert with Norwegian and South African musicians at the Zinc Bar.
December 13, 11AM: Participation at the Sunday Service, Norwegian Seamen’s Church.
December 13, 5PM: Participation at the Jazz Vespers, Saint Peter’s Church
December 8, 4-6pm: Arne Hiorth will be participating in a workshop at Long Island University together with professor Mike Rossi from UCT, with a focus on South African jazz.
Source: Norway.org
