Frode Gjerstad Trio w/Steve Swell

This legendary Norwegian trio, featuring a cross-generational collaboration of some of the brightest lights from the Scandinavian scene, returns to the Elastic Arts stage, this time with a twist. They’ll be joined for their fall US Tour by New York trombonist Steve Swell, an apt counter voice to Gjerstad in the band’s front line.
Frøde Gjerstad Trio w/Steve Swell

Frode Gjerstad – reeds
Steve Swell – trombone
Johnny Ruun – bass
Paal Nilssen-Love – drums

9 pm / 2 sets

The well-traveled and nearly telephathic Norwegian trio of reedist Frode Gjerstad performing on alto sax and clarinet with drummer Paal Nilssen-Love and bassist Jon Rune Strom are joined by NY trombonist Steve Swell for this live performance.
“Gjerstad is a choice elicitor of out-of-the-ordinary elocutions, refusing gadgetry and reed-fueled bric-a-brac in favour of a strong sense of asymmetrical melody, trawling the improbable waters of curvilinear liberty in search of the most disparate notes, looking for composure while surrounded by havoc,” writes Paris Transatlantic Magazine about the Norwegian saxophonist Frode Gjerstad. A powerful force on the Norwegian free-jazz scene, Gjerstad has worked with Evan Parker, Borah Bergman, Peter Brötzmann, Sabir Mateen, William Parker, Derek Bailey and Han Bennink. In 1984, Gjerstad founded the Circulasione Totale Orchestra, a large ensemble with a rotating personnel that has included leading experimental musicians such as Louis Moholo-Moholo and Lasse Marhaug. Steve Swell has been an active member of the NYC music community since 1975. He has toured and recorded with artists as musically diverse Lionel Hampton, Buddy Rich, Anthony Braxton, Bill Dixon, Cecil Taylor and William Parker. He has over 40 CDs as a leader or co-leader and is a featured artists on more than 100 other releases. Paal Nilssen-Love, who has collaborated with Gjerstad since he was 15 years old, has worked with Ken Vandermark, Joe McPhee and Mats Gustafsson. Johnny Ruun has worked with Gjerstad’s Circulasione Totale Orchestra on numerous occasions. This new trio has thus far released three live recordings – MIR, East Of West and HideOut. The trio’s most recent release, At Constellation (Circulasion Totale, 2015) also features Swell.