Arild Andersen solo

As one of the ‘big four’ in Norwegian jazz, bassist Arild Andersen is a constant driving force in exploring and developing the genre. Few other bassists have expanded the sound of the double bass as Andersen has done through effects and innovative techniques. This evening we celebrate his new solo album and the eternal quest for new music.

The bedrock

In many ways, it's the very bedrock of Norwegian jazz that you get to experience this evening. Arild has laid the foundation for many of Norwegian jazz's most important releases with a steady, warm and big bass tone. When the song calls for it, he stands out as a soloist who pushes the boundaries of the big instrument. As a composer, he has also played a key role in Norwegian jazz's continuous search for new territory.

Arild began experimenting with bass pedals, sounds and looping in a concert context as early as the 1970s. In a double bass context, this was something of a breakthrough. So it's more than 50 years of exploration and experimentation that form the basis of his new solo album on ECM, which will be released at the same time as the concert during the Bærum Jazz Festival.

How can one man and one double bass sound like an entire band, a string section, a percussion battery or an ambient soundscape? It's possible, but you almost have to be called Arild Andersen to do it well.