Karl Bjorå’s Aperture
THE MOST OBVIOUS SOLUTION
Photo: Aleksander Lindås
Release: 2. november 2018
Bjorå has gathered three of the most outstanding improvisers and instrumentalists from the Norwegian jazz scene and made his first self titled album. The album is characterized by conceptual compositions performed with authority, ability and curiosity. It consists exclusively of Karl Bjorå’s compositions. The music acquires a feel of contrapunct and bitonality inspired by a number of rhythmical concepts and classical music from the mid 90’s, without excluding the musician’s individual expression. The title track The Most Obvious Solution starts off with an exploration of the string instruments’ natural overtones before guitar and drums enter with a complex rhythmical pattern. This is wrapped in a recognizable tonality and harmony which still gives the listener the sense of a natural flow, like if it’s the most obvious solution on how to relate to the melody. The compositions both challenge and compliment the idioms of the instruments, and presents the natural sounds of the instruments while still adding a certain nerve to the music.
Karl Haugland Bjorå (27) is a Norwegian guitarist and composer living in Oslo (NO). Bjorå has marked himself as a strong voice in the Norwegian and European scene for jazz and improvised music through his playing and composing. He plays a central part in bands such as Emmeluth’s Amoeba (Signe Emmeluth, Ole Mofjell and Christian Balvig), Megalodon Collective (Norwegian Grammy nominated 2016 & and winner of the Young Jazz Musicians 2016), Yes Deer (Anders Vestergaard and Signe Dahlgreen) and OWL (duo with Signe Emmeluth). He has also collaborated with artists such as Balazs Pandi, Linda Sharrock and Klaus Holm.
Musicians:
Karl Bjorå – guitar and compositions
Adrian Løseth Waade – violin, viola
Bárður Reinert Poulsen – double bass
Andreas Winther – drums and electronics
*Astri Hoffmann-Tollaas - cello on Winding Up, Preferably and Spiral
PRODUCTION // OF 138:
Produced by Karl Bjorå’s Aperture
Recorded in Øra Studio (Trondheim, NO) 16th - 18th of February 2017 by Karl Klaseie
Mixed and mastered by Karl Klaseie in Greener Mastering (Trondheim, NO)
Cover art by Øyunn Hustveit