Two years has gone since Ola Kvernberg Trio released the critically acclaimed Night Driver. Since then, Ola has contributed to more than 15 albums and toured with more than 30 different constellations (Jimmy Carl Black, Joshua Redman, Erlend Skomsvoll, Thomas Dybdahl and Jo Nesbø, to mention a few.) I addition to this, he composed and recorded the full score for the movie "Nord" (Erlend Loe) - the only norwegian contribution at this years Berlin Film Festival.
Together with Steinar Raknes (double bass) and Erik Nylander (drums), his new record Folk continues to challenge the genres and take another step towards a both clearer and more personal direction. Folk is a double hommage - one for his musical roots, and one for his biggest inspirational source; people. The album consists of eight named musical portraits, and continues in the landscape of melancholy Night Driver established in 2006. On Folk, Ola once again shows his rare talent of building bridges between genres most people would consider being contradictions, and more than any of his earlier releases, Folk manages to capture the nearness, energy and playfullness that has trademarked the bands numerous concerts.
Ola Kvernberg Trio - Folk
Drøyt to år har gått siden en samlet kritikerstand la seg flate for Ola Kvernberg Trio's platedebut Night Driver. Ola har siden da medvirket på mer enn 15 plateinnspillinger og turnert med mer enn 30 ulike konstellasjoner (bla Jimmy Carl Black, Joshua Redman, Erlend Skomsvoll, Thomas Dybdahl og Jo Nesbø.) I tillegg har han komponert musikk til spillefilmen "Nord" (Erlend Loe) - årets eneste norske bidrag til den prestisjetunge filmfestivalen i Berlin.
På sin nye plate, Folk, bruker han sammen med Steinar Raknes (kontrabass) og Erik Nylander (trommer) sin musikalske spennvidde til å utfordre sjangergrensene ytterligere og styre musikken i en tydeligere og mer personlig retning. Folk er en dobbelt hyllest - en til sine musikalske røtter og en til sin største inspirasjonskilde; mennesker. Albumet består av i alt åtte navngitte musikalske portretter, og fortsetter i det melankolske landskapet Night Driver etablerte i 2006. På Folk viser Ola nok en gang at han har evnen til å knytte sjangre de fleste trodde var motsetninger sammen, og i større grad enn på noen av hans tidligere utgivelser har han greid å fange nærværet, energien og lekenheten trioen hans er kjent for fra sine mange konserter.
Reviews
- Christian Kretz/bruchsal.org "Scandinavian triumvirate at Enjoy Jazz"
- Varden/Olav Graasvold (5/6) "Super trio in free flight"
- Jazznytt/Lars Mossefinn - "..an obvious candidate for Album of The Year 2009.."
- GRUS/Fritjof Eide Fjeldstad: "..has the violinist developed a raffined, personal style of playing than few, if any, other jazz violinists can match in the world today."
- Chicago Reader/Peter Margasak/Nattjazz: "..the other knockout set came from violinist Ola Kvernberg's trio.."
- John Kelman/allaboutjazz.com "..if Folk is one of the best releases of 2009, the violinist's performance at Nattjazz stands as one of the festival's high points"
- Andreas Lagercrantz/Lira.se "..expressionistic playing with lots of melodic ideas.."
- Tom Jenssen/VOL.no "Norwegian trio-jazz at its best"
- John Kelman/allaboutjazz.com..: "..fiercely swinging.."
- Rated 5/6 - "..he is developing a stylistic base that seems natural for both him and his instrument."
- Rated 5/6 - "..another uniquely sounding power demonstration from the trio."
- Tore Vikan: "Demanding"
- Rated 5/6 - "Two years after the release of Night Driver the trio is back in excellent shape"
- Rated 6/6 - Concert review - "The composer and fiddler picks fearlessly and creatively from his sparkling innovative universe."
- Rated 5/6 - "The album contains melodious, improvised and dynamic jazz.."
- Rated 6/6 - "Ola Kvernberg displays himself as a band leader, composer and violinist with more matureness and authority than ever."
- Rated 5/6 - "the Trio has gotten their very own unique identity"
- The first Norwegian review of Folk, quoted critic Roald Helgheim: "There is a deep melancholy in his playing, and a musical diversity that puts him right at the top of modern jazz violinists."

