Steve Swell Quartet (with Frode Gjerstad, Jon Rune Strøm, Paal Nilssen-Love)

Steve Swell

Born in Newark, NJ, Steve Swell has been an active member of the NYC music community since 1975. His breadth of versatility has allowed him to tour and record with such mainstream artists as Lionel Hampton and Buddy Rich in the past, as well as more contemporary artists like Anthony Braxton, Bill Dixon, Cecil Taylor and William Parker. He has over 50 CDs as a leader or co-leader and is a featured artist on more than 125 other releases. He runs workshops around the world and is a teaching artist in the NYC public school system, focusing on special needs children.

Frode Gjerstad

Frode Gjerstad (born 24 March 1948) is a Norwegian jazz musician with alto saxophone as principal instrument, but he also plays other saxophones, clarinet, and flute. He has collaborated with Paal Nilssen-Love, Borah Bergman, Peter Brötzmann, Evan Parker, Derek Bailey, Bjørn Kjellemyr, Terje Isungset, William Parker, Sabir Mateen, John Stevens, Johnny Dyani, Kent Carter, and since 1979 has contributed to more than 50 recordings. Gjerstad played in the trio Detail together with the British drummer John Stevens from 1981–1994 with whom he released fourteen albums.

Frode Gjerstad has also collaborated with numerous musicians in various small groups, which has resulted in several albums, tours and festival recordings in Norway, the United States and Europe. A most long-lasting partnership in recent years has been the current issue of Gjerstad Trio where Frode plays with drummer Paal Nilssen-Love and bassist Øyvind Storesund. They debuted at Nattjazz in Bergen in 1999 and have released five albums.

Jon Rune Strøm

Born in Namsos, Norway, on January 29 1985, Jon Rune Strøm has emerged on the jazz and improv scene as a bass player with an extremely high level of energy and stamina. Taking inspiration from William Parker, Jimmy Garrison, Johnny Dyani and Gary Peacock among others, he is representative of a whole new generation of Norwegian bass players. Jon Rune works regularly with bands like Universal Indians, Frode Gjerstad Trio, Friends & Neighbors, Paal Nilssen-Love Large Unit, All Included and his own Jon Rune Strøm Quintet.

Paal Nilssen-Love

Paal Nilssen-Love is one of the Norwegian jazz scenes most influential and hard working drummers. Through his work in several bands and ensembles and through corporation with several of the giants in free jazz and improved, he’s been one of the spear points of the raw and energetic Scandinavian free jazz scene. Since the mid 90s Nilssen-Love has figured on more than 260 albums – 50 on his own label! He has been a central part of bands like Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet, Atomic, The Thing, The Quintet, Scorch Trio, Frode Gjerstad Trio among a dozen others and an important musical collaborator for musicians like Peter Brötzmann, Ken Vandermark, Akira Sakata, Arto Lindsay, Dave Rempis, Otomo Yoshihide, Michiyo Yagi.

Bandcamp