Saxophone player Klaus Ellerhusen Holm and bass player Roger Arntzen have joined forces and created the duo Ballrogg. Their self-titled debut-album was released in Norway in March 2007 and was met with good critics in both the Norwegian press as well as the American. With just one year gone by since the release Ballrogg is already pointing forward and is working on their next album. After touring the last year in Europe the duo has moved farther away from the American avantgard jazz to a more freely European contemporary world of sounds. Ballrogg is now focusing even more on sound and interferens and is balancing between the acoustic bass-sax-tone and fully distorted amplification.
This is what the record label Bolage says about Ballrogg debut album:
It is a true joy to hear two accomplished and daring young players interpret classics from the free jazz/ avantgarde repertoire, including works by Eric Dolphy, Jimmy Giuffre and Ornette Coleman. Three songs are composed by the band members them selves. The transparency of the duo format gives the music a rare purity, and really makes the quality of the songs shine through. Exploring yet lyrical, this music is fresh, challenging and strikingly beautiful.
Klaus Ellerhusen Holm (sax, clar) is leader of his own group Klaus Holm Kollektif, which was awarded "Yong Nordic Jazzcomets 2003". He is playing free-improvised music with the Norwegian trio Murmur and has worked with international artists such as Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Raymond Strid, Axel Dörner og Mattias Ståhl. He has been touring festivals and jazzclubs in several countries in both Europe and America.
Roger Arntzen (double bass) is known from the piano trio In The Country, who was awarded "Young Jazz Musicians Of The Year 2004" in Norway. The trio has released two albums on the Norwegian cult-label Rune Grammofon to much acclaim. He is a regular with Shining-leader Jørgen Munkeby with the quartet Chrome Hill and has teamed up with Chrome Hill-drummer Torstein Lofthus who makes two thirds of Håvard Stubø Trio. He has also worked with downtown NYC icon Marc Ribot and pedal-steel guitarist Bob Hoffnar.
Background:
The duo had its debut concert in October 2006 at the new cult-frijazz-underground-free-impro venue Sound of Mu in Oslo. Same month Ballrogg played several concerts in London, as a duo and Roger Arntzen together with musicians such as guitarist John Russel (UK), flute player Neil Metcalfe (UK), and bambus flute player Terry Day (UK). In the spring 2008 Ballrogg was touring in the east cost and northern part of the US and in the September/October 2008 Ballrogg did a 6-city tour in Europe.
Livedates
22.10.09 - The Hague (Wonderwerp - Loos Studio), Netherlands
20.10.09 - Madrid (Cruce), Spain
07.08.09 - Vadsø (Varangerfestivalen, Varanger Panorama), Norway
20.02.09 - Oslo (by:Larm - Oslo Kongressenter), Norway
06.12.08 - Oslo (Nasjonal Jazzscene - Victoria), Norway
05.10.08 - Utrecht (SJU Jazzpodium - U-experimental), The Nederlands
02.10.08 - Cologne (Kulturbunker), Germany
01.10.08 - Amsterdam (Zaal 100), The Nederlands
30.09.08 - Berlin (Total Art Space), Germany
25.09.08 - Stockholm (Glenn Miller Café), Sweden
24.09.08 - Stockholm (Glenn Miller Café), Sweden
03.04.08 - New York, NY (Monkeytown), USA
02.04.08 - Washington, DC (Blues Alley), USA
01.04.08 - Columbia, SC (Columbia Museum Of Art), USA
30.03.08 - Chicago, IL (The Hungry Brain), USA
28.03.08 - New York, (Goodbye Blue Monday), USA
28.03.08 - New York, (The Norwegian Seamen..s Church), USA
26.03.08 - Oslo, (Biermannsgården), Norway
06.03.08 - Oslo (Café Mono Q), Norway - RELEASE CONCERT
06.03.08 - Oslo (Bare Jazz), Norway - PRE-RELEASE CONCERT
23.10.07 - Oslo ( [sic!] Sagene Kulturverksted), Norway
18.10.06 - London (Battersea Art Center), UK
17.10.06 - London (The Klinker), UK
15.10.06 - London (The Red Rose - Neil Metcalfe/Roger Arntzen), UK
06.10.06 - Oslo (Sound of Mu), Norway
Hi, sorry to barge in here like this, but we..ve just uploaded some new songs, you..re welcome to come and listen. You won..t regret it! More details on the release of our new album will follow, Stay tuned!
-Juxtaposed
just stopping by to see if you're interested in our project....
We've started a collaborative radio station - and we're looking for people to contribute to our output....have a look, have a listen and join up if you'd like to join in!!!
hei roger beklager at jeg har vaert "fravaerende" her er spilleliste fra wkcr (89.9 fm new york) soendag. Kjempefin plate!
Intro: Eventyrhagen- Kirsebærlunden Arve Henriksen- Green Water Kyte Kristensen- Horpa Mats Eden- Backahasten Mum- Sunday Night Just Keeps Rolling Adolf Stark- Kehto Laulu (Cradle Song) Kent- Sverige Truls ørpen- Kjempehallingen Kirsten Bråthen Berg- Litle Fuglen Brothomstates- Adozenaday Dvergmål- Stevleik Various Artists from Kingosangur- I Bibelen star, at Naaman Mats/Morgan Band- Please Remain Seated Sondre Bratland- Store Store Gud Ragnhild Furholt- Jeg Lagde Mig Saa Silde Magne Eggen Haugom, Trond Westberg- Stabbmarsj Monica Zetterlund- Bossa Nova Medley: Stockholm ar en javla stad Jan Johansson- Brannvin ar mitt enda gull Arve Moen Bergseth- Sørger du endnu, min sjel Hans Wendl, Aina Kemis- Blå Tonar Fra Lom Various Artists from Kingosangur- Sorrig og Glede Ballrogg- Ball Bjørn Eidsvåg- Ein Fin Liten Blome Trad.- Liti Kjersti og Elvekongjen Vasen- Tiliander Menuetter Trad.- Kråkevisa Rojan Jonas Eriksson- Gratlaten Per Midtstigen- Fanitullen Various Artists from Kingosangur- Det Var Jomfru Maria Kemialliset Ystavat- Lentavat Sudet The Savage Rose- Bryllup Various Artists from the Kalevala Heritage-Tulen Synty/The Birth of fire Philemon Arthur and the Dung- In Kommer Gosta Lau Nau- Johdattaaja Joleen Alf Prøysen- æille har ett syskjenbaan paa Gjøvik Truls ørpen- Gamal Springar fra Numedal and Raudstakken, Springar fra numedal Kim Hiorthøy- Forskjellige Gode Ting Kim Andre Rysstad- Dei Frearlause Menn In the Country- 0883 Oslo Ole Olsen Fykse- Min Sjel og Aand oppmuntre dig Olov Johansson- Polska Efter Erlandsson The Savage Rose- Den døde by/Modebutikken Plyndres Karin Krog- Bånsull Bjørk- Isobel