Said about the Punkt Festival:
"With Punkt 06 wrapping up, a quick look back reinforces just how unique an event it is. Its core philosophies—live remixing, unhindered innovation, and an open sense of community extending beyond the musicians to embrace the audience, stage presentations and sound—distinguish it from virtually every other improvisation-based festival. The very fact that it has core philosophies at all is enough to separate it from most festivals, actually. Punkt represents the kind of informed, organized and inviting festival that others should watch to learn exactly how such an event should be done." - John Kelman (Read the full review at AllAboutJazz.com).
"Jan Bang and Erik Honore have devised a way of working with their live remix remit which pushes musicians into artistic decisions and creativity in such a way that audiences are an integral part of the artistic process. Musicians are changed and inspired by these situations, and audiences are compelled to confront their attitudes to music, to learn new ways of thinking while still being entertained. Technology is not simply an enabler here but an instrument to be played and nurtured by musicians, playing a vital role in global music history. The innovations of 2005 were remarkable. 2006 proved that Punkt is here to stay. Local audiences were made up of the knowledgeable, the curious and those who would not normally go to such events. The world's press was there complimenting the event not just for the music but for the outstanding way it was run. Punkt should be given the opportunities not just to develop within Norway but worldwide. It is an example to us all in the music business that major developments in music can only come from this position of trust and respect, coupled with the highest levels of creativity. I cannot now imagine a world without Punkt."
- Fiona Talkington, presenter/producer of the award winning music programme "Late Junction", BBC Radio 3
This year's Punkt Festival in Kristiansand, Norway is over, and what a great experience it was. For more info, see www.punktfestival.no .
Next, we're going to Mannheim, Germany to be a "festival within the festival" of Enjoy Jazz Festival (www.enjoyjazz.de). The artists we'll bring on Friday 30th October are:
20:00
Jon Hassell & Maarifa Street
remixed by Kammerflimmer Kollektief / Erik Honoré
21:45
Ensemble Modern
remixed by Jan Bang / Erik Honoré / Sidsel Endresen
23:30
Sweet Billy Pilgrim
remixed by J. Peter Schwalm / Eivind Aarset
Punkt Live Remixes vol. 1: Sidsel Endresen/Jon Hassell
Jon Hassell's Live Remix of Merriwinkle's concert in 2005 (together with Audun Kleive and Bang/Honoré), and Sidsel Endresen's Live Remix of Sweet Billy Pilgrim in 2007 (together with Bang/Honoré) are now released on CD. Musician and visual artist Russell Mills has designed the cover, in collaboration with the Punkt "in-house designers" Alf Solbakken and Nina Birkeland. More info here..
Punkt remix of J. Peter Schwalm/Brian Eno
The Punkt (Jan Bang/Erik Honoré) remix of the J. Peter Schwalm/Brian Eno track "No Orders" is now available for download here.
The Punkt CD "Crime Scenes" praised in AllAboutJazz:
"Bang and Honoré are masters at sonic conception, so regardless of how much is going on and how experimental things get, the music remains uncluttered and approachable. Their vision of electronica incorporates elements of world music, techno, spoken word and more into a genre-busting mix. By retaining a spirit of spontaneity that distinguishes it from the more simplistic view many have of music stemming from electronic means, they manage to shape Crime Scenes into a truly forward-thinking album.
Purists may balk, but Punkt is one vision of future music that, while awaiting greater recognition in North America, is already becoming a brand name elsewhere in the world." (The full review can be found at at AllAboutJazz.com.)
"Crime Scenes" released in Europe in May 07, through Jazzland/Universal. It is available already in Norway, and internationally by mail order or download. "Crime Scenes" is available in Europe via www.cdon.com and worldwide via www.cdplanet.no. In Japan, the album is available via www.bomba-records.com. In Norway, the record can also be ordered via Platekompaniet.
The album is also available for download on Bugge Wesseltoft..s website www.buggesroom.com and through I-Tunes.
ABOUT PUNKT:
Punkt is a range of projects initiated by Norwegian musicians/producers Jan Bang and Erik Honoré.
Punkt is also a festival in Kristiansand, Norway (See images from the Punkt festival in the pictures section)
Punkt now exists on CD, "Crime Scenes" was released August 21 2006:
PUNKT "Crime Scenes"
Tracklist
1. Map (featuring Sidsel Endresen)
2. Challenge
3. Angels (featuring David Sylvian)
4. Picket Fences (featuring Nils Petter Molvær)
5. Comfort
6. Her Ghost (featuring Sidsel Endresen)
7. Body Language (featuring Arve Henriksen/Audun Kleive)
8. Patience
9. Speechless
10. Bird's Eye (featuring Eivind Aarset/Sub-Z)
11. Residue (featuring Sidsel Endresen)
12. Reconstruction (featuring Nils Petter Molvær/Arve Henriksen)
13. Loss (featuring Origami Ios/Arve Henriksen)
Jan Bang and Erik Honoré a.k.a. Punkt have collaborated on the following projects:
Album productions: Punkt: "Punkt Live Remixes vol. 1: Sidsel Endresen/Jon Hassell", Arve Henriksen: "Chiaroscuro" and "Cartography", Anne Marie Almedal/Nils Chr. Moe-Repstad/Jan Bang/Erik Honoré: "Going Nine Ways From Wednesday", Arve Henriksen/Christian Wallumrød/Jan Bang/Erik Honoré: "Birth Wish", Punkt: "Crime Scenes", Velvet Belly: "Velvet Belly", Room: "Imaginary Borders"
Album tracks: Nils Petter Molvær, Mungolian Jet Set, Eivind Aarset, Bendik Hofseth
Remixes: David Sylvian ("Mother and Child" on "Camphor", "The Only Daughter" on "The Blemish Remixes"), Velvet Belly: "The Conversation Stops", J. Peter Schwalm feat. Brian Eno: "No Orders".
Film score: "Jakten på hukommelsen" (with Arve Henriksen)
Currently working on: Planning the Punkt 09 festival in Kristiansand and a Punkt "mini festival" in Mannheim, Germany.
Festival: The annual Punkt Festival in Kristiansand, Norway, curated by Bang/Honoré. Punkt 08 takes place 3-5 September 2009.
We promise to check out every booking request, but we cannot guarantee a reply. Small organization, hope you understand ...
Individual bios:
Jan Bang: Musician, producer from Kristiansand, Norway. Main instruments: Live sampling, programming. Member of Jon Hassell Group, Arve Henriksen trio, duo project with Sidsel Endresen and trio with Nils Petter Molvær and DJ Strangefruit. Has played with a range of improvisational artists. Four Norwegian Grammys as producer.
Erik Honoré: Musician, producer, author from Kristiansand, lives in Oslo. Main instruments: Programming, synthesizers, studio tools. Produced albums by Velvet Belly, Elsewhere, Claudia Scott and others, in addition to the Punkt projects. Norwegian Grammy for Velvet Belly's "Lucia". Stage music for the Norwegian National Theatre and Riksteatret. Published 3 novels, most recently: "Kaprersanger" (Gyldendal 2005).
Erik has a "producer page" here. There..s also a Myspace-site for his "singer/songwriter/laptop" project Elsewhere here.
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