Featuring: Sidsel Endresen David Sylvian Nils Petter Molvær Arve Henriksen Audun Kleive Eivind Aarset Origami Ios
Album: "Crime Scenes"
Released August 21 2006
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
Brian Eno at Punkt 08
Brian Eno is confirmed for this year’s Punkt Festival (Kristiansand, Norway, 4-6 September). Eno comes to Punkt 08 with his audio-visual installation ”77 Million Paintings for Punkt”. The installation opens at the Sørlandet Art Museum on Thursday 4 September. Brian Eno will also give a lecture on Friday 5 September, together with Jon Hassell.
In addition to the Eno installation and single concerts on Thursday 4 September (artists to be announced later), Punkt 08 consists of two full days of concerts and live remixes at the Agder Teater, on 5 and 6 September.
Central musicians at Punkt 08 are the British composer/bass player Gavin Bryars (with guests John Potter from the Hilliard ensemble, Anna Maria Friman of Trio Mediaeval and Norwegian trumpeter Arve Henriksen), British ”folktronica”-artist Leafcutter John featuring drummer Seb Rochford, Norwegian saxophone wizard Håkon Kornstad, young Norwegian “chamber jazz” trio Splashgirl, the acclaimed German ”zen-funk-band” Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin, and Portuguese artist Rafael Toral.
Legendary american composer/trumpeter Jon Hassell (who returns to Punkt for the third time, with his new band and a new ECM album to be released in early 09) opens Punkt 08 with a specially composed piece called NEAR FAR – Bells in Kristiansand: a sonic treatment of the bells of Domkirken (Kristiansand’s town church).
The Live Remix concept (that all Main Stage concerts are immediately remixed in a stage/studio environment called the Alfa Room) is the core of the Punkt festival. The Live Remixes are performed by Punkt’s ”core personnel”, a group of musicians, producers and remixers which grows year by year. At Punkt 08 this core consists of Sidsel Endresen, Nils Petter Molvær, Audun Kleive, Eivind Aarset, DJ Strangefruit, J. Peter Schwalm (who will also give a concert at the Main Stage, with visual contributions from video artist Sophie Clements), Arve Henriksen, Jan Bang and Erik Honoré. As always, this musical laboratory is open for new and exciting constellations.
New this year is a collaboration with Norwegian traditional music festival Árinn, with a program that consists of, among others, Nils Økland, Unni Løvlid and Vidar Lande.
Punkt 08 is the fourth Punkt Festival. All About Jazz wrote the following about last year’s festival:
“With a more varied and international roster of artists, it’s become an even richer laboratory for first encounters and a wealth of new ideas. For a festival that can accommodate a capacity of only 500 people at one time, it’s an ambitious celebration without precedent.”
“77 Million Paintings for Punkt” is produced by Lumen London Ltd and Wom Live S.L. For more info, visit www.lumenlondon.com.
Punkt Live Remixes vol. 1: Sidsel Endresen/Jon Hassell
We're currently finishing the work on an album that will consist of two of the best Live Remixes from the Punkt Festival: 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). Musician and visual artist Russell Mills has designed the cover, in collaboration with the Punkt "in-house designers" Alf Solbakken and Nina Birkeland. The album will be released on Jazzland (date and other details to follow).
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", 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".
Currently working on: Planning the Punkt 08 festival in Kristiansand and Punkt "mini festivals" or Live Remixes in Britain, India and Germany.
Festival: The annual Punkt Festival in Kristiansand, Norway, curated by Bang/Honoré. Punkt 08 takes place 3-6 September 2008.
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.
Hej Punkt och stort tack för vänskapen. Hoppas ni har en skön sommar! Kolla gärna in Meadowmusic. se, en ny mp3-blogg, där vi tillsammans med andra i nätverket Meadow lyfter fram ny svensk musik. /Pär
hi you folks of PUNKT! it seems to be a really great idea, the way you treet music and sound, the way you use modern communication, global networking and all that stuff, that has been misused so far for profit-belongings only! and the result is just INSPIRATION! thank you for that – i try to see you somewhere in germany! take care, martin
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Punkt 2008 pa internasjonal turne - fantastisk! Bare husk pa at London ikke er den eneste centrum av universum i Stor Britannien! F.eks. (tysk/australisk electro/nu-wave duo) Dyko valgte a gjore sin debut UK konsert her i Norwich (ost England, der jeg bor i oyeblikket) istedenfor i London. De tok ogsa Wolfgang Flur (Kraftwerk) med pa scenen. We're not worthy!
