In The Country Sunset Sunrise

In view of the large number of outstanding Norwegian musicians, it can be easy to forget just how few people live in Norway, and how small and close-knit the music scene there is. Perhaps that is why Norwegian jazz musicians are so outgoing – a project with classical colleagues here, a pop gig there, when it comes down to it they're all friends. One good example of this is pianist Morten Qvenild. This 33 year-old from Kongsberg, who began in a big band before studying jazz at the Norwegian music academy in Oslo, has played with a remarkable variety of bands since then. The spectrum ranges from the acoustic metal-jazz quartet "Shining" and the jazz-rock bands "Jaga Jazzist" and "The National Bank" with the brothers Lars and Martin Horntveth, to the pop group "Ostenfor Sol", the formations of the s...

Morten Qvenild / hyper grand piano, electronics
Roger Arntzen / double bass, electronics
Pål Hausken / drums, percussion, vibraphone, electronics

Music written by Morten Qvenild
Arranged and produced by In The Country
Recorded by Ryan Freeland at Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, May 26 & 27, 2012
Assistant engineers David Schwerkolt and Ingar Hunskaar
Mixed and mastered by Ryan Freeland
Cover art by Carsten Höller, SOMA (Detail), 2010, Exhibition Central Station Hamburg, Berlin.