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Jan Martin Smørdal

Acoustic / Experimental / Pop

Oslo

Billboard

For news, scroll down to "What's happening"


This list presents what I do, and some things I've done:

I compose, and write arrangements.

Acoustic Accident
Ever changing ensemble, with me as leader. First record released some years ago, as a large ensemble (15 musicians). Next record is in progress, and will show some changes both in style and ensemble. It will probably be released this fall or winter, once again on AIMrecords. The musicians: Eivind Lønning (trp), Espen Reinertsen (sax,fl), Morten Engebretsen (bcl), Sigrun Eng (vcl), Jo Berger Myhre (bs), Pål Hausken (dr) and me (gt).

Rockettothesky
Just listen to the album: "To sing you apple trees" (TrustMe records).

Navyelectre
The music of Jonas H. Sjøvaag; brilliant noisepop. Check out:
Navyelectre - The Mourning

Mattis Myrland
This guy is a never ending source to great songs and sounds. Together we are slowly producing his music, you'll hear some of it within this fall. You should be carefull with his songs; in their strangeness they immediatly glue to your ears. And they'll stay there.

Florebius
A lovely jazz quintet. We play mainly our own songs, but who says we can't do Kraftwerk, Nirvana, Schumann? Please check out our album "House of flour" (on Jazzaway records). Band members: Eivind Lønning (trp), me (git), Martin Taxt (tba), Terje Engen (dr) & Lena Nymark (voc, sax, fl)


Her real name is Jessica Sligter, an immigrant from Holland here in Norway. She sings beautiful. The rest of the band is Daniel Meyer Grønvold and me. Listen to her solo-recordings here on virb! We'll do some conserts this year, and record new songs. And in may we're recording together. You'll love it.

LUN
A group consisting of dancers and musicians. Made shows and chaos since 1999.

[sic!]
A monthly concert consept arranged by me and Håvard Volden at Sagene Kulturverksted in Oslo. Come listen, you'll never hear it again.

And I play solo concerts, and do impro conserts with nice people.

Shows - see all 11

Jul 27

Fredrikstad, Norway

w/Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen in Fredrikstad

8:00pm

Aug 8

Grimstad, Norway

w/Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen in Grimstad

8:00pm

Aug 9

Hemnes, Norway

w/Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen in Hemnes

8:00pm

Aug 21

Ålesund, Norway

w/Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen in Ålesund

8:00pm

Sep 27

Drammen, Norway

w/Jæ in Drammen (+ O-H.M & K.R)

8:00pm

Oct 2

Oslo, Norway

w/Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen in Oslo

8:00pm

Oct 4

Skien, Norway

w/ Jæ in Skien

8:00pm

Oct 9

Oslo, Norway

Premier performance on the Ultima festival: Wendy Greenberg - "Play me!"

12:00pm

Nov 7

Svalbard, Norway

w/Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen at Svalbard

12:00pm

Nov 14

Trondheim, Norway

Premier performance on the Fri Resonans festival: Kristian Lindberg - "I am so"

12:00pm

Nov 19

Oslo, Norway

Premiere performance with Oslo Sinfonietta; NMK jubileumskonsert

7:30pm

Blog - see all 6

Fantastic reviews for HLA May 15

Everybody seems to like Hilde Louise Asbjørnsens new recording "Sound your horn".

Thom Hell's new record - success Apr 16

The brilliant singer/songwriter is finally being hugely credited!

Recieved travel fundings Apr 16

Trips to Germany this summer

Choir piece performance in May Apr 16

"Me siglar ikkje same havet", a new short piece of mine, is also to be performed by the excellent Solistkoret.

Thom Hell's new album"God if I saw her now" Mar 3

Wonderful wonderful music!

Does the body make sense? Sep 3

New music added: "less-sense", a trio piece for soprano, clarinet in A and percussion.


What's happening?

This spring is going to be a sweet rush.

This year I'll do some concerts with Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen's band. I was sort of co-producing this record with Anders Aarum in January, and also played guitar. It was recorded on the beautiful island Giske, on the west-coast of Norway, you should visit this place!

I have just started working on the solo-piece for percussion, for the talented Australian Wendy Greenberg. It will be first performed on the huge contemporary music festival Ultima october this year, the 9th to be specific. I've been working with Wendy earlier on my trio-piece called "less-sense", commisioned by the brilliant soprano Silje Aker Johnsen.

During this summer/autumn I will finnish a solo piano piece for Kristian Lindberg. I started this some time ago, but finally it will be ready this year. The work consists of 5 small parts, inspired by famous tunes from the 50's, 60's an so forth. It will be performed during the excellent festival in Trondheim called Fri Resonans in November this year. You should come!

I'm so lucky these days to play with the marvellous dutch singer Jessica Sligter and one of Norways most interesting guitar player Daniel Meyer Grønvold. Ole-Henrik Moe and Kari Rønnekleiv, in addition to Juhani Silvola, joined us in a recording session not long ago. I hope to get the mix soon, so you'll some really sweet sounds.We're going to play concerts during this automn, in Norway and around Europe.

Whenever time give me chance (quite often actually) I'm working with Mattis Myrland, a songwriter really worth listening to; he makes THE most catchy songs. I work as producer and musician. I'll put some of his tunes out here during this summer.

Lately I've been rehearsing with the eccentric Jonas Howden Sjøvaag, alias Navyelectre. You'll find a link above to his new album, "the mourning". The band also includes the fantastic Andreas Ulvo, a name probably most recognized through the Shining (Jørgen Munkeby's amazingly striking band). We'll do some concerts in april, that's all I know at the moment. I'm really proud to play this music; it's something the world needs!

Discography - see all 7

  • Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen - Sound your horn

    Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen - Sound your horn

  • Thom Hell - God if I saw her now

    Thom Hell - God if I saw her now

  • Rockettothesky: To sing you apple trees

    Rockettothesky: To sing you apple trees

  • Florebius: House of Flour

    Florebius: House of Flour

  • Acoustic Accident: Q.S.

    Acoustic Accident: Q.S.

  • Composer

    Composer

  • Impro/ - & guitar

    Impro/ - & guitar