Kontrabassorkesteret

Get ready for a world premiere in Molde, when Ellen Andrea Wang presents her newly formed collective of double bassists.

From the bright flagella to the deep hertz, with groovy sweaty riffs that suddenly turn into a sonic soundscape. Double Bass is back! The glue in the music, steady as a mountain with an eye-catcher that makes other instruments fade. A welcome instrument in every musical ensemble and furnished home.

In KBO, bassists meet across generations and genres with a goal – to show of what a fantastic instrument the double bass is. KBO plays newly written music by Sigurd Hole, Guro Moe, Ole Morten Vågan, Hanna Paulsberg and Ellen Andrea Wang.

Special guest for the occasion is none other than Arild Andersen! Maybe another guest will pop in too?

Welcome to a great evening.

Double bass: Håkon Thelin, Ellen Brekken, Ole Morten Vågan, Trygve Waldemar Fiske, Georgia Wartel Collins, Oda Kristine Steinkopf, Andreas Solheim, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Bárdur Reinert Poulsen, Mats Eilertsen, Joel Ring, Arild Andersen & Ellen Andrea Wang

Octobass & vocals: Guro Moe

Cast
In addition to this year's Artist in Residence, Ellen Andrea Wang, the following musicians participate:

ARILD ANDERSEN
The bassist with the warm tone can really be called a legend. Stylish, versatile and with a big name internationally. Already in 1967, he started playing with Jan Garbarek, Terje Rypdal and Jon Christensen. The whole discography is a piece of jazz history. But above all, he is firmly rooted in the present, and his great play and creativity are combined with an exquisite technique.

GURO SKUMSNES MOE
Has toured continuously since 2006 with her main projects MoE and Hunger in Europe, USA, Asia, Mexico and Australia and has made more than 40 records. She has also collaborated with Plexus Polaire Compagnie and composed for Oslo 14, The Touchables and many others. She runs the record company Conrad Sound and ran the "all Ears" festival for ten years.

INGEBRIGT HAKES THE SURFACE
The award-winning Norwegian bassist, improvisational musician and bandleader has been at the forefront of modern creative music in and outside Norway since the early 1990s. Perhaps best known as a co-founder of the Scandinavian supergroup Atomic but has combined post-free jazz-related experimentation with the deft use of qualities for many projects.

OLE MORTEN VÅGAN
Jazz bassist and arranger Ole Morten Vågan has been a central figure on the Scandinavian jazz scene in recent decades with bands such as Motif, Spellemann Pris - winning Maria Kannegaard Trio and Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, where Ole Morten is artistic director.

GEORGIA ROOT COLLINS
Is a Swedish double bass player based in Norway. After graduating from NTNU in Trondheim, she began her Master's at the ‘Conservatorium van Amsterdam’. Jazz and improvisation have always been what her heart beats for. She freelances with both her own and others' groups / projects, including her own trio Aila trio, JUNO, Seul Adore and Trondheim Jazz Orchestra.

ELLEN BREKKEN
Studied the jazz line at the Norwegian Academy of Music until 2010 and has worked freelance since. Has made a name for herself in jazz, rock, pop and folk music, and is i.e., to be found in bands such as Hedvig Mollestad trio and Tord Gustavsen trio. She just debuted as a composer with the band A tonic for the troops on ODIN records.

ANDREAS SOLHEIM
Is a 21-year-old double bass player who comes from Asker. With a background in both classical and jazz, Andreas lives in Trondheim and studies at the jazz line at NTNU, where he draws inspiration as a bandleader, composer and participant in several new projects.

HÅKON THELIN
The boy form Skien who skipped jazz when he dropped out of high school to start playing contemporary music. Now he is a bit like an all-around musician, composer and teacher.
His first job at Moldejazz is of course, with the BASS ORCHESTRA.

MATS EILERTSEN
Born in 1975 he has settled in the rural but historic area of Eidsvoll where he carves melodies and treats his bass violin, while in between the battles he annoys taxi drivers and other guys who think he should rather play piccolo.

TRYGVE WALDEMAR FISHING
Has distinguished himself as one of the country's leading jazz bassists in collaboration with musicians in Hanna Paulsberg Concept, John Pål Inderberg Trio and with Solveig Slettahjell. Not least his own band Waldemar 4 with two releases behind him, Trygve Fiske has impressed a lot as a composer and bandleader, where the latest release "The Buoy and the Sea" was named one of the best jazz releases in 2020 by Dagsavisen.

ODA KRISTINE STEINKOPF
From Stanghelle in Vaksdal she plays, sings, writes and arranges a bit in various ensembles. From being a modest bass-playing 11-year-old at Voss Jazz School, she will start her third year at NTNU at Jazzlinja in Trondheim this autumn.

JOEL RING
"I play bass, and I love it" (Joel Ring b. 1988 in Småland, Sweden)

BARDUR REINERT POULSEN
Is a bassist from the Danish Colonies (Faroe Islands). Moved to Norway and has studied at NTNU and NHM.