Volume 13. Oslo

His music has been called "as close to perfection as you're likely to hear."

Moving On Music says his ensemble journeys "through Scandinavian Folk, pre Baroque harmony and post Monk jazz influences to create a bewitching and haunting live experience."

Stuart Nicholson of Jazzwise observed that "the writing is dense, dark and seems to hover in the air, like a mist moving in across a Norwegian fjord."

And that Dear Reader is exactly what we're going to do this week as we travel to Oslo for concerts by The Christian Wallumrod Sextet. I visited Oslo years ago and really enjoyed it. Visiting the Gustav Vigelund Sculpture Garden with its brilliant Frieze of Life depicting the many stages of life...

and The Munch Museum.

Unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to take in any great Jazz. So these concerts are particularly attractive to me and I hope you'll be able to take them in. With 3 chances to hear them this week, I think that it's likely.

18-03-2009
Christian Wallumrød Ensemble (sextet)Norway, Levanger Høgskolen / Campus

19-03-2009

Christian Wallumrød Ensemble (sextet)Norway, Oslo Nasjonale Jazzscene / Victoria

20-03-2009

Christian Wallumrød Ensemble (sextet)Norway, Drammen Drammens Teater

Also in town...

Arve Henriksen often performs with Wallumrod, and will most likely in the events listed above. He will also be in town performing in conjunction with the

Oslo International Church Music Festival:
2009 Mar 15
Oslo
Terje Bjørklund's "Sanctus" w/ TrondheimSolistene and Trondheim Voices. I'm sure this concert will also be worthy of your attention.

And if all else fails... there's always David Byrne!

His recording with Brian Eno, for the first time in around 30 years, was recently released. Everything That Happens Will Happen Today is a lot of fun, and you know the concert
Thursday 20:00 at
Sentrum Scene will be an event.

If after all of this you're in the mood for a nosh, you may want to try the scrumptuous Statholdergaarden. The beautifully restored house dates from 1640 and the food is Nouvelle Norge.

Here's one of their sample menus:

"The set menu Bent Stiansen creates in collaboration with chef Torbjörn Forster, depends on what’s available on the market. This evening we have the pleasure of presenting;

Pan fried scallops served with apple- celery salad, pomegranate and asparagus beans. Foie gras sauce.***

Shellfish soup garnished with trout, squash and fennel.***

Gently dorade served with sweet bread, cauliflower cream and cabbage with bacon. Tomato- shallot sauce. ***

Filet of veal filled with Parma ham, served with corn croquette, petit pois purée, beans cassoulet and gnocchi. Truffle sauce.***

Well ripened cheeses garnished with Swedish crisp bread and apricot compote. ***

Mango roulade and chocolate mousse served with pickled lime, dried cherries and sweet cherry sorbet."

Can you spell YUM! in Norwegian?!

(Picture of Christian Wallumrod courtesy of ECM Records, David Byrne courtesy of Karen Kuehn)