MGV
Tri vendur blés ho i den høgaste sky
World Music in a frame of Scandinavian contemporary jazz - commissioned work
The commissioned piece “Tri vendur blés ho i den høgaste sky” offers a fresh blend of medieval ballads, newer folk music, contemporary jazz and tunes from the Middle East. Viddal paints a rich and varied tonal language that keeps us at the edge of our seat all the way through, so we can discern all the details and tones of the music that is a nomadic walk through space and time.
Other highlights from the Norwegian side of the (Molde)festival included reedist and composer Mathilde Grooss Viddal’s performance with her tenet, FriEnsemblet
- John Murph, Down Beat
The rich heritage of Norwegian medieval ballad music has been revitalised in later years. FriEnsemblet presents a selection of these ballads, combining medieval traditions with contemporary jazz influences with two strong soloists: Norwegian folk singer Unni Bokasp and French-Syrian flute player Naïssam Jalal.
at Molde Internationale Jazzfestival 2019, Hemnesjazz 2019, Riksscenen 2019, NasjonalBiblioteket 2018, Vossajazz 2018, Åpningen av det Europeiske Kulturarvåret, Freiasalen #EuropeforCultur 2018 and UNESCOS International Jazz Day at Kampenjazz 2018.
– En bærende idé er å bygge på balladenes internasjonale utgangspunkt, for hva er vel egentlig norsk kulturarv annet enn møte mellom kulturer?
- Mathilde Grooss Viddal
Viddal’s FriEnsemble includes 10 very strong names in jazz and folk music:
FriEnsemble 2019:
| Mathilde Grooss Viddal | Sax, bass-and contrabass clarinet |
| Naïssam Jalal | Flute |
| Unni Boksasp | Vokal |
| Kristoffer Berre Alberts | Alto sax |
| Per Willy Aaserud | Trumpet, electronics |
| Øyvind Brække | Trombone |
| Britt Pernille Frøholm | Hardingfele, violin |
| Tellef Kvifte | Keyboards, laptop, electronics, flute |
| Knut Kvifte Nesheim | Drums, vibraphone |
| Egil Kalman | Bass |