When the sun sets in South Africa, the custom is to have a drink. Composer Andreas Rotevatn took part in this custom once, whilst a hungry leopard was sneaking in the bushes. The 14 members of the composer’s collective OJKOS are ready for a tropical dance!
The rules of what a big band should be in 2021 does not apply to Rotevatn. The combination of 15 musicians playing live, with a percussive and cosmic post production signed Rotevatn himself, created the unique sound of single nr 2 from the album Mensa Rotunda.
But jazz customs are not all gone, and the listener gets to experience a swirling alto flute solo signed Henriette Eilertsen.
Within the upcoming album are compositions by Andreas Rotevatn, born in 1989 in a majestic fjord on the west coast of Norway. This is his second album as the composer for OJKOS, an orchestra consisting of 14 jazz composers in Oslo. The first, alea iacta est, gave him a nomination for the Norwegian Grammy - Spellemann. Rotevatn has also produced the album, together with one of his idols: Lars Horntveth, Jaga Jazzist’s main composer.
from
mensa rotunda,
track released April 1, 2022
Henriette Hvidsten Eilertsen - Flute / alto flute (solo)
Camilla Hole - Soprano saxophone
Tina Lægreid Olsen - Bari sax / bass clarinet
Richard Köster - Trumpet
Tancred Heyerdahl Husø - Trumpet
Lyder Øvreås Røed - Trumpet
Magnus Murphy Joelson - Trombone
Johannes Fosse Solvang - Trombone
Andreas Rotevatn - Trombone, FX
Arne Martin Nybo - Guitar
Mike McCormick - Guitar / laptop
Kristoffer Håvik - Rhodes / Synthesizer
Alexander Hoholm - Electric bass / Double bass
Knut Kvifte Nesheim - Vibraphone
Eivind Helgerød - Drums
Recorded at Studio Paradiso
28th-29th of April 2021 by Marcus Forsgren
Composed by Andreas Rotevatn
Produced by Andreas Rotevatn & Lars Horntveth Mixed by Andreas Rotevatn
Mastered by Morgan Nicolaysen
Artwork and design by Bjørnar Sira
Supported by Kulturrådet, FFUK,
Det norske komponistfond & Norsk Jazzforum.