Download Press Release (PDF)

own right (and his first recorded appearance appearance recorded first his (and right own from start to finish. to start from

Charles Earland to becoming a star in his his in star a becoming to Earland Charles the whole track just takes off and flies along along flies and off takes just track whole the

Jackson to Benny Golson, Alexander with with Alexander Golson, Benny to Jackson The melody has those great lines in 4ths and and 4ths in lines great those has melody The Coltrane, is here an uptempo “flag waver” waver” “flag uptempo an here is Coltrane, LeDonne has played with everyone from Milt Milt from everyone with played has LeDonne burner. uptempo modal a is “Malala” to Sinatra from everyone by famous

LeDonne has played with everyone from Milt Milt from everyone with played has LeDonne burner. uptempo modal a is “Malala” to Sinatra from everyone by famous Randy Johnston Randy novices, the for but fans jazz serious to tion

made Hour”, Shining My Be Will “This

Randy Johnston Randy novices, the for but fans jazz serious to tion

made Hour”, Shining My Be Will “This - you know what you are:) need no introduc no need are:) you what know you shots moving the rhythm along. rhythm the moving shots

- you know what you are:) need no introduc no need are:) you what know you shots moving the rhythm along. rhythm the moving shots Joe Farnsworth. These gentlemen (fellas, (fellas, gentlemen These Farnsworth. Joe and LeDonne. Check out Farnsworth’s rim rim Farnsworth’s out Check LeDonne. and notes that catapult him into his solo! his into him catapult that notes Happy listening... Happy

Joe Farnsworth. These gentlemen (fellas, (fellas, gentlemen These Farnsworth. Joe and LeDonne. Check out Farnsworth’s rim rim Farnsworth’s out Check LeDonne. and notes that catapult him into his solo! his into him catapult that notes Happy listening... Happy saxophonist Eric Alexander, and drummer drummer and Alexander, Eric saxophonist Alexander Eric by followed solo, burning a please! Listen to Frode’s rhythmic repeated repeated rhythmic Frode’s to Listen please!

saxophonist Eric Alexander, and drummer drummer and Alexander, Eric saxophonist Alexander Eric by followed solo, burning a please! Listen to Frode’s rhythmic repeated repeated rhythmic Frode’s to Listen please! finest musicians, organist Mike LeDonne, LeDonne, Mike organist musicians, finest with face your in right is Frode opener. Jazz Festival”, is here just as funky as you you as funky as just here is Festival”, Jazz more swinging and inspired. and swinging more

finest musicians, organist Mike LeDonne, LeDonne, Mike organist musicians, finest with face your in right is Frode opener. Jazz Festival”, is here just as funky as you you as funky as just here is Festival”, Jazz more swinging and inspired. and swinging more with the guitarist are 3 of New York City’s City’s York New of 3 are guitarist the with “A Piece of the the Apple” is the groovy groovy the is Apple” the the of Piece “A and Eddie Harris Live at the Montreux Montreux the at Live Harris Eddie and and especially my buddy Frode could not be be not could Frode buddy my especially and

with the guitarist are 3 of New York City’s City’s York New of 3 are guitarist the with “A Piece of the the Apple” is the groovy groovy the is Apple” the the of Piece “A and Eddie Harris Live at the Montreux Montreux the at Live Harris Eddie and and especially my buddy Frode could not be be not could Frode buddy my especially and Harris’ classic “Cold Duck Time”) along along Time”) Duck “Cold classic Harris’ tune from the great album “Les McCann McCann “Les album great the from tune and the performances by Mike, Eric, Joe, Joe, Eric, Mike, by performances the and

Harris’ classic “Cold Duck Time”) along along Time”) Duck “Cold classic Harris’ tune from the great album “Les McCann McCann “Les album great the from tune and the performances by Mike, Eric, Joe, Joe, Eric, Mike, by performances the and 3 standards, and one jazz original (Eddie (Eddie original jazz one and standards, 3 well! “Cold Duck Time”, the classic Eddie Harris Harris Eddie classic the Time”, Duck “Cold Tedesco studios is clear and warm sounding sounding warm and clear is studios Tedesco

3 standards, and one jazz original (Eddie (Eddie original jazz one and standards, 3 well! “Cold Duck Time”, the classic Eddie Harris Harris Eddie classic the Time”, Duck “Cold Tedesco studios is clear and warm sounding sounding warm and clear is studios Tedesco Appearing on this set of 5 Kjekstad originals, originals, Kjekstad 5 of set this on Appearing touch your soul and get your feet tapping as as tapping feet your get and soul your touch The recording by my pal Tom Tedesco at at Tedesco Tom pal my by recording The

Appearing on this set of 5 Kjekstad originals, originals, Kjekstad 5 of set this on Appearing touch your soul and get your feet tapping as as tapping feet your get and soul your touch The recording by my pal Tom Tedesco at at Tedesco Tom pal my by recording The together on this album which I am sure will will sure am I which album this on together from all concerned. all from that could not be any more world class. class. world more any be not could that

together on this album which I am sure will will sure am I which album this on together from all concerned. all from that could not be any more world class. class. world more any be not could that but of the finest American hard groovers. hard American finest the of but their instruments. They play beautifully beautifully play They instruments. their down in whole steps. Another strong track track strong Another steps. whole in down band a from album notch top a is This

but of the finest American hard groovers. hard American finest the of but their instruments. They play beautifully beautifully play They instruments. their down in whole steps. Another strong track track strong Another steps. whole in down band a from album notch top a is This

not of the Scandinavian “cool school”, school”, “cool Scandinavian the of not artists with their own powerful voices on on voices powerful own their with artists Earlandesqe intro of major chords going going chords major of intro Earlandesqe with an intense emotionalism reminiscent reminiscent emotionalism intense an with guys are all strong original and seasoned seasoned and original strong all are guys Charles a with swinger tempo medium a ending like the champions they all are. are. all they champions the like ending

with an intense emotionalism reminiscent reminiscent emotionalism intense an with guys are all strong original and seasoned seasoned and original strong all are guys Charles a with swinger tempo medium a ending like the champions they all are. are. all they champions the like ending clear tone, and swinging time, all delivered delivered all time, swinging and tone, clear tions of various eclectic “influences”. These These “influences”. eclectic various of tions here is ballad, slow a as played usually band cooks through the solos and to the the to and solos the through cooks band

clear tone, and swinging time, all delivered delivered all time, swinging and tone, clear tions of various eclectic “influences”. These These “influences”. eclectic various of tions here is ballad, slow a as played usually band cooks through the solos and to the the to and solos the through cooks band ideas, intense technical facility, crisp and and crisp facility, technical intense ideas, - conglomera “new” or heroes their of music is which tune standard a is All” “That’s a modern Wes Montgomery and the whole whole the and Montgomery Wes modern a

ideas, intense technical facility, crisp and and crisp facility, technical intense ideas, - conglomera “new” or heroes their of music is which tune standard a is All” “That’s a modern Wes Montgomery and the whole whole the and Montgomery Wes modern a Frode’s guitar playing is a blend of great great of blend a is playing guitar Frode’s the of versions down watered presenting like octaves in melody the states Frode

Frode’s guitar playing is a blend of great great of blend a is playing guitar Frode’s the of versions down watered presenting like octaves in melody the states Frode They are not recent “jazz school” graduates graduates school” “jazz recent not are They “monster movie” organ at the end! the at organ movie” “monster a close with the quartet back to full power. power. full to back quartet the with close a

They are not recent “jazz school” graduates graduates school” “jazz recent not are They “monster movie” organ at the end! the at organ movie” “monster a close with the quartet back to full power. power. full to back quartet the with close a Jazz guitarist. guitarist. Jazz globe. this of continents the of most on the middle, then Mike taking it to just under under just to it taking Mike then middle, the “The Lone Ranger” shuffles the set to to set the shuffles Ranger” Lone “The

Jazz guitarist. guitarist. Jazz globe. this of continents the of most on the middle, then Mike taking it to just under under just to it taking Mike then middle, the “The Lone Ranger” shuffles the set to to set the shuffles Ranger” Lone “The his legacy as perhaps Europe’s finest Soul- finest Europe’s perhaps as legacy his perfected their artistry in front of audiences audiences of front in artistry their perfected then into his solo, nice work from Eric in in Eric from work nice solo, his into then

his legacy as perhaps Europe’s finest Soul- finest Europe’s perhaps as legacy his perfected their artistry in front of audiences audiences of front in artistry their perfected then into his solo, nice work from Eric in in Eric from work nice solo, his into then release “A Piece of the Apple”, he furthers furthers he Apple”, the of Piece “A release who have toured the world many times and and times many world the toured have who alone singing the melody on his guitar and and guitar his on melody the singing alone which features this song would be proud! be would song this features which

release “A Piece of the Apple”, he furthers furthers he Apple”, the of Piece “A release who have toured the world many times and and times many world the toured have who alone singing the melody on his guitar and and guitar his on melody the singing alone which features this song would be proud! be would song this features which release in Norway that year. On this latest latest this On year. that Norway in release These musicians are veteran performers performers veteran are musicians These dramatic organ from LeDonne. Frode is all all is Frode LeDonne. from organ dramatic dark sounding. The ghost in the movie movie the in ghost The sounding. dark

release in Norway that year. On this latest latest this On year. that Norway in release These musicians are veteran performers performers veteran are musicians These dramatic organ from LeDonne. Frode is all all is Frode LeDonne. from organ dramatic dark sounding. The ghost in the movie movie the in ghost The sounding. dark “New York Time” which was acclaimed jazz jazz acclaimed was which Time” York “New some by off kicked backbeat a with underlying swing feel. Plenty murky and and murky Plenty feel. swing underlying

“New York Time” which was acclaimed jazz jazz acclaimed was which Time” York “New some by off kicked backbeat a with underlying swing feel. Plenty murky and and murky Plenty feel. swing underlying time. I was the producer on Frode’s 2002 2002 Frode’s on producer the was I time. together as real fraternal brothers. fraternal real as together ballad soulful a is Around” I’m While “Not and with ballad slow mysterious a

time. I was the producer on Frode’s 2002 2002 Frode’s on producer the was I time. together as real fraternal brothers. fraternal real as together ballad soulful a is Around” I’m While “Not and with ballad slow mysterious a talent has grown exponentially since that that since exponentially grown has talent in NYC, so they are as tight in their playing playing their in tight as are they so NYC, in here is tempos, and treatments different

talent has grown exponentially since that that since exponentially grown has talent in NYC, so they are as tight in their playing playing their in tight as are they so NYC, in here is tempos, and treatments different

appears regularly at the jazz club “Smoke” “Smoke” club jazz the at regularly appears his and then musician jazz impressive an all around, and cooking right on through. on right cooking and around, all “Invitation”, a song that lends itself to many many to itself lends that song a “Invitation”, these guys have their own group which which group own their have guys these was He 1990s. mid the in ago years 20 some something to do with the title! Great solos solos Great title! the with do to something

these guys have their own group which which group own their have guys these was He 1990s. mid the in ago years 20 some something to do with the title! Great solos solos Great title! the with do to something

Donaldson to Pharoah Sanders. In addition, addition, In Sanders. Pharoah to Donaldson was That there. teacher guest a was I when 3/4 time. Hey, how about that! Guess it has has it Guess that! about how Hey, time. 3/4 it! on depended Lou from everyone with Farnsworth and Oslo in Conservatory Music the at student a original of the set, is a minor bluesy tune in in tune bluesy minor a is set, the of original Eric and Mike ripping it up as if their lives lives their if as up it ripping Mike and Eric

Lou from everyone with Farnsworth and Oslo in Conservatory Music the at student a original of the set, is a minor bluesy tune in in tune bluesy minor a is set, the of original Eric and Mike ripping it up as if their lives lives their if as up it ripping Mike and Eric believe), I “Jubilation” album my on was was he since Kjekstad Frode known have I “The Three Musketeers”, the third Kjekstad Kjekstad third the Musketeers”, Three “The as we used to say in the trade. Frode, Frode, trade. the in say to used we as

believe), I “Jubilation” album my on was was he since Kjekstad Frode known have I “The Three Musketeers”, the third Kjekstad Kjekstad third the Musketeers”, Three “The as we used to say in the trade. Frode, Frode, trade. the in say to used we as

1: A Piece Of The Apple (F. Kjekstad) 07:19 1: A Piece Of The Apple (F. Kjekstad) 07:19 2: Malala (F. Kjekstad) 07:50 FRODE KJEKSTAD FRODE KJEKSTAD 2: Malala (F. Kjekstad) 07:50 3: The Three Musketeers (F. Kjekstad) 08:39 FRODE KJEKSTAD 3: The Three Musketeers (F. Kjekstad) 08:39 FRODE KJEKSTAD 4: Not While I´m Around (Stephen Sondheim) 05:38 4: Not While I´m Around (Stephen Sondheim) 05:38 5: That´s All (Allan Brandt/Bob Haymes) 08:30 a piece of the apple 5: That´s All (Allan Brandt/Bob Haymes) 08:30 a piece of the apple 6: Cold Duck Time (Eddie Harris) 06:40 6: Cold Duck Time (Eddie Harris) 06:40 7: My Shining Hour (Mercer/Arlen) 08:19 7: My Shining Hour (Mercer/Arlen) 08:19 8: Invitation (Paul Francis Webster/Bronisław Kaper) 05:55 8: Invitation (Paul Francis Webster/Bronisław Kaper) 05:55 9: The Lone Ranger (F. Kjekstad) 08:51 a piece of the apple a piece of the apple 9: The Lone Ranger (F. Kjekstad) 08:51 Total Time: 67:41 Total Time: 67:41 Frode Kjekstad guitar Frode Kjekstad guitar Eric Alexander sax Eric Alexander sax Mike LeDonne organ Mike LeDonne organ Joe Farnsworth drums Joe Farnsworth drums Eric Alexander appears courtesy of HighNote Records Eric Alexander appears courtesy of HighNote Records Mike LeDonne appears courtesy of Savant Records Mike LeDonne appears courtesy of Savant Records Recorded January 9, 2014 at Tedesco Studios, USA by Tom Tedesco Recorded January 9, 2014 at Tedesco Studios, USA by Tom Tedesco Mixed November 2016 at Caspersen Studio by Håvard Caspersen Mixed November 2016 at Caspersen Studio by Håvard Caspersen Mastered March 8, 2017 at Masterpool Studio, by Knut Bjørnar Asphol

Mastered March 8, 2017 at Masterpool Studio, by Knut Bjørnar Asphol Produced by Frode Kjekstad Losen Records LOS 178-2

Produced by Frode Kjekstad Losen Records LOS 178-2 Executive producer Odd Gjelsnes Executive producer Odd Gjelsnes Front cover picture by Kjersti Holst Front cover picture by Kjersti Holst Cover Design by design holtmann Cover Design by design holtmann

© 2017 Losen Records www.losenrecords.no [email protected] © 2017 Losen Records www.losenrecords.no [email protected] LOS 178-2 LOS 178-2 ISRC: NO2NJ1778 ISRC: NO2NJ1778 All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication, All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication, public performance and broadcasting of the music public performance and broadcasting of the music on this CD is a violation of applicable laws. 7 090025 831782 Eric Alexander • Mike LeDonne • Joe Farnsworth on this CD is a violation of applicable laws. 7 090025 831782 Eric Alexander • Mike LeDonne • Joe Farnsworth

Frode Kjekstad a piece of the apple I have known Frode Kjekstad since he was a student the continents of this globe. They are not recent at the Music Conservatory in Oslo when I was a “jazz school” graduates presenting watered down guest teacher there. That was some 20 years ago in versions of the music of their heroes or “new” the mid 1990s. He was an impressive jazz musician conglomerations of various eclectic “influences”. then and his talent has grown exponentially since These guys are all strong original and seasoned that time. I was the producer on Frode’s 2002 “New artists with their own powerful voices on their York Time” which was acclaimed jazz release in instruments. They play beautifully together on this Norway that year. On this latest release “A Piece album which I am sure will touch your soul and get of the Apple”, he furthers his legacy as perhaps your feet tapping as well! Europe’s finest Soul-Jazz guitarist. “A Piece of the the Apple” is the groovy opener. Frode’s guitar playing is a blend of great ideas, Frode is right in your face with a burning solo, intense technical facility, crisp and clear tone, followed by Eric Alexander and LeDonne. Check out and swinging time, all delivered with an intense Farnsworth’s rim shots moving the rhythm along. emotionalism reminiscent not of the Scandinavian “cool school”, but of the finest American hard “Malala” is a modal uptempo burner. The melody groovers. has those great lines in 4ths and the whole track just takes off and flies along from start to finish. Appearing on this set of 5 Kjekstad originals, 3 standards, and one jazz original (Eddie Harris’ classic “The Three Musketeers”, the third Kjekstad original “Cold Duck Time”) along with the guitarist are 3 of the set, is a minor bluesy tune in 3/4 time. Hey, of New York City’s finest musicians, organist Mike how about that! Guess it has something to do with LeDonne, saxophonist Eric Alexander, and drummer the title! Great solos all around, and cooking right Joe Farnsworth. These gentlemen (fellas, you know on through. what you are:) need no introduction to serious jazz fans but for the novices, LeDonne has played “Not While I’m Around” is a soulful ballad with with everyone from Milt Jackson to Benny Golson, a backbeat kicked off by some dramatic organ from Alexander with Charles Earland to becoming a star LeDonne. Frode is all alone singing the melody on in his own right (and his first recorded appearance his guitar and then into his solo, nice work from was on my album “Jubilation” I believe), and Eric in the middle, then Mike taking it to just under Farnsworth with everyone from Lou Donaldson to “monster movie” organ at the end! Pharoah Sanders. In addition, these guys have their “That’s All” is a standard tune which is usually own group which appears regularly at the jazz club played as a slow ballad, is here a medium tempo “Smoke” in NYC, so they are as tight in their playing swinger with a Charles Earlandesqe intro of major together as real fraternal brothers. chords going down in whole steps. Another strong These musicians are veteran performers who track from all concerned. have toured the world many times and perfected their artistry in front of audiences on most of “Cold Duck Time”, the classic Eddie Harris tune from “The Lone Ranger” shuffles the set to a close with the great album “Les McCann and Eddie Harris Live the quartet back to full power. Frode states the at the Montreux Jazz Festival”, is here just as funky melody in octaves like a modern Wes Montgomery as you please! Listen to Frode’s rhythmic repeated and the whole band cooks through the solos and notes that catapult him into his solo! to the ending like the champions they all are.

“This Will Be My Shining Hour”, made famous This is a top notch album from a band that could by everyone from Sinatra to Coltrane, is here an not be any more world class. The recording by my uptempo “flag waver” as we used to say in the pal Tom Tedesco at Tedesco studios is clear and trade. Frode, Eric and Mike ripping it up as if their warm sounding and the performances by Mike, Eric, lives depended on it! Joe, and especially my buddy Frode could not be more swinging and inspired. “Invitation”, a song that lends itself to many different treatments and tempos, is here a Happy listening..... mysterious slow ballad with and underlying swing feel. Plenty murky and dark sounding. The ghost in Randy Johnston the movie which features this song would be proud!

Frode ”Frodo” Kjekstad

Just outside the Norwegian capital Oslo, in the melodies in unusually high tempos, and with countryside, there is a beautiful valley, called a strong talent to communicate a beautiful melody “The California of Norway”! Here is were the jazz to the audience. His way of understanding and guitarist Frode “Frodo” Kjekstad lives on his farm. approach the music, gave a natural attitude of an From his farm, there is a direct contact line to the original jazz artist, without being a clone of others. jazz of the big cities in the western world; New Frodes personal style was created out from listening York, London, Berlin and Paris! to the jazz greats of the past, but he was mostly listening to other instrumentalists, and only rarely Frode Kjekstad was born in Lier, Norway, guitarists. His solo guitar playing and chord concepts in 1974. He was already captured by the music of are only equaled by the greatest guitarists in Charlie Parker and Joe Pass when he picked the history of jazz. up the guitar at the age of 14, and the year after he started studying jazz guitar. In 1999 he was asked to join a trio led by Scandinavian jazz-organ player Paul Wagnberg. Studying music at the University of Oslo, This suddenly made the 24-year-old one of Norways coincidences led to meeting New York based jazz most important jazz guitarists, and he started to guitarist Randy Johnston. This meeting was record under his own name. a great inspiration, leading to lessons as well as a great friendship. In 2001 Frode received great reviews in USA and Italy for his bootleg CD “Presenting Frode Playing regularly for 4 years with Sandvika Kjekstad”. The reviewer in “Just Jazz Guitar Bigband, considered Norway’s best band in it’s Magazine” called him “a young genius with perfect genre, Frode had the opportunity to play with sense of time and rhythm”. international jazz stars as Diane Shuur, Frank Foster, Johnny Griffin, Don Menza, Rob After this, American jazz guitar legend Randy McConnel, Jim Morrison, Mark Nightingale, Johnston took responsibility and invited Frode to Claire Martin, Deborah Brown, and many others. New York to record an album with “some of the real guys”! Frode also played with a number of american players in Norway in other different settings, among In 2004 Frode released his CD “New York Time”, these Gerald Willson, Wendell Brunious, featuring legendary organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, Grant Stewart and Randy Johnston. saxophonist Eric Alexander and drummer Byron Landham. This led to increasing Frode`s style of playing developed into being a international activity and reputation. virtuoso, with amazing technique, mastering any tempo, with a focus on time and rhythm, chord A CD featuring Frode´s compositions and In 2013 Frode Kjekstad once again teamed up with arrangements for bigband was released autumn New York based saxophonist Eric Alexander, who 2005, a production done by “Sandvika Bigband”, invited him to join his band with jazz giants organist which features 55 minutes of original bigband music Mike LeDonne and drummer Joe Farnsworth, . He also recorded with Ski Bigband in 2009. at the legendary club Smoke in New York for some gigs. Frode grabbed the opportunity to record The years following 2005 was filled up with a new album with this quartet. Here it is released concerts, festivals, teaching, composing for big as “A Piece Of The Apple”, this being also his first bands, and on the private side getting married, on Losen Records. having three kids, bying his family farm, and many other things! He also co-released two CD´s with Paul Frode Kjekstad`s international activity and Wagnberg,s trio; with Frode writing 50% of the reputation is increasing, and many great concerts tunes. are going to happen around in the world, in the time to come! In 2010 Frode recorded again under his own name; this time the album was called “The Italian Job”, Hopefully, soon he will be playing in with Italians Alberto Marsico (organ) and Enzo “a theatre near you!“ Zirilli (drums). After the release of the CD, this trio has played in many European venues, among these Ronnie Scott´s in London several times.

Release MusikkLosen June 16, 2017 Tel. + 47 22 19 82 82 LOS 178-2 [email protected] 7090025831782 www.losenrecords.no