Jon Balke Batagraf - Statements (2005)

The Batagraf group, a music collective, is described by keyboardist/producer Jon Balke as "a forum for ideas". Its flexible changing form and personnel are adaptable to many contexts but it has retained its consistent goal to "bypass the metric, rigid grooves of the computer age". A priority is to reintroduce meaning, poetry and fluency into rhythmic ideas. On 'Statements', Sidsel Endresen, Miki N'Doye, Arve Henriksen all make notable contributions, but the core is the band is the four drummers plus Balke and young Norwegian saxophonist Frode Nymo. Recorded 2003 - 2004 Personnel: Jon Balke - keyboards, percussion, vocals, sound processing, Arve Henriksen - trumpet, Solveig Slettahjell - vocals, Miki N'Doye, Sidsel Endresen - text recital, Jocely Sete Camara Silva, Jennifer Myskja Balke - voices, Frode Nymo - alto sax, Kenneth Ekornes, Harald Skullerud, Helge Andreas Norbakken, Ingar Zach - percussion.