Asmundsen & Co - Pastor´n (2017) [Hi-Res]

Einar Iversen
is a leading piano star in Norwegian jazz history, a top level artist for 70 years. At 28 years old (in 1958) he received the Buddy award, the highest distinction in Norwegian jazz, the third to receive it. In 2006 he was honored by the nation as Knight of 1st Class in the Order of St. Olav. He was born in Mandal, Norway, July 27th, 1930. He grew up in Oslo and became famous in the city’s jazz milieu – getting the nickname «Pastor’n» simply because he was the son of a parson. He was a professional musician from 1952. He played with the best, won polls, had his record debut with Rowland Greenberg in 1953, and came to New York by playing on passenger ships from Oslo. He was accompanying American guest stars in Norway in the 50´s and 60´s, like Lucky Thompson, Dexter Gordon, Coleman Hawkins and Johnny Griffin, besides being an accompanist at the early Molde jazz festivals. In the 60´s he was a highly sought after theatre musician, arranger, composer and flutist, besides playing and recording with various jazz bands. Under his own name he recorded trio albums such as «Me and my piano» (Ponca Jazz 1967) and «Who can I turn to?» (Gemini 1991), «Seaview» (Hazel Jazz 2000) and «About time» (Hazel Jazz 2007). In 1999 and 2001 the Oslo Jazz Circle edited the CDs «Portrait of a Norwegian jazz artist – Einar Iversen» (Gemini 2001), in 2010 Hilde Brunsvik wrote his biography, «Einar Pastor’n Iversen – a jazz life»

Tine Asmundsen
is a devoted bassist, who since the late 90´s has collaborated with her 33 years elder fellow musician Einar Iversen, and under her own label (Hazel Jazz) produced two CDs with him, «Seaview» and «About Time». With this CD, dedicated to «Pastor’n», she wants to «give back» some of what she has learned from her inspiring master, by performing her band’s arrangements of eleven compositions by Einar Iversen. This is done with great respect for Einar, a humble human being, who has given «much of himself» and inspired so many people in the world of jazz.
In her band we find a fellow musician for more than twenty years, Vidar Johansen on tenor saxophone, and Rune Klakegg on piano, both of them prime examples of 70´s Norwegian jazz. Magnus Aannestad Oseth, trumpet and flugelhorn, and Terje Engen, drums, are both skillful representatives of a new generation of Norwegian musicians.

Magnus Aannestad Oseth, trumpet and flugelhorn. From outside of Drammen, educated in Copenhagen, has played with a lot of European musicians, recordings from 2010, debut in Oslo Concert Hall 2014 with an homage to Chet Baker. The youngest member of this band, now living in Berlin.

Vidar Johansen, tenor saxophone, one of the most talented sax players that appeared in the seventies, playing tenor, soprano, baritone and alto, flute and bass clarinet, arranging and composing. He started early in bands with Jon Eberson, Jon and Erik Balke, festival debut in 1974, and was hired for several bands through the decades, a. o. Lotus, NRK Radio Big Band, Lille Frøen Saxophone Quartet, Out to Lunch, Oslo 13, Søyr, Bayashi (rec. 2001 and 2004) and Crimetime Orchestra (rec. 2004 and 2009), besides contributing at recordings with a lot of different artists. In his own name he recorded «Lopsided – Live at Oslo Jazzhus» (1995) and «Lost animals» (2009). Collaborations with Tine Asmundsen from 1996, and membership in her groups «Lonely Woman» and «Radius».

Rune Klakegg, piano. Born in the town of Skien, started on tenor sax, moved to Oslo in 1975, and joined four bands at the same time as pianist. Festival debut in 1977. He played together with a. o. Odd Riisnæs, Morten Halle, Susanne Fuhr and Guttorm Guttormsen before he co-led the groups Cutting Edge 1981–86 and Out to Lunch 1984–90s, besides contributing in Oslo 13, Søyr and a lot of other groups, and playing in his own trios (CDs «Fuzzy logic» 1995 and «Romantic Notions» 2012). He was writing in jazz books and periodicals, and became an awarded composer. He moved back to Skien, and in the new century he joined Tine Asmundsen’s group «Lonely Woman» (with three CDs 2005–12). He can be heard playing with Scheen Jazzorkester on three recent Losen Records releases. Terje Engen, drummer, born outside Kongsberg, musically educated in Oslo, with a versatile background from Valkyrjen All Stars to Jazzin’ Babies, busy in record studios since 2004, leading his own ensembles like Norsk Kurveunion and the octet T8 – and teaching drumming at the University of Oslo.

01. Asmundsen & Co - Swedish White Nights (6:45)
02. Asmundsen & Co - Danae (5:20)
03. Asmundsen & Co - Lill I Utsiktsveien 16a (6:28)
04. Asmundsen & Co - Judith 2 (3:50)
05. Asmundsen & Co - Rufus Sover (5:58)
06. Asmundsen & Co - Armida (5:09)
07. Asmundsen & Co - Sjøsanden (1:49)
08. Asmundsen & Co - Eurasian Goodies (5:58)
09. Asmundsen & Co - Bokfink (5:31)
10. Asmundsen & Co - Spettmeis (5:38)
11. Asmundsen & Co - Gea (5:44)