Trond Kallevåg - Minnesota (2025)

Minnesota is the fourth album by Norwegian guitarist and composer Trond Kallevåg on the Hubro label, described by him as his most cinematic work. The album creates a warm, wistful sound universe where Norwegian coastal culture meets American dreams, reflecting transatlantic ties and emigration stories. Kallevåg's musical style is a blend of traditional music, jazz, ambient folk, as well as American folk music and cinematic jazz, drawing inspiration from immigrant sagas and rare photographs unearthed during an artist residency on the island of Træna. The album continues his exploration of the relationship between Norway and America, incorporating references to immigrant sagas, cowboy ballads, and Edward Curtis's photographic portraits of Native Americans. Kallevåg (guitar, pedal steel) is joined by in-demand Norwegian musicians: Gard Nilssen (drums, vibraphone), Mats Eilertsen (double bass), and Tuva Halse (violin). The album, partially developed during the Træna residency, conveys a sense of movement between places and memories, resonating with the 200th anniversary of organized Norwegian emigration to America. Kallevåg emphasizes his enjoyment of the balance between spontaneous performance and subsequent detailed production and mixing.

Tracklist:
1-1 Trond Kallevåg - Twins of Træna [3:42]
1-2 Trond Kallevåg - Houses [5:13]
1-3 Trond Kallevåg - Pine Ridge [6:01]
1-4 Trond Kallevåg - The Boat Song [4:35]
1-5 Trond Kallevåg - Edward Curtis Potraits [1:48]
1-6 Trond Kallevåg - Kindness of Strangers [3:35]
1-7 Trond Kallevåg - Pretty Polly [6:04]
1-8 Trond Kallevåg - Postmarked from Honolulu [4:57]
1-9 Trond Kallevåg - Red Stranger [3:03]
1-10 Trond Kallevåg - Lighthouse Boogie [4:26]
1-11 Trond Kallevåg - To Mom [2:19]