PROJECTS

                NEW ALBUM ! 

Torben Snekkestad - "Conic Folded"

Torben Snekkestad -sax/clarinet

Jon Balke - piano/prep. piano

Jonas Westergaard - bass

Compositions by Torben Snekkestad 

Label: ILK

Distrubution: www.vme-group.com

BUY:  itunes & CDON.com                      

"Over the years, Snekkestad has explored vast areas of music in a conscious and

open-minded way. Exemplary projects within music of the baroque, contemporary music,

rock, folk music and freejazz/improv. make up his diverse musical curriculum, and with

Conic Folded, these threads are united on a focused, virtuosic and original musical journey.

With advanced playing techniques, intuitive improvisations, refined compositional

use of structure, tone and form and a distinct poetic ear, Snekkestad earns himself a place

in the unbroken line of groundbreaking Norwegian saxophonists.

Conic Folded expresses intense, edgy sound and challenges the limits of

new jazz and contemporary music.

The album is released on ILK Records, the Copenhagen based indie record collective founded

in 2001 by a group of young, innovative performers on the city’s vibrant scene, and

Conic Folded is a primary example of the label’s groundbreaking aspirations.

It is the ILK debut for Snekkestad, whose Norwegian roots and Copenhagen base

form the starting point for his continuous, startling efforts to expand musical territory."

Press:

"Conic Folded is a fully formed collection of saxophone and improvisational mastery"

 www.allaboutjazz.com   ...read more

" The Spartan daintiness of Conic Folded definitely contributes to a great beginning of 2009 as

far as trios are concerned. Torben Snekkestad’s art is for real, and this is a superb debut." ... read more

www.bagatellen.com

"Når den norsk-danske saksofonisten og klarinettisten Torben Snekkestad endeleg kjem med sitt eige

jazz­album, er resultatet ei utgjeving av verkeleg sjeldant format.«Conic Folded» er noko av det

mest spennande i sjangeren eg ville ha kalla «ny musikk» om merkelappen ikkje var brukt opp....

Å vere eller ei er spørsmålet, sa Hamlet. Denne musikken er." (norwegian) ...read more

www.dagsavisen.no

"Saxofonist maler med lyden. Den norske musiker Torben Snekkestads album efterlader et

lyst og luftigt indtryk. Musikken er intim og foregår i eftertankens langsomme tempo, men med

følehornene pegende fremad."( danish)  read more....

www.politiken.dk

"Im abschließenden Saxophon-Solo zeigt Torben Snekkestad alle Eleganz seines Tones, der hier mit

großer poetischer Kraft einen Klageruf anstimmt, der bis in die Tiefen dieses Instruments führt.

Ein starkes Album!"  ( german)  ...read more

www.CD-kritik.de

"Om man skalar av attributen kring Snekkestads musik landar man till sist i koncentration.

Med en ganska sparsam palett blir det spelade så mycket viktigare. Denna trio försöker

inte gömma sig bakom larm och expressionism. De sparar ändå inte på energin, det är

lika laddat som vore det dundrande frifräs. Varje tillslag är istället innehållsrikt och viktigt,

och musiken blir ett koncentrat av trions idéer". www.soundofmusic.se (swedish) ...read more

"Conic Folded is highly rewarding, and highly recommended.” .. read more

http://mapsadaisical.wordpress.com

"Die Einspielung ist exzellent, handwerklich gibt es nichts zu beanstanden. Die Stücke sind dynamisch,

lebhaft, emotional tief ausgewogen und gehen in dem ihnen gegebenen Arrangement charakterstark auf.

Die 11 Songs sind zusammen 50 Minuten lang, ausgiebig Zeit, der ernsten und weniger ernsten,bisweile

komischen Musik abseits aller Lärmkanäle mit neugierigem Vergnügen zu lauschen"..(german)

read more ....   www.ragazzi-music.de

Meget sterk plate...... Det første som møter lytteren, er Snekkestads velutviklede og kontrollerte lyd i instrumentet. Full av varme i ethvert register, og med store klangvariasjoner. Dette vitner om en klassisk skolert musiker. Men, selv om så er tilfelle, her skotter det ikke på improvisatoriske ferdigheter. Både Westergaard og Balke presterer ypperlig, og trioen klinger sjeldent godt sammen, både i tekstur og samspill.  (norwegian) 

     Bergens Tidene www.bt.no  ....read  more

"Solid debut i krevende terreng.....Med Snekkestads intense, mikrotonale lydmalerier –

han er en saksofonist med svær teknikk, også sammenliknet med Parker – er heller ikke «Conic Folded»

plata som vil stille eventuell sult etter letthuskede melodier, men den jevnt voksende skaren av frijazz- og

improfans vil finne mye spennende i det åpne, frie samspillet mellom tre musikere som åpenbart

kommuniserer på felles frekvens og ikke er engstelige for å jobbe uten sikkerhetsnett. ( norwegian)

...read more  www.dagbladet.no

"Torben Snekkestad beperkt zich op 'Conic Folded' niet tot het kopiëren van een meer dan veertig jaar oude formule. Hij gaat integendeel nog een stapje verder en weet door middel van experiment en groepsimprovisatie enkele verbluffende resultaten te bereiken". (belgian)  ....read more..

www.kwadratuur.be

"En strålende ettertanke .....

Noe av det som har fengslet meg mest med Snekkestads debutplate er hvordan musikerne

lar musikken puste, de lar pausen få sitt spillerom. Det mest effektfulle er ofte det øyeblikket

hvor stillheten råder, og slike øyeblikk finnes det heldigvis mange av på Conic Folded."

www.groove.no (norwegian) ....read more

"Using fractured refrains and overwrought runs that are like jerky grabs for a personal quality that

always eludes, they play a music which is uncompromising in its honesty and languor." ...read more

www.experimusic.com

Interview in norwegian:  www.ballade.no

                                                        Biography

Torben Snekkestad is born in Norway 1973.

Living in Copenhagen, Denmark

Classically educated saxophonist, dedicated to contemporary music

and improvisation music of all forms.
Alongside with his classical work, he has always found time

to play jazz music as well.
Have premiered numerous of pieces, both with his ensembles and

also as a soloist with orchestras such as

"The Norwegian Radio Orchestra" and "Athelas Sinfonietta Copenhagen.

He is the soprano-saxophonist of "Copenhagen Saxophone Quartet"

- one of Denmark's most prominent chamber music ensembles,

their records and concerts being internationally acclaimed.

He also plays contemporary music in another

Danish chamber music ensemble,”4 elements”.

Duo projects with composer Jens Hørsving (laptop) called

”Among Machines” and saxophonist Rolf Erik Nystrøm

Gives solo-saxophone concerts with pieces by composers such as

Berio, Stockhausen and Scelsi, along side with various scandinavian

compositions and also his own improvisations/compositions.

As a jazz musician his main projects are:

"Conic Folded"- a solo, duo and trio project with music by Snekkestad.

Spring (danish free jazz quartet),Tri O`Trang (a norwegian trio),

Trygve Seim Orchestra(norwegian band on the ECM-label)

Snekkestads wide ranging musical interests have led him into

numerous musical settings over the years, ranging from

the music of the baroque and classical chamber music to rock,

folk music and free jazz.

As a composer he writes mainly to his own ensembles, but

occasionally also for other projects.

He`s currently a teacher in classical saxophone at

”The Royal Danish Academy Music” and at various workshops.

Toured extensively throughout Europe, USA, Russia, East Asia and Argentina.

NEWS

"Conic Folded"

Torben´s "debut" album is here.

Release date: January 28th on ILK-music !

see press reactions

below ....

Hasse Poulsen:

"L`art abstrait n´a pas dit son dernier mot"

finally released on Quark Records

( line-up: Poulsen, Ede, Banke, Snekkestad, Davidsen & Haug)  www.poulsen.fr

Maja S.K Ratkje

have released an

album on John Zorn`s Tzadik label.

"River mouth echoes"

( w/ Poing, Nystrøm, Fretwork, Snekkestad )

Snekkestad is the newest member of

ILK ( Indepent Label of Kopenhagen)

A collective record company wich

is run by a group of 19 musicians from the

danish jazz/eksperimental scene.

SOME UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:

My music for Annette Meyers"Icon Dressed" could be heard at

Kunsthal Rotterdam (The Netherlands)

1. February 2009 - 17. May 2009

New Jungle Orchestra

1/5  kl. 20:00

Skørpig, DK

New Jungle Orchestra

2/5  kl. 21:00

Aalborg, DK

FIGURA

Spor- festivalen

Århus 8/5

Liv Runesdatter

10/5 Stavanger

Maijazz, NO

PAST.......

 14 /2. Trygve Seim Orchestra. Tallinn Filharmoonia, Estonia

16-22 feb.

"Kong Ubu" produced by "Corona La Balance"

.at the "Royal Danish Opera House"

14/3 - 7/4

Teater Concerts at

Kaleidoskop, Copenhagen

"Bag 7 Døre"

December:

2nd - Rønne Kirke, Bornholm - CSQ
7th - Frederiksborg Slotskirke - CSQ
9th - Holmens Kirke, Copenhagen - CSQ
10th - RMC, Cph – Borchert/Snekkestad Duo
11th - Sankt Mortens Kirke, Randers - CSQ
14th - Vestervang Kirke, Helsingør . CSQ
14th - Sankt Johannes, Malmø - CSQ
17th - Uranienborg Kirke, Oslo – Trygve Seim Ensemble
18th - Nørretranders Kirke, Ålborg - CSQ
20th - Ellevang Kirke, Århus - CSQ

----------------------------------------------------------

 19/7 - "Copenhagen Saxophone Quartet"

            Wigmore Hall , London 7:30 pm

 20/7 - " London Improvisers Orchestra"

             Amadeus Centre , London 3:30 pm

      August & September  ( 25 shows with)

"Kong Ubu" produced by "Corona La Balance"

4 musicians and 2 actors on stage.

Tourplan on web-site.

21/8 Solo Performance cph "Classy Mondays"

23/8 Copenhagen Saxophone Quaret TBA

10/9 Copenhagen Saxophone Quartet

Korsør Koncerterne
Onsdag den 10. september 2008, kl. 19:30

13/9 Figura Ensemble/Seattle Chamber Players
Plex- Copenhagen

14/9 Figura Ensemble/Seattle Chamber Players
Plex- Copenhagen 

26/9 Among Machines + Thomas Strønen

CoMA-festivalen, Växjö, Palladium kl 19:00

1/10 Copenhagen Saxophone Quartet

plays Xenakis at " Sonning Prize " Copenhagen University kl 13:00

10/10 "Solo Perfomance" (Kulturnatten)
Allehelgens kirke 2300 Copenhagen S

kl 19:30

23/10 "Sax Revisted" series, III

interprets Evan Parker

Christianshavn Beboberhus kl 20:00

with Johanne Borchert - piano & Marc Lohr - drums

26/10 "Liv Runesdatter" CD release

"Stavangeren" - Stavanger (no)

kl. 19:00

28/10 "Liv Runesdatter" CD release

Oslo TBA

29/10 Figura Ensemble workshop/concert

Plex-Copenhagen

30/10 "Oort Cloud" Jexper Holmen

world premiere at "Musikhøst"

Sct. Hans kirke , Odense kl 22:00

2/11 "4-elements + Cronholm & Diers"

Råhuset kl 16:00  Wundergrund Festivalen

11/11 DSQ

"Hebert Pundiks Fredpris arr."

Politikens Hus - Copenhagen kl 16:30

12/11 Copenhagen Saxophone Quartet

(Plays: Bates, Brødsgaard, Terzakis m.m)

"Lygten Station" - Copenhagen kl 19:00

15/11  4-elements + Pelle Kahn

Silkeborg kl 15:00

16/11 " London Improvisers Orchestra"

   Amadeus Centre  London 15:30