"Thomas is born and raised in Skien,Telemark. With a bachelor degree from the University of Stavanger, and Masters from The Norwegian Academy of Music, he is a part of the strong young Norweigan jazz elite. He has done extensive touring in Scandinavia, Europe, Japan and USA, with both his own projects and as a sideman in several other bands.

His main project is Cortex, which is a quartet consisting of Thomas, Kristoffer Alberts, Ola Høyer and Gard Nilssen. Cortex is a Norwegian band which plays enerergetic jazz of the finest brand. With over one hundred live perfomances and four highly acclaimed albums, they position themselves as one of the strongest additions to the Norwegian jazz scene.

Thomas is also active in several other projects, such as: All Included, Friends & Neighbors, Paal Nilssen-Love Large Unit, and Scheen Jazzorkester.

Thomas currently lives in Skien, working as a freelance trumpet player and composer. Thomas has in recent years toured and played at several festivals and clubs at home and abroad, with both his own and others projects. For projects and livedates, check the pages on the menu at the top of the page."

Jon Øystein Rosland is a Norwegian saxophonist. He works at Skien Videregående Skole, at kulturskolen, and at Skien VGS, He studied Composition Pedagogy at Norges Musikkhøgskole, and Composition at Berklee College of Music.

"Guttorm Guttormsen (born 28 June 1950) is a Norwegian Jazz musician (flute, clarinet, alto saxophone), arranger and composer.

Guttormsen was born in Mo i Rana. After moving to Oslo (1969), he appeared with Ivar Antonsen's Band at "Festspillene i Nord-Norge" (1971). Later, at Skien, he led a big band, and led his own quintet with, among others, Bjørn Kjellemyr with a series of recordings. He attended Kongsberg Jazzfestival several times, also with his own quartet (1975, 1979), and "Guttorm Guttormsen/Per Kristian Ekholt Big Band" (1976). He led his own Quintet, including with Lars Klevstrand, Jon Balke, Carl Morten Iversen, Espen Rud, releasing the album Høysang (1978).

Musical Director of "Teater Ibsen" and within Jon Eberson Quartet, Per Husby dedication orchestra (1984-1988) and contributed on albums by "Trio de Janeiro", and the release Distant Reports (2001) by "Nordnorsk Jazzforum".

He is best known for his compositions for theater, including a variety of performances at Nationaltheatret, "Det Norske Teater" and "Teater Ibsen" where he is music director.

He was also the director of "Ibsens Gåte" in 1997 which was a musical interpretation of Ibsen.

Guttormsen has composed music for a number of Norwegian artists like Anne Grimstad Fjeld, Agnes Buen Garnås, Knut Buen, Lars Vik (Fritjof Fomlesen), Kine Hellebust to mention some. He has been a studio musician for a number of Norwegian music productions and artists like Lars Klevstrand.

He lives in Langesund since 1993."

André Kassen is a Norwegian saxophonist.

Saxophonist at AADAL
February 19, 2020 - Present
Saxofonist at Ingrid Halle
2019 - Present
Saxofonist at Scheen Jazzorkester
2010 - Present·Skien, Norway
Works at Frilansmusiker
2001 - Present
Former Saxofonlærer at Universitetet i Agder
November 2014 - June 2016·Kristiansand, Norway
Former Saxofonlærer at Skien Kulturskole
July 31, 2005 - December 30, 2016
College
Studied Master i utøvende musikk at UiA - Universitetet i Agder
Class of 2008
Studied Musikk at Høgskolen i Agder
Class of 2003
Studied at Viken folkehøgskole
Class of 2000
High school
Went to Porsgrunn videregående skole
Class of 1999

"Kristoffer Alberts (b. 1982) has emerged in the Norwegian scene of improvised music with a fresh approach to the saxophone. One hears traces of Albert Ayler, Ab Baars and the likes of Frank Lowe but Alberts has let his influences shape the music so you feel them rather than hearing them loud and clear. His contribution to the scene is also seen with his own label. Alberts is active in groups like Cortex, collaborations with Lasse Marhaug, Maja Ratkje and Steve Noble, whom all are featured on recordings released by his own label as well as Clean Feed."

Finn Arne Dahl Hanssen is Norwegian trumpeter based on Porsgrunn. He is the General Manager at Norges Musikkorps Forbund Sør. He also is associated with Skien Cultural School and Skien Municipality, the cultural school.

Magne Rutle is a Norwegian trombone player, known for the groups Scheen Jazzorkester, Trøkk,and Nikar Rearge Inc.

Guro Kvåle is a Norwegian trombone player, known for the groups Hermann Hestbek Ensemble, Private Property!, Superspreder and Scheen Jazzorkester.

Rune Klakegg, born 1955 NO, Skien. Musician / Composer / Arranger of Jazz

"Rune Klakegg (born 19 April 1955 in Skien, Norway)is a Norwegian jazz pianist and composer, the older brother of guitarist Bjørn Klakegg, and known from a number of recordings and jazz bands including Oslo 13, Cutting Edge, Fuzzy Logic, Out to Lunch and Søyr."

"Ola Høyer like others of the erudite new generation of Norwegian musicians is equally at home in a wide variety of musics including classical, jazz and experimental rock, and brings this wealth of experience and acute musicality into a very fluid and rich improvisational style. He is increasingly in demand touring regularly in Japan and the USA with his group Cortex and many other collaborations."

Jan Olav Renvåg is a Norwegian jazz bassist, known for the groups Geir Lysne Listening Ensemble, Kringkastingsorkestret, Lush Life, OJ Trio, Rune Klakegg Trio, Fou Rire, and Scheen Jazzorkester.

"Dag Erik Knedal Andersen (born 5th of November 1983) is an award winning Norwegian drummer and improviser based in Oslo.

Knedal Andersen had originally planned to become an engineer, but at the age of 16 he discovered the dubious joy of jazz and improvised music, and hence there were no turning back. After buying all the records he could lay his hands on at that time, he soon found himself studying jazz at the Conservatory of Music in Trondheim. After his graduation in 2008, he moved to Berlin for a brief period of time, before moving to Oslo to do a masters degree in improvised music at the Norwegian State Academy of Music.

Perhaps best known for his "hyperactive-take-no-prisoners" approach to drumming, he has been an ubiquitous musician on the Norwegian improvised music scene over the last couple of years, as well as touring all over Europe with groups such as SAKA and AKODE. In 2010 he received the Molde International Jazz Festival's "Talent of the year" award. In addition to his regular groups, he has performed with among others Axel Dörner, Alan Wilkinson, John Butcher, Thomas Lehn, Frode Gjerstad, Fredrik Ljungkvist, Pat Thomas, Jørgen Mathisen, Akira Sakata, Tobias Delius, Alex Ward, Dominic Lash, Rudi Mahall, Lasse Marhaug, Martin Küchen, Birgit Ulher, Maja Ratkje, John Edwards, Kjetil Møster and Ingebrigt Håker Flaten."

"Audun Kleive's reputation within the jazz community can best be described as true royalty.. His musicianship as a drummer and percussionist is highly respected among his peers, has gained him an established reputation as a vital force in Norwegian and international jazz, and he is a source of inspiration for an entire younger generation of jazz musicians. "I am convinced that the world needs alternatives," Kleive states about his artistic vision, continuing, "honest musical attempts that further develop the great heritage from our planet's composers...music is one of the last possible free places left in the world, and I aim to show that art form my respect to my last breath."

His integrity and artistry is reflected as a participant in well over 160-plus recordings, he has provided the rhythmic foundations for such varied musicians as Terje Rypdal, Jon Balke, Charles Lloyd, and Marilyn Mazur. Voted by the Norwegian Jazz Musician's Union in 1989 as Jazz Musician of The Year, he has continued to be a highly valued artist in constant demand for other projects or as a featured performer.

Son of organist Kristoffer Kleive and brother of organist Iver Kleive, Audun Kleive began his career playing drums in various bands in his hometown of Skien, Norway. As a kid he played snaredrum in different marching bands - a common thing in Norway for many kids. Here his teacher was a violinist. He also took lessons in classical piano his early years, and played orchestral percussion in the local symphony-orchestra.

At some point around the age of 16 he was picked up by Guttorm Guttormsen and Ole-Johnny Michaelsen, two local jazzmusicians. An organ-trio was formed. Sax,drums and B3. Soon after he joined a summer-course in Søgne, Norway, where he met Radka Toneff and Arild Andersen -they had a totally improvised encounter one late night in a library - a revelation that forever changed Auduns life.

After moving to Oslo to study at the School of Music (Musikkhøyskolen) in 1980, he joined various jazz/rock bands such as Lotus (1981-83) and Oslo 13 (1981-84), eventually making his recording debut with the album Anti-therapy (1983). His talent soon placed him among the most sought-after drummers in Oslo, and he continued 1983 with the Anne-Marie Giørtz Quintet on the festival route, and on that artist's album release Breaking Out (1983). Also that year, Kleive joined the Frode Alnæs/Nils Petter Molvær quartet, simultaneously also appearing with Sidsel Endresen during 1983-84.

He has performed with the groups AHA/Extended Nose, with whom he recorded Keep Nose In Front (1984), Jamaha (1986) and Slow But Sudden, langsam aber plötzlich (1988-90). He participated also in the Brødrene Balke Etno Funk group, the Knut Riisnæs Quartet (1984), Terje Rypdals trio The Chasers also in 1984 (with releases in 1985, 86, 88 og 94), and the Circulasione Totale Orchestra (1986-89), releasing Accent in 1987. In 1991 he also performed together with Nils Petter Molvær, Bugge Wesseltoft and Bjørn Kjellemyr and also composed, arranged and performed the album "Music for Men and Machines" (1992) together with Jon Eberson.

Continuing with Oslo 13 he recorded Off Balance in 1987 and Live 1993, as well as touring internationally and recording with Trio 87 from 1987-90. He has performed or recorded with many international artists, notably the Swedish on Swedish group Entra Live records , Jon Eberson Trio (Stash 1986), Jon Eberson/Sidsel Endresen (1987), Jan Gunnar Hoff (releases 1993/95/96 and 2003), Marilyn Mazur's Future Song (1994/98/2002/03), Gunnar Andreas Berg (1996), Bugge Wesseltoft (New conception of jazz 1995-96), Bendik Hofseth (1997) and Olga Konkova (Going with the flow,1997).

From 1990 to 2003 he had a fruitful and productive collaboration with Jon Balke and Per Jørgensen (JøKleBa), recording On and On (1991), Jøkleba! (1992) og Jøkleba Live (1996), also joining Jon Balke's Magnetic North ensemble for touring and recording between 1993 and 2002. His playing is also featured on many ECM recordings, notably Kyanos for Jon Balke, Small Labyrinths for Marilyn Mazur's Future Song, Nonsentration for Jon Balke/Oslo 13, and Chaser / Blue / The Singles Collection / If Mountains Could Sing for Terje Rypdal/The Chasers, among others.

Not limiting himself only to jazz, his involvement with other musicians such as Kari Bremnes not only featured his skills as a drummer, but also displays his considerable talent as an arranger ("Mit vilde hjerte" og "Blaa Krukke"). He also performed with Bremnes and Kjetil Bjørnstad on their "Løsrivelse" album, and produced the critically praised techno-jazz band Krøyt, Sub album. Co-owner of the studio Audiopol, he has produced and engineered a pile of both young and mature artists like Bushmans Revenge, Puma, Hans Ulrik, Mike Stern, Jan Gunnar Hoff, Krøyt, Chili Vanilla, Petter Wettre, Lord Kelvin, Transjoik, Bol, Kirsti Huke Quartet, Klaus Holm Kollektif, Dingobats, Solid, Sidsel Endresen, Magnetic North to name but a few.

In 1996 he was invited to Copenhagen, as the only Norwegian jazz musician to perform for that year's European City of Culture festivities, indeed an esteemed honor. Shortly thereafter, in 1998, he received the Klart Svar ("Clear Answer") Award from the Kongsberg International Jazz Festival.

Performed in duo and trioformats with Nils Petter Molvær in well over 100 concerts around the world between 2007 and 2010, together with Eivind Aarset/Stian Westerhus.

Then established several new constellations:

A duo with saxophonist Petter Wettre

A trio with Arve Henriksen and Helge Nordbakken

A trio with Morten Quenild and Anders Tveit

Scheen Jazzorkester, a bigband-project with musicians from Telemark, Norway

His solo (alone on stage) project, material emerging from his recent album "release"

Recorded with doom-metal group "Fester"

Initiated recording of new soloproject with Ronnie LeTekrø (TNT) and Niko Eilertsen (Big Bang/Elephant 9) still in progress

Commission work in churces with his brother Iver Kleive

Revival of JøKleBa

Audun received Norsk Jazzforums highest award, the "Buddy Prize", in 2018, citing his central and important role in the Norwegian jazz community since the early 1980s and his being a source of great inspiration for many musicians."