Eirik Hegdal
– saxophones
Tord Gustavsen – piano / synth-bass
Magnus Forsberg – drums
"The tree of life, Yggdrasill, had its roots deep down in the underworld. On these roots, the dragon Nidhögg was feeding himself, while a deer was eating the leaves of the tree. There were other animals, too, finding their place of rest in this enormous tree at the center of the world; a mighty eagle was living in its top. However; between the dragon and the eagle, a little squirrel was running up and down all the time. Its name was Ratatosk, and it was disturbing the peace."
The music of Ratatosk is written by Eirik Hegdal or Tord Gustavsen and develops in a freely improvised setting. Funky grooves, lyrical beauty and themes that are both humorous and intricate come together in a very special blend.
Ratatosk has been playing together for four years, and the trio has received praise for appearances at Molde int. Jazz festival 1997, at Inderøy Jazz festival 1996, and at a variety of Norwegian jazz clubs. The three musicians are all educated from the jazz department of the Conservatory of Music in Trondheim, Norway. Their experiences as professional musicians cover a wide range of festivals, tours and studio sessions:
Eirik Hegdal (saxophones) is currently also leading the quintet Dingobats, with which he did a successful concert at the Vossajazz festival in 1996, a Baltic tour in the summer of 1997, and released a CD December 1998. He also plays with the Erlend Skumsvoll Orchestra and the trio Noble Noise. Eirik is highly profiled both as an improviser and as a composer. With Ratatosk Eirik plays both the soprano and the baritone sax, and he uses his 'machines' (harmonizers, effects processor, sampling loops...) in an inventive and tasteful way.
Tord Gustavsen (piano/synthbass) has also been engaged at several international jazz festivals; North Sea Jazz Festival, Stockholm Jazz Festival, Molde int. Jazz Festival, Kongsberg Jazzfestival, Oslo Jazz Festival. He has toured the Europe with the Silje Nergaard Band, with the quartet Nymark Collective and with his own trio. He also works with singer Siri Gjære in the duo project aire & angels, which released its first CD January 1999, gaining praise from a number of critics in Norwegian press. Tord writes originals for most of the projects in which he is involved.
Magnus Forsberg (drums) is the Swedish component of the trio; he's from the city of Östersund, but he has already become a widely used jazz drummer in Norway also. It comes natural to mention the trio Angel Food, trio work with Vigleik Storaas (piano) and Bjørn Alterhaug (bass), projects involving the American trumpet-player Roy Okutanu, as well as different bands with Swedish musicians like Nisse Sandström, Lasse Hörnfeldt and Kennet Arnström.
Booking: Tord Gustavsen – Sørligt. 10, oppg. 3 – 0577 Oslo – Norway – Tel.: (+47) 22689671 / 90793687 – e-mail: tordg@hedda.uio.no