Norway's Friends And Neighbours New Zealand Tour Announced

Norwegian jazz quintet Friends And Neighbours are visiting Aotearoa in September for a six date national tour. Comprised of Thomas Johansson (trumpet), André Roligheten (saxes/clarinet), Oscar Grönberg (piano), Jon Rune Strøm (bass) and Tollef Østvang (drums), the acclaimed young group are at the forefront of Norway's new generation of jazz innovators, their adventurous vision in sound drawing inspiration from such free-thinking trailblazors as Ornate Coleman and Pharaoh Sanders, along with their own Scandinavian sonic traditions. Here are the details...

Friends And Neighbours

Wednesday 19th September – Auckland, Backbeat, Creative Jazz Club, K Rd
Thursday 20th September – Auckland, Audio Foundation (with guests)*
Friday 21st September – Napier, The Paisley Stage*
Saturday 22nd September – Wellington, The Pyramid Club*
Monday 24th September – Wellington, 3rd Eye, Arthur St Loft
Wednesday 26th September – Christchurch, CPIT Jazz School*

Tickets available HERE via UTR*

Check out the action-packed clip for their tune 'Motorvägen' from 2011's No Beat Policy...

Press release:

Norwegian jazz quintet Friends and Neighbours announce a nation-wide New Zealand tour. The group represents the leading young voices in the thriving Norwegian modern jazz scene, and promises high energy excitement, swooping melodies and a touch of Nordic darkness. Featuring Thomas Johansson (trumpet), André Roligheten (saxes/clarinet), Oscar Grönberg (piano), Jon Rune Strøm (bass), Tollef Østvang (drums), the music of Friends and Neighbours represents a new generation of Norwegian jazz groups. Through original and strong compositions, this has resulted in a band sound with strong identity, crystal clear presence and personality. The quintets members can also be heard in bands like Team Hegdal, Forde Gjerstad trio, Cortex and All Included. Together they draw upon the melodic innovations of Ornette Coleman alongside a unique Scandinavian sensibility to create vital and compelling music which has never been heard live in New Zealand.

“sweeping melodious content and an airy underpinning...this undeniably adrenalized and sharply focused program boasts a profusion of flavorsome delights that sustain value on recurring listens.” AllaboutJazz

"Friends & Neighbors underscores the implicit point that the language it springs out of, with tentacles goingbacktoOrnetteś revolutionarysound,isaliveandthriving. In this case, a spirited quintet of Norwegian musicians have made it their own. Call it a neo-"New Thing" sensation" - Downbeat