Jørn Øien Cosmopolitan@BodøjazzOpen, Sinus (English)

Jørn Øien Cosmopolitan - Nordlands Zawinul?

Keyboardist Jørn Øien is one of the outstanding representatives of northern Norwegian jazz. On the outside, the bearded keyboard virtuoso from Narvik fits the cliché image of a Norwegian, but there is also his inner fire. On the one hand, it draws its nourishment from the universe that Miles Davis created in the seventies with Bitches Brew, for example. On the other hand, he sees himself as a world musician who locates the roots of jazz in Africa and oriental music, among other places. In a short lecture, he gives the example of the banjo, which can be traced back to the African goat-necked lute ngoni. He makes no secret of his admiration for Joe Zawinul, whose musical heritage Øien has made part of his own DNA. 

At a festival as exposed to the vagaries of the weather as the Bodø Jazz Open, it is hardly surprising that Stormy Weather is played. The audience in Sinus, the small hall of the concert hall Stormen (sic!), is immediately hooked by the band. 

In addition to the fire described above, Øien also radiates an almost meditative calm. He draws his groove from these opposing poles. The piece Return of the Empire, for example, begins with electronic sounds accompanied by percussion. Magnus Bakken plays an oriental-sounding melody with his alienated soprano saxophone, Rune Arnesen and Sidiki Camara provide the soundscape and Jørn Øien the space sound.  The Weather Report sound is complete. But it doesn't sound like a copy at all, it's lively contemporary live music. It makes us rather humble, because we have to admit to ourselves that much of what we consider modern today has its roots in a completely different time. So who might be the Emperor be Øien is referring to?

In Asante Sana Kaka, the aforementioned ngoni is used and gives the song its African character with the deep voice of Camara's Malian singing. Jørn Øien picks up on these components by mirroring and alienating them with his keyboard and an electronically distorted singing voice. The arc extends from pre-colonial Africa into the modern age! This gripping music opens our eyes and ears! As a final statement, The Legacy is the quasi substrate of Jørn Øien's musical foundation.

Jørn Øien - Keyboards 

Magnus Bakken - Stronischen axophone 

Rune Arnesen - drums and percussion 

Sidiki Camara - ngoni, djembe and vocals 

Audun Erlien - bass