Gjermund Larsen Trio – double bass, organ and fiddle, bring us music that is beyond beauty, touching, pure and honest. Time will stand still while these three musicians play. Their exquisite tones represent the finest Norway has to offer, and brought the festival´s Scottish producer to tears when he heard them in Spain last autumn.
It was in 2006 that Gjermund Larsen formed a trio together with Andreas Utnem on organ and Alskens keyboard, and Sondre Meisfjord on Double bass. Three superb musicians who seem to have been born playing together. Their broad background enables them to inhabit a rich musical landscape of folk music, jazz, contemporary music and baroque - this is music that must be heard!
Concert arranger and musician Gabriel Fiflet once introduced Gjermund Larsen with the words:- He looks like God and plays like Jesus. It should have been the other way around jests Gabriel Fiflet with a knowing smile.
- Music that touches the Celtic soul, yet bears a universal message, extolls our producer James Clapperton, who strongly encourages the festival public to get along to this concert.
The trio´s graceful improvisations and playful look at tradition demonstrate that folk music is a thriving art form. Gjermund Larsen trio will delve into their treasure casket of melodies and delight us with heavenly playing!
Gjermund Larsen - grew up in a folk music family from North Trøndelag. He has been a fiddler and performer since the age of 5. He seemed to have infused folk music with his mother´s milk. 8 years of folk music studies followed and he was the first student to take a diploma exam in folk music at Norges Musikkhøgskole. He was the youngest ever winner in the Aseems –class at Landskappleiken in 2002, and in 2005 he was awarded the King´s Trophy as best performer. Gjermund Larsen is a regular guest soloist with choir and orchestra, and has enjoyed numerous commissions as a composer from Norwegian festivals whilst winning several Spelemannspriser.
Andreas Utnem – flies across the keyboard with effortless ease and is a sought after theatre composer. He is employed as a musicians at Kirkens Bymisjon in Oslo. Andreas has released various albums with artists such as Trygve Seim (ECM), Ole Paus, Bjørn Klakegg and Andreas Bræin Hovig. A brilliant musician who captivates audiences.
Sondre Meisfjord - one of Norway´s most versatile Double bassists, composers and soloists. Sondre is a creative and rounded representative of the music world who moves freely between genres. Meisfjord is equally at home in swing jazz in the group Come Shine, Norwegian folk music in the trio Flukt, Irish folk music in Musharings, cool jazz in John Pål Inderberg´s The Zetting or as a pop singer–songwriter with Siri Gjæres band. Sondre is also a bass player in the Trondheim Jazzorkester with Pat Metheny.
On the evening of St. Hans you can hear these three fabulous musicians in Harstad kirke!