SJO with Ambrose Akinmusire & Live Maria Roggen (nov 2021)
Photo by Kenneth Sporseim
The jazz orchestra's first project with an international star. The American trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire is one of the great, new artists on the jazz scene, winner of several international jazz awards, with incredible mastery of his instrument and an exciting, diverse musical profile. He is also highly knowledgeable about the Norwegian jazz scene and wanted to include a vocalist in the band. The choice fell on Live Maria Roggen, most known as the singer in Come Shine, but also with a number of solo releases. A vocalist who, in addition to being a soloist, can also blend into the band on par with the other instrumentalists. The repertoire consists of original compositions by Akinmusire, Roggen, and arrangers Magne Rutle, Jon Øystein Rosland, Thomas Johansson, and Rune Klakegg. The work took place in Skien, Trondheim, Bergen, and Oslo (at the national jazz venue Victoria) from November 9th-12th 2021