Avant Folk II

Frode Haltli releases ‘Avant Folk II’, the follow-up to ‘Avant Folk’ (2018). The group of ten is an all-star cast of some of Norway’s most innovative and creative musicians, spanning different generations and genres. The ensemble has since 2017 played a number of international festivals, and has earned a reputation as a vital and solid live band. The music on this new studio album was commissioned by Vossa Jazz in 2019, and Joseph Woodard in All About Jazz stated: ‘By my biased account, Haltli’s mesmerizing and newly-commissioned set, for a ten-piece ensemble including Hardanger fiddle player Erlend Apneseth and conventional violin, horns (with saxophonist Rolf-Erik Nystrøm, also in Haltli’s juicy cool band POING), was the most memorable show of the festival.’

When Frode Haltli founded Avant Folk in 2017, it was to continue his work in the outskirts of folk, this time with a mini big band: Drums, bass, two guitars, two winds, two fiddlers, organ, and himself on the accordion. The ensemble has a distinguished and recognisable sound that blends acoustic and electric instruments, with musical inspiration from past and present: ‘I have worked across established genres through many years now. I’ve done everything from complex scores in contemporary music to jazz and traditional music. In Avant Folk we use processes from folk music: I present a simple material to start with, that all musicians learn by ear. This way, without any scores at all, we all get a common feel of the phrasing and the rhythms, with flexibility and freedom in further elaboration of the musical material.’

Avant Folk features Frode Haltli – accordion, Erlend Apneseth – Hardanger fiddles, Hans P. Kjorstad – violin, Rolf-Erik Nystrøm – saxophones, Hildegunn Øiseth – trumpet, goat horn and vocals, Ståle Storløkken – Hammond organ and synthesizer, Juhani Silvola – acoustic and electric guitars, Oddrun Lilja Jonsdottir – electric guitar and vocals, Fredrik Luhr Dietrichson – double bass and Siv Øyunn Kjenstad – drums and vocals.

‘Avant Folk II’ was recorded in Newtone Studio, Oslo and mixed in Propeller Music Division, Oslo.

More info on ‘Avant Folk II’ in the discography section, or choose your preferred music service!