The Squid's Ear Magazine


Cortex (Johansson / Alberts / Hoyer / Nilssen): Live in New York [VINYL] (Clean Feed)

Approaching the free side of 60s postbop in the Ornette Coleman vein, the Cortex quartet of Thomas Johansson (trumpet), Kristoffer Alberts (sax), Ola Hoyer (double bass) and Gard Nilssen (drums) are captured for a dynamic and captivating set at IBeam in Brooklyn in 2015.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Thomas Johansson-trumpet

Kristoffer Berre Alberts-saxophones

Ola Hoyer-doublebass

Gard Nilssen-drums


Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.




UPC: 5609063103816

Label: Clean Feed
Catalog ID: CF381LP
Squidco Product Code: 22583

Format: LP
Condition: New
Released: 2016
Country: Portugal
Packaging: LP - Gatefold
Recorded live at IBeam in Brooklyn, New York, on September 18th 2015, by Randy Thaler.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"On Cortex second release with Clean Feed Records you'll find them again in the best context possible: in concert. Considering that the band works in the tradition pioneered by Ornette Coleman, this concert recording has a special significance, because it took place in the world capital of jazz, New York. The approach may be somewhat European, but the music registered here seemed (and seems) at home.

Critics wrote at the occasion that Cortex is walking the same routes where we can find John Zorn's Masada. This means the music is energetic and robust, with a frenetic rhythm section and a trumpet / sax frontline very exact when delivering unisons and counterpoints and free in the improvised solos. The music is simultaneously heavy and agile, flowing as a bird of prey in open air, and defying gravity. A must have, must listen!"-Clean Feed

Also available on CD.

Artist Biographies

"Thomas is born and raised in Skien,Telemark. With a bachelor degree from the University of Stavanger, and Masters from The Norwegian Academy of Music, he is a part of the strong young Norweigan jazz elite. He has done extensive touring in Scandinavia, Europe, Japan and USA, with both his own projects and as a sideman in several other bands.

His main project is Cortex, which is a quartet consisting of Thomas, Kristoffer Alberts, Ola Høyer and Gard Nilssen. Cortex is a Norwegian band which plays enerergetic jazz of the finest brand. With over one hundred live perfomances and four highly acclaimed albums, they position themselves as one of the strongest additions to the Norwegian jazz scene.

Thomas is also active in several other projects, such as: All Included, Friends & Neighbors, Paal Nilssen-Love Large Unit, and Scheen Jazzorkester.

Thomas currently lives in Skien, working as a freelance trumpet player and composer. Thomas has in recent years toured and played at several festivals and clubs at home and abroad, with both his own and others projects. For projects and livedates, check the pages on the menu at the top of the page."

-Thomas Johansson Website (http://www.thomasjohansson.no/?page_id=22)
4/2/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Bachelor of performing jazz from Jazz Academy, Trondheim, NTNU, 2008.

Master of performing jazz/improvised music from Norwegian Academy of Music, finish 2016.

Written about Kristoffer Berre Alberts

"Alberts' hearty saxophone is a center piece of the music. Both brash and agile, he switches from post-bop lines to caterwauls in a moment's notice." av Paul Ascquaro. Freejazzblog

"Saxophonist Kristoffer Berre Alberts has mastered a personal tonal language" - Eyrel Hareuveni, All about jazz"

-Kristoffer Alberts Website (https://kristofferalberts.com/about/)
4/2/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Ola Høyer like others of the erudite new generation of Norwegian musicians is equally at home in a wide variety of musics including classical, jazz and experimental rock, and brings this wealth of experience and acute musicality into a very fluid and rich improvisational style. He is increasingly in demand touring regularly in Japan and the USA with his group Cortex and many other collaborations."

-Cafe Oto (https://www.cafeoto.co.uk/artists/ola-hoyer/)
4/2/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Gard Nilssen (born 24 June 1983 in Skien, Norway) is a Norwegian Jazz musician (drums) and composer, and member of the bands Bushman's Revenge and Puma.

Nilssen was educated on the Jazz program at Trondheim Musikkonservatorium (2003). He was voted this year's young jazz musicians in 2006 with the group Puma. Otherwise Nilssen is very active in bands like Bushman´s Revenge, Lord Kelvin, and Heidi Skjerve Kvintett.

Nilssen was chosen to represent Norway in the artist development program Take Five, a music developer program promoted by the London-based concert promoter Serious."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gard_Nilssen)
4/2/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



SIDE A



1. Higgs (Live) 7:56

2. Fall (Live) 7:05

SIDE B



1. Ghost March / Ahead (Live) 20:25

Related Categories of Interest:


Vinyl Recordings
Improvised Music
Jazz
European Improvisation, Composition and Experimental Forms
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Quartet Recordings
Clean Feed
Staff Picks & Recommended Items
Squidco's Clean Feed 50% Sale

Search for other titles on the label:
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