Norwegian Eivind Aarset is one of the most respected European guitarists of today. His stylistic versatility and ability to be creative and authentically expresses himself regardless of musical idiom, or the context in which hemakes music, made him a unique voice and presence on the music scene. The sounds of his guitar captivate critics and audiences creating acoustic landscapes of magical beauty.
Like many other guitarists, Aarset began his musical odyssey buying Jimi Hendrix’s album, and after that he started listening to Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath, and his interest in jazz and improvised music began when discovering the fusion of Miles Davis and the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report ensembles. After this experience Aarset “came back home” by listening the music of the great Norwegians Terje Rypdal and Jan Garbarek, and recordings by the German publisher ECM which influenced in a significant way Aarset’s musical worldview.
His professional career started in a heavy metal band and he would soon become a member of the Bendik Hofset ensemble, and later Buggea Wesseltoft ensemble which articulates the beginning of his artistic career.
By presence, he was a guest on more than 150 albums of the musicians like Cher, Ray Charles, Dee Dee Bridgewater , Mike Mainierija, Arild Andersen, Dhafer Youssef, Nils Petter Molvaer and Django Bates. He played on the album It’s a Man ‘s World , that Cher released in 1996, and Ray Charles’s album Strong Love Affair from 1996.
He released the first album under his own name Electronique Noir in 1998, and the next album Light Extracts three years later. After these albums Aarset’s aesthetics was quite clear to the audience and critics. The album Light Extracts was followed by Connected in 2004 and Sonic Codex 2007. Album Live Extracts released three years ago, has presented some of Eivind’s concert performances , and current album Dream Logic , was released last year for ECM making a sort of full artistic circle.
At this year’s Jazz Fest Aarset will present a repertoire from the album Dream Logic, and bassist Audun Erlien and two drummers Wetle Holte and Erland Dahlen will perform with Aarset. Tickets for Eivind Aarset concert can be purchased at presale price of 12KM at Jazz Fest box office at BKC.