Ensemble Denada Explained

Ensemble Denada
Alias:	Norske Store Orkester
Origin:	Oslo, Norway
Genre:	Jazz Big Band
Years Active:	2000–present
Label:	ACT

Ensemble Denada or Norske Store Orkester (initiated 2000 in Oslo, Norway as 'Norske Store Orkester') is a Norwegian miniature big band run by "Østnorsk jazzsenter".

Biography

Ensemble Denada comprises about fifteen musicians, and has a Nordic profile through choice of music and its lineup.^[1] It has been led by Frank Brodahl and Helge Sunde (2005–). For the 2002 «Storbandfestivalen» they performed the works of Frode Fjellheim and Daniel Bingert.^[2]

In 2003 the ensemble performed a commissioned work by Olga Konkova at the Oslo Jazzfestival. For the «Vinterjazz» 2005, they performed works of their own Helge Sunde.^[3]

For the 2015 Kongsberg Jazz Festival they performed music by and with vocalist Mari Kvien Brunvoll. Her electronic compositions were adapted and arranged for a broader lineup by Erik Johannessen and Lars Horntveth, in addition to compositions by Helge Sunde.^[4]

Band members

Current members

• Vocal/electronics: Mari Kvien Brunvoll
• Trumpet: Frank Brodahl, Marius Haltli, Anders Eriksson
• Soprano saxophone: André Roligheten
• Alt saxophone, flute: Børge-Are Halvorsen
• Tenor saxophone, bass clarinet: Atle Nymo
• Bass saxophone, contra-alto clarinet, tubax: Nils Jansen
• Trombone: Even Kruse Skatrud, Erik Johannessen, Helge Sunde (musical director)
• Guitar: Jens Thoresen
• Piano: Olga Konkova
• Bass: Mats Eilertsen
• Drums: Håkon Mjåset Johansen

Past members

• Trumpet: Eckhard Baur, Birgit Kjuus
• Saxophone and woodwind: Håvard Fossum, Geir Lysne, Petter Wettre, Fredrik Øie Jensen, Frode Nymo
• Trombone: Øyvind Brække, Lars Erik Gudim, Geir Arne Haugsrud
• Guitar: Hallgrim Bratberg
• Bass: Daniel Bingert, Steinar Raknes, Per Mathisen
• Drums: Andreas Bye, Rune Arnesen

Honors

• 2010

Recipient of the German Echo Award as best big band record for the album Finding Nymo (2009)^[5]

Discography

• 2006

Denada (ACT), recorded in surround with Olga Konkova and Marilyn Mazur^{[6] [7]}

• 2009

Finding Nymo (ACT).^[8]

• 2013

Windfall (Ocella)

• 2019

Live In Bremen (Jazzland Recordings) with Torun Eriksen & Erlend Skomsvoll

Notes and References

1. Web site: Kulturrådet svikter storbandmiljøene . Norwegian . Ballade.no . January 10, 2003 . July 7, 2015 . February 2, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070202055708/http://www.ballade.no/nmi.nsf/doc/art2003010915545741821011 . dead .
2. Web site: Norske Store på Storbandfestivalen . Norwegian . Ballade.no . August 28, 2002 . July 7, 2015 . December 15, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071215175119/http://www.ballade.no/nmi.nsf/doc/art2002082810120324830395 . dead .
3. Web site: Vinterjazz med stor finale i Oslo til helgen . Norwegian . Ballade.no . February 3, 2005 . July 7, 2015 . June 16, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070616040403/http://www.ballade.no/nmi.nsf/doc/art2005012815004498950789 . dead .
4. Web site: Ensemble Denada og Mari Kvien Brunvoll: Bestillingsverk av Lars Horntveth og Erik Johannessen . Norwegian . . July 7, 2015.
5. Web site: Preisträger des ersten ECHO Jazz stehen fest . German . MusikiIndustrie.de . March 16, 2010 . July 7, 2015.
6. Web site: Helge Sunde Norske Store Orkester: Denada (2006) . William . Grim . . November 10, 2006 . July 7, 2015.
7. Web site: Denada . Musical reviews . Erling . Wicklund . Erling Wicklund . . November 6, 2006 . July 7, 2015.
8. Web site: Helge Sunde Ensemble Denada: Finding Nymo (2009) . John . Kelman . . November 12, 2009 . July 7, 2015.