Damp (Norwegian band)

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Damp
Damp. From left: Jørgen Munkeby, Roger Arntzen, Torstein Lofthus, Asbjørn Lerheim.
Origin	Oslo, Norway
Years active	2000 - present
Genres	Jazz acoustic jazz rock
Labels	AIM REcords
Members	Asbjørn Lerheim Torstein Lofthus Jørgen Munkeby Roger Arntzen
Website(s)	www.dampweb.com/

Damp is a quartet from Oslo, Norway, with its origin from the Norwegian State Academy of Music. The guitar player in the band, Asbjørn Lerheim, writes all the music. Some influences worth mentioning are musicians like Bill Frisell and Miles Davis, but also Ornette Coleman and Albert Ayler.

The music can among many things be described as modern, acoustic jazz, but also with elements of rock. Damp released their latest album Hoatzin) in March 2005 to much acclaim. Damp has also released Mostly harmless (songs) in 2003. Both on AIM Records.

In August 2001, Damp represented Norway under the "European Jazz Contest" in Avignon, France, as one out of four bands from Europe. The saxophone player Jørgen Munkeby won the great soloist's price in Avignon.

[edit] Crew

Asbjørn Lerheim, guitar. Lerheim is composing all the music for DAMP. He is also the leader and co-composer of the vocal jazz quintet Subtonic. He did a tour with New York saxophone player Jon Gordon in Norway 2006. Lerheim has his background from jazz and improvisation studies at the Norwegian State Academy of Music in Oslo.

Torstein Lofthus, drums. Besides playing the drums in Damp Lofthus is the drummer in Shining, released on Rune Grammofon. He has participated on many soul and pop albums, and is a frequently used session drummer. He also plays with soul singer Torun Eriksen and in trio with Per Zanussi and Jon Eberson.

Jørgen Munkeby, tenor sax. Munkeby is to be heard on many Norwegian records, and is the leader of the highly acclaimed free rock quartet Shining, released on Rune Grammofon. Munkeby is also one of the founding members of the success-cult-band Jaga Jazzist. Munkeby is also composing music for theather and other genres, and is involved in a major production which is performing in China in December 2006.

Roger Arntzen, bass. Arntzen plays the bass in the piano trio In the country, who was awarded Young jazz Musicians Of The Year 2004 in Norway. This trio has released their debut album on Rune Grammofon to much acclaim. He has also been the bass player bands such as Heidi Skjerve Quintet, Subtonic, Eckhard Baur Movement.