Damp (Norwegian band)

Damp

Chrome Hill performing in 2014
Background information
Also known as Chrome Hill
Origin Oslo, Norway
Genres Jazz
acoustic jazz
rock
Noise rock
Years active 2000–present
Labels AIM Records, Bolage
Website www.dampweb.com/ www.chromehill.no/
Members Asbjørn Lerheim
Torstein Lofthus
Jørgen Munkeby
Roger Arntzen

Damp is a jazz quartet from Oslo, Norway, originating from the Norwegian Academy of Music.[1] The band changed its name to Chrome Hill With the release of their third album in 2008.

Music

The music on their first two albums can be described as modern, acoustic jazz, with elements of rock. Some musical influences worth mentioning are musicians like Bill Frisell, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman and Albert Ayler. Damp released their second album Hoatzin in March 2005 to much acclaim. Damp has also released Mostly harmless (songs) in 2003. Both on AIM Records.

In 2008 their third album Earthlings was released, now under the band name Chrome Hill. Along with the change of name, came also a change of style. The music was no longer acoustic, with Asbjørn Lerheim's use of electric and baritone guitars, and clearly inspired by americana and noise rock. The album was released by the Norwegian record label Bolage.[2]

Crew

Asbjørn Lerheim, guitar, baritone guitar, electric guitar. Lerheim 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 Academy of Music in Oslo.

Torstein Lofthus, drums. Besides playing the drums in Damp Lofthus is the drummer in Shining, with albums released on Jazzland Recordings and 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, alto sax, clarinet. Munkeby is to be heard on a few Norwegian records, and is the leader of the highly acclaimed avant-prog quartet Shining. Munkeby was also one of the founding members of the nu-jazz band Jaga Jazzist, of which he was a member until 2002.

Roger Arntzen, bass, double bass. Arntzen is the bass player in the piano trio In the country, who were chosen as the "Young jazz Musicians Of The Year 2004" at Molde International Jazz Festival.[3] This trio has released two albums on Rune Grammofon to much acclaim. He has also been the bass player in bands such as Heidi Skjerve Quintet, Subtonic, Eckhard Baur Movement.

Awards

In August 2001, Damp represented Norway at the Tremplin Jazz d'Avignon festival in Avignon, France, as one of the four bands from Europe. Jørgen Munkeby was awarded the soloist prize.[4]

Discography

See also

External links

References

  1. Damp: Hoatzin at puls.no (Norwegian article)
  2. Band description at bolage.no
  3. Årets unge jazzmusikere - fra Molde til Molvær at ballade.no (Norwegian article)
  4. Pris til Jørgen Munkeby at ballade.no (Norwegian article)