Steinar Raknes
Biography Steinar Raknes
Steinar Raknes
is one of Norway’s foremost jazz bassists and songwriters. With his fearless and explosive playing style, he is often compared with the legendary bassist and songwriter Charles Mingus. Raknes is recognized through his work as composer and musician in the award-winning jazz trio Urban Connection, and for collaborations with artists such as Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, Bobby McFerrin and Per Texas Johansson. After completing a Master of Arts (music) degree of jazz at NTNU in2001, he has collaborated in a large number of ensembles, including The Core, Ola Kvernberg Trio, SKAIDI, Kirsti Huke Quartet and Trondheim Jazz Orchestra. He is the leader of his own jazz group, the Steinar Raknes Quartet, “Tangos, ballads & more” and his own group STILLHOUSE where he sings and plays the double bass.
Raknes has created a unique way of playing the double bass while singing, inspired by various pop/rock/blues/folk/country In his project STILLHOUSE he sings and plays together with the American harp player Mickey Raphael (from the Willie Nelson band) and the Norwegian vocalists Solveig Slettahjell and Unni Wilhelsen.
