Stereotomic Nypan

• 1 Heavy Hangs the Head 04:49
• 2 Don´t Mind If I Do 05:55
• 3 Piece for Peace 07:55
• 4 Resignated Driver 05:40
• 5 Just for the Record 03:51
• 6 The Big Rumble Tumble 07:01
• 7 Paris 05:05
• 8 This Old Thing 04:28
• Total Runtime 44:44

Info for Stereotomic

Stereotomy (Greek: στερεός (stereós) “solid” and τομή (tomē) “cut “) is the set of geometrical knowledge and techniques of cutting the blocks of stone to specified forms and dimensions.

This admirable and uplifting album resulted from a one-day live session, following a one-day rehearsal. Guitarist (and eponymous bandleader) Øyvind Nypan: “The charts were handed to the musicians as they arrived at the recording studio...we wanted everyone to have an open mind before we started to play. Everything is live, there are no overdubs”.

The sound of Øyvind’s guitar is rich and reassuring; it permeates perfectly. He plays with an effortless agility and in the best jazz tradition has produced an album consisting of a set of pure and uncluttered original compositions. They are bookended by the brand new opener, Heavy Hangs The Head which is a regal, imposing tango written the day before the studio session and the closing track, This Old Thing, an energetic blues with a theme written by Øyvind during his time as a student in the 90’s.

Don’t Mind If I Do opens with a bass riff by the constantly rewarding playing of Egil Kalman that is then doubled by virtuoso pianist Bernt Moen. This leads to an attractive contemporary jazz theme and super solos by Øyvind and Bernt. Piece For Peace is a mega-charming ballad which Øyvind describes as: “a gentle thought, hoping that people will find love in their hearts and no hate”. It concludes with a heart- wrenching cadenza by Bernt.

Resignated Driver, is described by Øyvind as having “a McCoy Tyner/Elvin Jones kind of feel”. The track features riveting piano and guitar solos and showcases the delightfully dynamic drumming of Ole Mofjell. The piano-less ballad Just For The Record provides mid-album breathing space, another beautiful ballad.

The Big Rumble Tumble opens with an intriguing guitar riff over ostinato piano and bass. It develops to reveal an explosive solo by Bernt, a show-stopping modernistic solo that flows into a driving medium swing tempo for Øyvind’s solo. The album’s third ballad is Paris, a track written by Øyvind on his return to Paris following the terror attacks in 2015.

Øyvind Nypan, guitar
Bernt Moen, piano
Egil Kalman, bass
Ole Mofjell, drums

Øyvind Nypan
studied music at the University of Agder in Norway and at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen. After moving to Paris he became a member of the Fredrika Stahl band, recording and touring around the world.

His first album as a leader ”Elements” was recorded in 2010 and features the French bass player Pierre Boussaguet and eminent saxophone player Petter Wettre and keyboardist Bernt Moen. His second album ”Republique” was recorded in Paris with tenor player Rick Margitza. The Nypan Trio album ”Directions” was released in 2015 featuring Daniel Formo on Hammond organ and Truls Rønning on drums.

Bernt Moen
As well as his career as a pianist, Bernt Moen is now Associate Professor in Performing Rhythmic Piano at the University of Agder. He studied at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, California, Norges Musikkhøgskole in Oslo and the Berklee College of Music. He has recorded 6 albums as a bandleader and won a Norwegian Grammy (Spellemannprisen) with the band Shining.

Egil Kalman
achieved a Bachelor degree at NTNU in Norway and a Masters in improvisational music at the University of Gothenberg. He tours extensively throughout Europe and has played and recorded with a myriad of celebrated Scandinavian and European musicians.

Ole Mofjell
Award-winning drummer/composer Ole Mofjell studied at the Rytmisk Musikkonservatorium and at NTNU in Norway. He has toured throughout Scandinavia and Europe and recorded with several bands and projects and is especially appraised for his work with the bands, Brute Force and COKKO. Ole was born in Norway and has lived and worked in Berlin and Copenhagen.

This album contains no booklet.