Jan Bang

The musical spheres Jan Bang work in revolve around such luminaries as David Sylvian, Brian Eno, Jon Hassell and Dai Fujikura. From his work as successful pop producer in the 1990s his creative thrust and pioneering work in developing the concept of live remix­ - improvising with electronics alongside more conventional instruments and performers - has led today to him being constantly in-demand as producer and performer. 

  In 2005 he launched, together with Erik Honore the internationally renowned Punkt Festival where Bang’s creative use of live sampling, his own musical instrument, works within the framework of overlapping concerts one being the original, the other the remix. The Punkt brand has gained a reputation amongst musicians as being artist friendly and always putting the musicians needs first. Punkt already traveled abroad to the UK, Germany, Paris and visited Tallinn in spring 2011. 

  Bang’s recent recorded work includes the acclaimed CDs Died In The Wool by David Sylvian, Cartography by Arve Henriksen, Dream Logic by Eivind Aarset and Jon Hassell’s Last Night the Moon Came, the latter three on ECM. Jan Bang´s solo releases includes the albums…and Poppies from Kandahar (Samadhisound) and the new release Narrative from the Subtropics (Jazzland).  

 As a live performing musician Bang played at jazz festivals all over Europe, in the US, Australia, Asia and performed at places like Carnegie Hall, Royce Hall (UCLA) , Walker Art Center (Minneapolis),  Royal Opera House, Queen Elisabeth Hall, Kings Place (London), Robert Schumann Saal  (Düsseldorf) Gewandhaus (Leipzig), Manzoni Theatre (Milano) and the concert house in the Forbidden City (Bejing).

  Performances include amongst others at Sidney Opera House as part of Brian Eno´s festival in 2009. Also, including are concerts at Moderna Museet and the Concert House in Stockholm with Mezzo sopran Anne Sofie von Otter and was invited by Jan Garbarek to play on duo at the opening ceremony of the National library in Oslo.

  Long time collaborating partners include: Arve Henriksen (2002-dd); Sidsel Endresen (2000-dd);  Eivind Aarset (1996-dd); Nils Petter Molvær (2005-08); Jon Hassell (2008-11) and Bugge Wesseltoft (1996-99).

New aquaintances include Jason Moran in Molde Jazz iin 2013; Tigran Hamasyan (US) duo at Enjoy Jazz, Mannheim; Hamid Drake at the Manzoni Theatre, Milano; Trilok Gurtu in Hamburg; Marilyn Mazur at Copenhagen Jazz Festival; Ensemble Modern in Frankfurt. Concerts with Dave Douglas, Nasheet Waits, Jan Garbarek, David Sylvian, Anne Sofie von Otter, Dhafer Youssef, Hamid Drake, Toyah Willcox, Robyn Schulkowsky etc.

 Punkt, about to reach its fifteenth anniversary in 2019, is a particularly good example of what’s right about the Norwegian approach to culture; a very Norwegian idea that has gone completely global. Not just a festival, but a concept, one that is about taking music of any genre and, immediately after its performance, remixing it live and engaging additional live musicians, Punkt has become a moveable feast, invited to festivals around the world (in locations including the Moers Jazz Festival, Banlieues Bleues (Paris), London Jazz Festival, Vic Festival (Barcelona), Tallinn Music Week, Enjoy Jazz (Mannheim), Ensemble Modern (Frankfurt), Elbjazz Hamburg, and with more being added each year), where it not only brings Norwegian artists to help further the cause of Norwegian cultural export; it also collaborates with musicians from whatever country/city it’s in, building an ever-expanding international network of musicians, media, presenters and fans who may not have known each other before, but who now continue to collaborate on various levels. To put some context into it, some of the artists who have been involved in Punkt collaborations include ex-Led Zeppelin bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, American Fourth World Music progenitor, trumpeter Jon Hassell, British avant-songsmith David Sylvian, Germany’s Ensemble Modern and J. Peter Schwalm, Finland’s Vladislav Delay and Estonia’s Weekend Guitar Trio.

- Oslo october 7, 2014