Om utgivelsen
In a musical encounter between Northern Norway and Northern France, the long time collaboration of saxophonist Ola Asdahl Rokkones and the French jazz quintet Verøna has resulted in their first album «Save the Trees». Exploring refined and contemplative music with accents of contemporary jazz and folk, Verøna’s music is characterized by a great attention to sound and color, with a constant sensitivity and sense of listening. Together with the diverse musician Ola Asdahl Rokkones, the result is as dynamic and shifting as the nature in Northern Norway; at times poetic, and at times groovy and energic.
After a successful tour through Norway and France in 2023, the six musicians spent two days in Kysten studio in Tromsø recording one full length album with 8 compositions, as well as 3 separate singles. All originals signed trumpeter Samuel Belhomme, pianist François Chesnel, and saxophonist Ola Asdahl Rokkones. The album is mixed by Espen Elverum Jakobsen, and mastered by Nicolas Baillard at La Buissonne / France. Released on Finito Bacalao Records, and distributed through L’Autre Distribution.
Somewhere between Shakespeare’s dreaming Italy, England and Kenny Wheeler’s beautiful compositions, and the majestic landscapes of Norway, Verøna has been walking the paths of European jazz for more than fifteen years, without haste, with grace. At the time of «slow travel», Verøna embark on a journey bathed in light and poetry. Initially, the group brought together François Chesnel on piano, Rémy Garçon on saxophones, Bernard Cochin on double bass and Ariel Mamane on drums. The Quartet’s first recording appeared in 2011 on Le Petit Label under the title «La Solitude du roi». From 2012 on, the quartet became a quintet, including the Norwegian trumpeter/composer Tore Johansen. Together they released the live recording «Cherbourg Peninsula». In 2015/16, Verøna teamed up with Norwegian saxophonist Ola Asdahl Rokkones, and since 2020 Verøna has been enriched by the presence of trumpeter and composer Samuel Belhomme. Friends and long-time accomplices, sharing the same artistic affinities, the same conception of sound, harmonic colors, and improvisation, Samuel Belhomme has designed a repertoire of original compositions that perfectly follow and extend the aesthetics developed by Verøna.
Musikere
Ola Asdahl Rokkones - Tenor saxophone
Samuel Belhomme - Trumpet
Rémy Garçon - Soprano saxophone
François Chesnel - Piano
Bernard Cochin - Double bass
Ariel Mamane - Drums
