Frode Haltli Quartet on U.S Tour
Accomplished accordion player Frode Haltli brings his quartet to the U.S. for a four date tour of the U.S. following the release of his latest ECM recording "Passing Images."
Frode Haltli, acknowledged as one of the most outstanding accordion soloists in contemporary music, which includes seven Norwegian titles as best accordionist, is also an exceptional improviser and an authority on folk music.
His second ECM recording under his own name brings all of these aspects of his musical character together. Repertoire includes a psalm from the western fjords, a lyrical waltz from Haltli's home village near the Swedish border, a Roma traveller tune that suggests Albert Ayler's sound-world The remaining three elements of the quartet are Irish-Scottish classical viola player Garth Knox (formerly of the Arditti Quartet) as well as Norwegian partners composer/singer Maja Ratkje and trumpeter Arve Henriksen.
Frode Haltli (b. 1975) studied accordion at The Norwegian State Academy of Musicfrom 1994 and at The Royal Danish Concervatory of Music where he ended his studies in 2000. He was awarded the "Young Soloist of the Year 2001" title by the Norwegian Concert Institute at the Bergen International Festival 2000. His debut CD "Looking on Darkness" (ECM New Series) recieved ”Spellemannprisen” (the Norwegian Grammy) for best contemporary music album, and it has recieved numerous very good reviews by international music critics. In 2004 Frode recieved the French ”Prix Gus Viseur”, also for the CD ”Looking on Darkness”.
At the age of 7 he started to play the accordion and the next few years Frode won many national competitions and recieved several scholarships and legacies. He was awarded first prize by the professional jury in the televised finals of The Norwegian State Broadcasting's "Talentiaden 1991". He has also received prizes at a number of international competitions. In 1999 he won a second prize in the prestigious International Gaudeamus Intepreters Competition in the Netherlands.
Frode currently lives in Oslo but he is touring a lot abroad, and has played as a soloist at concerts and festivals in Europe, Russia, America and Asia. He has performed as a soloist with major orchestras, but is also actively working with chamber music: At present it is the trio POING which occupies much of his time. The trio which includes Rolf-Erik Nystrøm on the saxophone and Håkon Thelin on the double bass mainly performes contemporary music. Frode also plays and records with Trygve Seim (ECM) and Norwegian folk music in RUSK with folk singer Unni Løvlid and fiddler Vegar Vårdal.
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