Benita Haastrup - Mørkefjell (GATEWAY MUSIC March 1, 2018)

Benita Haastrup, drums & percussion – is formally trained at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory. She has received the Ben Webster Prize 1998, The Sunset Jazz Hornbaek Prize 2007 for “an outstanding effort in Danish Jazz as a drummer, percussionist and composer”. In 2012 Benita was awarded a Danish Music Award, in 2017 the Walter Klæbel Award and also in 2017 she was nominated for two Danish Music Awards: Best Jazz Release and Best Composition.

Benita has played everything from swing to avant garde, african drum music, classical music, soul, folk, latin…and her creative and colorful drumming is inspired by all creative expressions in our world culture. Through the years Benita has performed and toured with many both local and international artists – a.o. Andy Sheppard, Marilyn Mazur, John Tchicai, Anders Jormin, Tore Brunborg, Muhal Richard Abhrams, Fred Hopkins, Marie Bergman, Leo Wright, Teddy Edwards, Buster Cooper, Paolo Fresu, Johnny Griffin, Bob Moses, Bob Rockwell, Idrees Sulieman, Jesper Thilo, Frederik Lundin, Christina Dahl, Marie-Louise Schmidt, Helle Marstrand, Hugo Rasmussen, Pierre Dørge, Irene Becker. Benita was a member of Richard Boone’ quartet (formerly with Count Basie) for more than 10 years and for more than 16 years a member of danish violin player Finn Ziegler’s “Dream Quartet”. Benita is co-leading the danish jazz trio “The Sophisticated Ladies”.

Read more, www.benita.dk

1 Mørkefjell

2 Awakening

3 Tunnel

4 Trees in Potu

5 Sisyfossen

6 Silent Fields

7 Torghatten

8 Niels Klim in Orbit

9 In the Dark

10 Bells in Bergen

Kaare Munkholm Marimba, Vibraphone

Jens Skou Olsen Double Bass

Benita Haastrup Drums

Benita Haastrup Trio - Going North (GATEWAY MUSIC 2017)

This trio plays music from the heart and finds its rhythmic and poetic power in the many moods, sounds and dynamics that bind us together as human beings. The musical universe of this trio is in constant development and expansion and is inspired by more than 30 years of artistic creation at festivals, in venues and studios around the world – and evey single concert and recording adds new chapters to this journey!

For more than three years now, I have had the great fortune of working with two of Denmark most brilliant jazz musicians and improvisers: Kaare Munkholm on vibraphone and Jens Skou Olsen on doublebbass.

Together the trio has toured extensively in Norway and Denmark – more than three monts on the road each year! – and this has made the trio one of the most tight units ever. The new trio release GOING NORTH coming up this fall showcases this music inspired by the wast nature and people of the high North – 2017 will be another year focusing on this trio…! Here is a short presentation of the members of the trio:

Jens Skou Olsen

Jens plays violoncello and doublebass and has laid down the steady, deep bass floor in every music conceivable – playing, touring and recording with among others Bob Moses, Lee Konitz, Chris Cheek, John Tchicai, Horace Parlan, Marilyn Mazur, Marie Bergman, David Murray, Etta Cameron, Kenny Drew, Harry Beckett, Gregory Hutchinson, Finn Ziegler, Andy Sheppard, Muhal Richard Abrahms, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Hank Jones. Jens is also a writer and P.hd. from Roskilde University.

Benita Haastrup

Benita Haastrup, drums & percussion – is formally trained at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory 1992. She has received the Ben Webster Prize 1998, The Sunset Jazz Hornbaek Prize 2007 for “an outstanding effort in Danish Jazz as a drummer, percussionist and composer”. Finally Benita was awarded a Danish Music Award 2012. Benita has played everything from swing to avant garde, african drum music, classical music, soul, folk, latin…and her creative and colorful drumming is inspired by all creative expressions in our world culture.

Kaare Munkholm

Kaare is one of Denmark’s busiest vibraphonists – he plays with a wide range of Danish and international artists and bands such as Tango orkestret, Gustav Ljunggren, Emil de Waal and Afengin. Kaare is a virtuoso, he is an inspired, innovative and very versatile artist and he always adds new dimensions to the music – vitality, beauty and sharp rhythmic landscapes. He graduated from the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen 1992.

Going North

Nordland Moods

Soft Stone

Flowing Flying Drumming

Cloud-Hidden

Even Wind

Skrova Up Down

Look Up Stars

I dreamt A Dream

Snow Flow

Benita Haastrup, drums & percussion

Kaare Munkholm, vibraphone

Jens Skou Olsen, bass