Nordic Summer Jam

In the Country
June 30
In the CountryIn The Country is a piano trio consisting of piano player Morten Qvenild, bass player Roger Arntzen, and drummer Pål Hausken.

Morten Qvenild is probably best known for being the orchestra in Susanna and the Magical Orchestra but has plenty more to show for. He has been a member of both Shining and Jaga Jazzist and is since long a member of Solveig Slettahjells Slow Motion Orchestra. In 2003 he formed In the Country with Ballrogg- and Chrome Hill-bass player Roger Arntzen and Christer Knutsen-drummer Pål Hausken at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo. Since then they have been selected best young jazz artists in Norway, played concerts in Europe and USA and released two albums on the prestigious Rune Grammofon label (This was the Pace of My Heartbeat, 2004, and Losing Stones, Collecting Bones, 2006) to much critical acclaim. Downbeat called their debut album “one of the finest and most arresting albums to come out of Europe” that year, and All About Jazz placed In the Country’s latest album Whiteout (2009) on their Best of 2009-list.

Anders Holst
July 14

Anders HolstContemporary singer and songwriter Anders Holst creates distinguished and captivating music that shows roots in jazz, soul, and European pop music. Holst was born and raised in Sweden but is currently based in New York City. Writing his first song when he was ten years old, music has always been a passion for this talented Swede. But a desire to walk in his father’s footsteps made him suppress his dreams, and venture into the world of business instead. Holst moved to the United States as co-chairman of the Ross Institute. But feeling like something was missing, he decided to give up his prosperous career in strategic management counseling, and start a singing one instead at the age of 52.

In 2005, while living in New York, Holst released a smooth jazz-infused EP, Five, recorded in Sweden and Los Angeles. His second album, Romantika, came out in January 2009 and received excellent reviews from Billboard, Radio and Records, and Jazziz, among others. Romantika boasts the sound of styles varied as Alan Parsons, Seal, Sting, and Chicago. The album was recorded in Stockholm and produced and arranged by Alar Suurna, Jerker Eklund, Mats Byström, and Holst. In 2010, Holst was nominated for the American Smooth Jazz Awards in the category of “International Male Vocalist of the Year.”

In June of this year, Holst released his latest album, Soho Suite. The album has been heralded by Billboard Magazine, AOL Music, Napster, and more.