Mats Eilertsen (b.1975, trondheim, norway)

Mats is a highly attractive musician and plays in a number of different bands and constellations in Norway and internationally, such as his own TURANGA ensemble featuring Ernst Reijseger, cello (Nl), Fredrik Ljungkvist, reeds (S), and Thomas Strønen, drums, the Source with Trygve Seim, Øyvind Brække, Per Oddvar Johansen, drums, Parish with Fredrik Ljungkvist (S), Bobo Stenson (S) and Thomas Strønen, as well as the Alexi Tuomarila Trio (Fin).

Mats is one of the finest and most distinct bass players on the Norwegian jazz scene of today. He has a special warm and lyrical way of treating the bass, being steady and experimental at the same time, bringing it all together and yet showing openness, willingness, and constantly searching for new sounds.

He has participated on more than 50 recordings with among others Solveig Slettahjell,
The Source, Parish, Sonny Simmons, Kornstad trio, Food, Dingobats, Håvard Wiik trio

Turanga Ensemble

Fredrik Ljungkvist: Released YunKan 5 last year, he plays in the supergroup Atomic and with Parish on Ecm (with Bobo Stenson, Thomas Strønen and Mats Eilertsen) and Ken Vandemarks Territory Band. He was the Swedish jazz musician of the year 2004.

Thomas Strønen: Besides being the bandleader of british/norwegian Food he´s been a sideman in several projects such as, Parish, Maria Kannegaard trio, Ståhls Blå, Anders Aarum trio. Also Thomas has his electronic solo project "Pohlitz".

He´s had creative collaborations with musicians such as: Lars Danielson, Bobo Stenson, Ståle Storløkken, Arve Henriksen, Bjørnar Andresen, Vidar Johansen and Fredrik Ljungkvist to name a few.

Strønen´s drum playing is as distinguised as it is engergetic, and he shows an enourmous music understanding, both of dynamics and musical form.

Ernst Reijseger (1954) started to play the cello at 8 years old. Quite early in his life he became rapidly fascinated by the diverse musical formes and styles in the world available for Dutch listeners. He played/recorded a.o. with: Sean Bergin, Martin van Duynhoven, Derek Bailey, Alan Purves and Franky Douglas.

Was member of the Theo Loevendie Consort, the Guus Janssen Septet, the Arcado Stringtrio, with Michael Moore and Han Bennink in Trio Clusone, Misha Mengelberg's Instant Composers Pool , the Gerry Hemingway quintet and Yo Yo Ma.

In 1985 he received the Boy Edgar prize. The award highly regarded by potential Dutch audience in the Netherlands and higly appreciated by its receiver.

In 1995 he received the "Bird-Award" during the Nordsea Jazz Festival. Ernst Reijseger playes duo with Franco d Andrea piano, Louis Sclavis, cl./sax Stian Carstensen , acc, banjo, guitar, mandoline,kaval and trio with the Amsterdam String Trio, Stian Carstensen and drummer Jarle Vespestad , Trio with Eric Vloeimans, trumpet and Anton Goudsmit, Guitar and duo with Senegalese singer Mola Sylla, trio with Mola Sylla and percussionist Serigne Gueye, also from Senegal and regulary does concerts with Alan Purves in duo or in combination with Trad. Singers from Sardenia, the Tenores e Concordu de Orosei.

Projects Ernst Reijseger participates in are f.i.: A Tango/PostTango project with WDRbigband Köln With Music from Gerardo Gandini/comp/dir and Bandoneonist Nestor Marconi or a project called Barana & Co with Dutch ,virtuoso Turkish musicians and a Drummer/percussionist from Iran.

Ernst Reijseger writes music for Film and Documentarys. His written music is performed by well respected cellist Larissa Groeneveld and pianist Frank Van de Laar with reijseger as third 'free agent'. At the moment he also plays a different duoprogram of his music in combination with classical cellist Jeroen den Herder.

He often plays soloconcerts. Apart from "Concerts for Adults" he likes to spend time playing for children, in schools and theatres, and does occasional "cello-workshops”.