Young Jazz Musicians of the Year 2010

As winners of the prestigious and extensive launch programme Jazzintro, the duo will be promoted and play before audiences and on jazz scenes in Norway and abroad the two following years.

Ferner/Juliusson was established spring 2008 by guitarist Per Arne Ferner from Oslo, Norway, and pianist Per Gunnar Juliusson from Linköping in Sweden. The duo’s music draws upon different musical directions, styles and ideals. They seek a broad appeal with a melodious, personal and open expression, and they like working in the tension field between structure and freedom, both improvisation wise and compositorically. Their scope of references stretches from folk music and 20th century classical music to improvised jazz. But first and foremost, their aesthetic references give associations to a series of ECM-albums, with a lyrical expression and a distinct, Nordic sound. The duo improvises over complex compositions, and mix the blues orientated with Europan art music.

The Jazzintro jury gave the duo an extra point for their intriguing and humouristic titles, such as ”Thank you, dark matter, for keeping us together”, ”This I pointed to; to a disappointed you”, and ”Travelogue for the atoms”. Members of the Jazzintro jury 2010 were renowned jazz vocalist Karin Krog, saxophone players Frøy Aagre and John Pål Inderberg, pianist Helge Lien, and head of jury, Tore Flesjø, from Norwegian Jazz Forum.

Per Arne Ferner
–    Born 1985 in Oslo, Norway
–    Has been more or less devoted to the guitar since the age of 12. Has explored different genres and areas of music through the years, and ended up after visiting the fields of blues, rock and progressive metal tuned in on classical music and jazz/improvisation. He then realised how important creativity and the expression of his human experiences were to him, and music went from being a hobby to the most important part of his life.
–    Currently studyies at the soloist programme (Advanced Post Master’s Degree) at Rhythmic Music Conservatory, Copenhagen, Denmark (2010 – 2012)
–    Completed his Master’s Degree in performing arts/jazz guitar at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory, Copenhagen (musician programme 2008-2010)
–    Participated in the ”International Realtime Music Symposium 09” , led by the Manhattan school for improvised music with Ralph Alessi, Tyshawn Sorey and Andy Milne
–    Member of jazz band Flux, who released the album Peninsulator in 2010; a recording with echoes of progressive rock, classical chamber music and post-modern jazz influences ranging from Pat Metheny to Jaga Jazzist. Ferner is responsible for all the compositions on Peninsulator.

Per Gunnar Juliusson
–    Born 1984 in Stockholm, Sweden
–    Started violin- and piano lessons at six, and performed solo on national Swedish television and at the Royal Castle
–    Won national Swedish competition for young musicians in 2002
–    Part of orchestra that accompanied 90 shows of musical My Fair Lady, while also being a temp in big band and jazz orchestra
–    Educated in some of the best schools for jazz- and improvised music in Scandinavia, latest BA from the Rhythmic Music Conservatory, Copenhagen, Denmark

Media
“These guys are just fantastic!”
– John Kellman, editor of allaboutjazz.com

“The Jazzintro winning duo Ferner/Juliusson, with Per Arne Ferner on guitar and Per Gunnar Juliusson on the piano, proved to us that they are the best of this format since Bill Evans and Jim Hall recorded the album Undercurrent.”
Journalist Roald Helgheim in the national Norwegian paper Dagsavisen

Ian Patterson, Allaboutjazz.com on the album Peninsula by Flux:
”These days it is increasingly difficult to sound unlike anybody else. Flux, whose members attend Copenhagen’s Rhythmic Music Conservatory, has produced a recording with echoes of progressive rock, classical chamber music and post-modern jazz influences. To a large extent it succeeds in sounding original. Flux delivers a seductive recording where compositional strength and impressive musicianship combine to leave a lasting impression.”

Jakob Bækgaard, Allaboutjazz.com, on the album Peninsula by Flux:
”Flux plays its very own brand of postmodern jazz, referencing a wealth of styles from post-bop to classical, rock, and world music, while still being able to forge its own sprawling identity. Peninsulator is a joyful rollercoaster of youthful, exuberant energy. Filled with confidence and zest, Flux translates their eclectic approach into melodic explosions where the swirling dance of the flute meets the edginess of strings and modern grooves. Be prepared to be sucked in by the turbulence of the group’s sound in the future.”

Arild R. Andersen, Norwegian national newspaper Aftenposten, on Flux:
”Impressive techical standard, and a youthful energy that does not impair the quality.” 5/ 6

Facts about Jazzintro – Young Jazz Musicians of the Year
Norwegian Jazz Forum, Concerts Norway and five of Norway’s greatest jazz festivals collaborate in realizing the project Jazzintro; a launch programme for young, professional performers of jazz. A jury of professionals select eight participating bands among the applicants, who have submitted applications and demo material. Each band has given one concert at one of four festivals that take part in the project (Vossa Jazz, Maijazz, Nattjazz, Kongsberg Jazz Festival). At each of these four festivals, the jury select one band to access the next step – the finals at Molde International Jazz Festival. After the final, one of the bands wins the title Young Jazz Musicians of the Year.

In addition to an extensive launch programme over two years, the winner receives a grant of NOK 100 000 from Gramo, the Norwegian joint collecting society for performing
artists and producers.

Previous winners of Jazzintro are Urban Connection (1998), ra (2000), Solid! (2002), in the country (2004), Puma (2006) and Albatrosh (2008).

Homepages:
www.myspace.com/perferner
www.concertsnorway.no | www.rikskonsertene.no