Deloo (Album)

Kirsti Huke has long since become an established figure on the Norwegian jazz scene; her voice, much admired and in demand, has been referred to as a "jar of honey" and a "power station". Kirsti Huke is now launching her debut disc "Deloo".

When the Kirsti Huke Quartet first played together in 1998, the idea was to revive some of the old, standard classics. The group achieved popularity very rapidly, appearing over the next couple of years at jazz festivals and major venues throughout Norway, and embarking on a jazz club tour across the country. And now, after four years in hibernation, the Kirsti Huke Quartet has sprung to life again with a new pianist and a new drummer.

The new pianist is Vigleik Storaas, an internationally acclaimed jazz musician who has performed with luminaries of the jazz scene including Chet Baker, Warne Marsh, Karin Krogh, Jon Christensen and Terje Rypdal. Vigleik Storaas has been awarded the Norwegian Spellemann prize (Norwegian Grammy) on two occasions.

The new drummer Erik Nylander, a shooting star on the jazz scene, hails from Nordberg in Sweden. He has recently completed four years of jazz studies in Trondheim. In addition to performing with the Kirsti Huke Quartet he plays with the Ola Kvernberg trio and Kobert (jazzintro 2006).

Steinar Raknes is the band's bass player. He is an innovative and experimental musician, at home in most musical genres. His performances are internationally acclaimed, and in 2002 he received the Spellemann prize for Urban Connection. In addition to the Ola Kvernberg trio he has made notable appearances with groups such as The Core, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra and Shagma.

Kirsti Huke is a graduate of the jazz music course at the University of Trondheim. She is faithful to her own intentions and to the jazz heritage in her relaxed yet dynamic interpretations of jazz standards. Her powerful voice and nuanced expressivity - together with some of Norway's most accomplished jazz musicians - have resulted in an exquisite album of timeless yet fresh-sounding music.