© Christian Engfelt

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Unlimited Sonic Use presents:

Norwegian Fusion Jazz Nights 2024 Part III

Elephant9 - NOR | Rune Grammofon

E9 are:
Stale Storløkken (Supersilent, worked with Motorpsycho, Krokofant etc.)
Torstein Lofthus (ex-SHINING, worked with Jagga Jazzist, etc.)
Nikolai Hængsle (Big Bang, Møster, ex-Needlepoint, etc.)

https://elephant9band.bandcamp.com/
Genre: Experimental Prog Fusion Powertrio
For Fans Of: Mahavishnu Orchestra, Motorpsycho, Jaga Jazzist, ELP

Elephant9 (established 2006 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian progressive/neo-psychedelic/jazz-rock trio which formed in 2006 under the name Storløkken/Eilertsen/Lofthus, for the members of the band, namely Ståle Storløkken (keyboard), Nikolai Eilertsen (bass) and Torstein Lofthus (drums).

The members of the group have a strong history in bands like Bigbang, Shining, Motorpsycho and Supersilent, but it’s within the constellation Elephant9 that these three musicians have been given the ultimate playground to showcase their eclectic tastes and musical abilities.

Through Torstein Lofthus’ thunderous and hazardous drumming, bass player Nikolai Hængsle’s steady, thumping timekeeping, keyboardist and organ player Ståle Storløkken’s rich and uncompromising layers– they give you sounds and rhythm structures that have made grown men and women cry and laugh in joy. Elephant9 find inspiration in music that pushes the envelope, which has made music journalists dig deep for fitting descriptions. The circular melodic themes of Tangerine Dream have been mentioned, so has the blazing, phasing world of Jimi Hendrix. Other reviewers have namedropped John Coltrane, Deep Purple, Soft Machine, King Crimson and Fela Kuti – all artists who have in common that they disregarded the rules and have stood the test of time because of that. Still, Elephant9 feel no desire in being regarded as “retro”, as they venture into a new chaotic time for music - where technology seems to have made people abandon tired descriptions and references – with open arms.