Punkt 2011 was a landmark musical experience for me. It broadened my musical horizons and introduced me to some new musicians whose albums have now become firm favourites. I shared some notes that year which were posted under 'General Discussion', and were just intended to give those who weren't able to be in Kristiansand a glimpse of what it's like. I will do the same this year and I've posted under 'Collaborations' because so many of the participants are David's collaborators, and of course because Punkt 2013 features the debut of David's latest collaborative venture - 'The Kilowatt Hour'.
Punkt is totally unique because musicians and punters rub shoulders as they appreciate what is being performed on stage. The 'rubbing shoulders' experiences started for me even on the way to Norway as Sidsel Endresen shared the short flight in a small turboprop from Copenhagen to Kristiansand.
The main venue this year is Kick Scene, a nightclub in the centre of town and smaller than the theatre used last time around. There are probably around 350 people in the venue, with only half that number seated, and many of us standing on raised areas around the venue. There is a bar at the back so you don't need to go far during the course of the evening!
The first performance of David's collaborators was a remix by Jan Bang and Erik Honore - who were joined by Mathias Eick - of the opening set by Mariam the Believer. This year the remixes are not in a separate room, and the instant the main act left the stage the rear curtain was pulled back to reveal the remixers whose music started straight away. This brings home the immediacy of what is produced, and it was interesting to hear elements of the previous performance brought into a new context, including the breathy vocals of Mariam Wallentin. Mathias Eick, who has two ECM albums to his name, played some beautiful trumpet over the textures and atmospheres created by Jan and Erik.
Next up was what turned out to be a real treat. Pianist Tigran Hamasyan and Jan Bang. Tigran's playing was sometimes sweet and melodic, sometimes angular and rhythmical, and he also used the strings within the instrument to create sounds and atmospheres. The counterpoint to this was Jan's mixing, often taking elements from Tigran's performance - for instance his whistled accompaniment of a harmony - and playing it back into the mix alongside Tigran's live playing. For the last section, they were joined on stage by Eivind Aarset who contributed guitar driven atmospherics. Parts of this performance were delicate and quite beautiful.
I recently obtained the C D of the soundtrack to the film Victoria which features Tigran and Jan (with Erik Honore and Arve Henriksen). This also has some lovely playing in a more traditional film score context.
The remix was by Erik Honore and Ivar Grydeland, a multi-instrumentalist. This time as the main rear curtain went back a thin gauze curtain remained between the remixers and the audience, onto which images were projected of the remixers at work. As an audience we could see both the shadowy presence of Erik and Ivar, and their projected images. The remix itself brought back some of the piano melodies and those whistled lines from Tigran.
Finally for me this evening was the 'double release' concert by Arve Henriksen and Jan Bang featuring music from their new albums, both released on the day, 'Places of Worship' and 'Narrative from the Subtropics' respectively. The line up on stage were all there alongside David at Punkt 2011 - from left to right - Erik Honore, Ingar Zach, Arve Henriksen, Eivind Aarset and Jan Bang. With the material all new, it was a different experience from the performance of Arve's Cartography in 2011, when familar pieces were brought to life before you. It was no less enjoyable for that, however, and the varied trumpet playing of Arve Henriksen is quite wonderful to hear live, sometimes lyrical and soaring, sometimes used percussively, sometimes vibrating with bursts of air. Arve's falsetto singing is also heavenly.
I love the way at Punkt that the musicians come straight off stage and stand with the audience to hear the next act, with contributors from the days ahead also present. Around me at various times were Jan, Erik, Arve, Ingar, Eivind, Tigran, as well as Christian Fennesz, Sidsel Endresen and Nils Petter Molvaer. Adrian Molloy from David's management team and Yuka Fuji were also there.
All in all, a great start to the festival and an evening that will live long in the memory.
Tomorrow, the Kilowatt Hour, in another local venue.
I hope this post isn't too long, I know that if I'd not been here I would have appreciated a little window onto the event, and I hope my descriptions can provide that for others who are interested.