Hi,

We are the Trio Askeladd.
The music we are playing has it's roots mainly in the Norwegian hymn- and folk music tradition, but we also got inpiration from South-African music.

We like playing in churches and have worked together with choirs.
Profane and sacral music, it all mix together.

We've played as a group since late 2002.
The music is continuously elaborated as we play.
The arrangements are based upon our own interpretation
and improvisation.

Music teacher, arranger, composer, likes all kinds of music

About the Trio Askeladd music:
Pure melodies, simple and personal music, where every note has a meaning.

Want to know more about me?

Geir Anfinsen, trombone

Played the solo trombone for a long time in the Gaevle Symphony Orchestra.
Now engaged by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Stockholm

About the Trio Askeladd music:
Traditional chorals and folk-songs performed in a improvised way.

Want to know more about me?

The Gaevle Symphony Orchestra and other groups dedicated to variety

About the Trio Askeladd music:
Simple and pure harmonies to which we add a perso-nal touch and can imple-ment the strength of each one of us.

Want to know more about me?

I began playing the piano with my grandmother at nine.
Played in different bands while in elementary school and started early to write my own songs.
Studied at the musical line at highschool in Malmö 1988-1991 and continued at the Academy of Music in the same city during 1992-1996 to become a jazz pianist - interrupted only for a period as a scholarship student at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki 1994.

From 1996 and onwards I've been engaged as a pianist in the Sandviken Big Band (SBB) but also free-lanced with Jonken Jonsson, Lena Jansson and others.

I've arranged music for SBB and different choirs and also written music as played by the classic pianist Per Tengstrand.

I'm a member of the "Les3" jazz trio which released it's first CD Nov 2005.

Musicians I've played with are among others Georgie Fame, Svante Thuresson, Rob McConell, Putte Wickman, Hacke Björksten, Krister Andersson, Mattias Windemo, Cecilia Jonshult, Fredrik Nordström.

I've listened a lot to artists as Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington , Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Wayns Shorter.
Among those pianists who have inspired me you'll find Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, Thelonius Monk, Herbie Hancock, Dollar Brand, Keith Jarrett and many more.

Classic music is very much appreciated - why not some piano music by M. Ravel och D.Shostakovich.
And recently I discovered the Spanish piano music treasure with composers as Manuel De Falla, Joaquin Turina, Enrique Granados.

I try to play and write music as often as possible.
Three days every week I teach at the Jazz Highschool in Gävle.
When not engaged with music I like spending some time with my friends.
For other activities I like playing badminton, travelling - preferable with some musical connection - and musical tours.

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Name: Geir Anfinsen
Born 1972 in Kongsvinger, Norway
Beginning to play the piano at 6 and trombone at the age of 8.
Active 1980-87 in Kongsvinger Skolemusikk and Kongsvinger Big Band.
1987-90 studying music at Stange vg Skole.
1990-92 further studies at the Norwegian Academy of Music, Oslo.
1992-2004 Playing the solo trombone at the Symphony Orchestra in Gaevle.
2004- Playing the trombone in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Stockholm.

Made my first performance as a singer in Elvis Costello's "The Juliet Letters". I think I always was bent in that direction (singing), especially fond of shouting hard-rock singers like David Coverdale, Ian Gillan and Robert Plant.

Bent keys on a Hammond organ in "Uncle Briefcase" 1989-1992. Heavy blues-rock was my style then...
Jazz actually was my music since I was 12, off and on.

The Nordic Brass Ensemble has been a firm foundation to me since 1993.
Meeting regularly with the core of Scandinavia's best brass musicians is enormously stimulating.
One of those who inspired me most during last years has been Knut Reiersrud. A Norwegian blues guitarist who more than most others penetrates the world of hymns.

Two children, Kristin Saga and Bjoern Atle, who came out and blessed my life 1994 and 1996. Another blessing is girlfriend Beryl, who will increase her status coming summer -04.

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Name: Odd Inge Gjelsnes
Born 1970 in Oslo. (All too early, just 1600 grams. Shouldn't have arrived until -71, which explains most of it.)
Start playing the trumpet 9 eyars old in the Music Corps at the school in Fossum, Oslo.
1986-89 pupil at Foss Videregaaende Skole, Oslo, the music programme.
1989-92 studying at the Academy of Music in Oslo .
1991-92 musician in the Army's District Music Corps Soerlandet, Norway.
From January 1993- trumpeter in the Gaevle Symphony Orchestra.
During my time in Norway also played in many amateur orchestras, e g Sagene Janitsjarkorps.
Joined the National Youth Orchestra of Norway for two years, playing very often in churches and alike.

During my college years I became interested in the jazz and style varieties.

During my time in Sweden I've also played a lot outside the Symphony Orchestra. I like big bands and also smaller groups with variety as common theme.
Played also in the Nordic Brass Ensemble, very inspiring.

Celebrating the 10th wedding anniversary day in Feb -04 with my beloved wife Ulrika. Two children of happiness, Ellinor born -95 and Arvid born -97.

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