And the Norwegian played 'bulerías'
The Norwegian violin player Ola Kvenberg closed the first Contemporary Norwegian Jazz Cycle in Madrid, within the EEA Grants Cultural Exchange Programme, and he did it with a group of Spanish artists in a perfect fusion between North and South through music.
16.06.2014
A Norwegian non-Spanish speaking group of artists and a Spanish non-Norwegian speaking group of artists making music together. It seems like a tongue-twister but the result is a perfect fusion between Norwegian jazz and Spanish flamenco because music needs no translation. This was the magnificent finale of the first Contemporary Norwegian Jazz Cycle in Madrid, one of the activities within theCultural Diversity and Cultural Exchange Programme financed by the EEA Grants. “Salmon and ham”, as the double bass player Pablo Martín Caminero defined the exchange. Together with the renowned Spanish guitar player Josemi Carmona and the flamenco stars Enriquito and Bandolero joined the Norwegian violin player Ola Kvenberg and his group in a unique concert at Off de La Latina in a magic night.
The aim of this project was “the encounter between North and South through music” and the experiment couldn’t have been better. Weeks of rehearsal between Norwegian and Spanish musicians to find a new and different voice were successful. The Northern notes of the Kvenberg’ violin fitted into the Carmona’ guitar and other instruments took care of the rest to reach the ‘marriage’ between jazz and flamenco… until the last 'bulería' which the audience received with a standing ovation.
This concert brought a close to the first Contemporary Norwegian Jazz Cycle in Madrid which has been a complete success, with tickets sold out and with a widespread media impact. And although the Cycle finished, the relation between both group of artists continues and maybe they will astonish us in the near future.
The objective of the EEA Grants Cultural Diversity and Cultural Exchange Programme is to present the diversity of contemporary art and culture, and to promote cultural exchange with the donor states in the field of live arts.