Folk/Review Tellefs - Upstairs in a Tent (feat. Knut Kvifte Nesheim, Åsmund Reistad, Magnus Wiik & Tellef Kvifte)
After several decades as a central figure in the Norwegian music scene, Tellef Kvifte finally has his own band—fittingly named Tellefs. As a professor, he has shaped a generation of folk musicians and researchers through his work with the Norwegian Collection of Folk Music, the Universities of Oslo and Bergen, the Ole Bull Academy, and most recently at the Institute for Folk Culture and Folk Music in Rauland.
Tellefs' second album, “Upstairs in a Tent,” furthers their distinctive fusion of modern jazz ideas with Scandinavian and Irish traditional traditions. The group is creating a very evocative atmosphere that is both timeless and futuristic.
The band continues to push boundaries by incorporating the taragot, a rarely heard woodwind instrument native to Eastern Europe, under the direction of Tellef Kvifte, who is renowned for his daring attitude and genre-defying initiatives. Its expressive, reedy tone takes center stage on the record, providing a highly textured substitute for conventional instruments and giving the group's sound an exotic flair.
The album alternates between rhythmically explosive jazz improvisation and gentle ballads with folk influences. Every music is a thoughtfully crafted vignette, occasionally introspective and occasionally whimsically unpredictable. As though the listener has been invited to a fireside gathering with long-time musical friends from different continents, the album exudes warmth and intimacy.
Tellefs' blending of influences feels like a real dialogue between musical traditions rather than a fusion done for the purpose of novelty. Though reverently handled, the Norwegian and Irish aspects are recreated with modern jazz phrasing and freedom.
A masterwork of intercultural expression, “Upstairs in a Tent” features excellent musicianship, creative instrumentation, and a distinct artistic vision. Tellefs demonstrates once more that the most captivating music frequently exists in the space between genres—possibly upstairs in a tent that is packed with sounds from all around the world.