Kristin Asbjornsen - The Night Shines Like The Day (2009)

Silje Nergaard, Sidsel Endresen and Rebekka Bakken – in the last years many singers have left Norwegian shores to venture and re-map the world of jazz and related music. 37 year old Kristin Asbjornsen has also long secured her place in this new landscape. Or should one speak of many places? She belongs to a set of young singers for whom borders have become flowing and for which jazz acts as a starting but not necessarily an end point of musical pathways. After guest performances in different bands and the attention attracting gospel record “Wayfaring Stranger”, Asbjornsen has now released her first album with exclusively own compositions: “The Night Shines Like a Day”. In this, all the musical experiences that she has made in jazz, blues, world music and pop in the last 15 years seem to crystallise. “These songs” she said in an interview “are witness to the strong hope and belief that something broken can also be transformed into beauty”.
The pianist Tord Gustavsen with whom Asbjornsen has worked together many a time, has been substantial contributor to this fragile cycle of songs. He can also be heard at the festival with his own quartet.

Kristin Asbjornsen – vocals
Tord Gustavsen – Grand piano
Olav Torget – konting and guitars
Svante Henryson – cello and electric bass
Knut Aalefjжr - percussion
Jostein Ansnes – vocals, lap steel and additional guitars