Marius Neset & Tromsø Storband

Tromsø Big Band has a long list of prestigious collaborations with both national and international star musicians, and they continue to impress and surprise with exciting projects. Their wishlist for future collaborations is equally ambitious, and at the very top of that list has been Marius Neset, for as long as anyone can remember.

This will undoubtedly be a special concert. Not only because one of the world’s best saxophonists will be performing with the city’s own big band, but also because it will mark the Norwegian premiere of the music from Neset’s album, Tributes. Tributes was a commissioned work Neset created for the Danish Radio Big Band, and it premiered in 2019. In 2020, the music was released on record to glowing reviews, and it was even named Album of the Year by the prestigious The Arts Desk in the UK.

After working for a long period with classical musicians and orchestras, Tributes was a project where Neset returned to working with jazz musicians. This is reflected in the music—with much openness and individual freedom—despite the fact that the compositions are fully written. As the title suggests, the music is a tribute to composers from different genres who have had a significant impact on Neset’s musical life. It includes subtle references to everything from Beethoven and Mahler to Grieg, Queen, Earth, Wind & Fire, and modern jazz.

“I’m really looking forward to this concert. It’s fantastic to finally have the opportunity to perform this music in Norway,” says Neset.

“Probably some of the coolest and, at the same time, most challenging music we’ve ever done. I can’t wait for this!”

– The big band’s artistic director, Fred Glesnes, adds