Odd-Arne Jacobsen talks about his music journey

Odd-Arne Jacobsen was born on 29 December 1947. He stands today as a unique personal “voice” in European improvisation music, with his own distinctive tone language. Odd-Arne has worked with most of the leading artists in Norway in theatre and music, and has also presented his art internationally. He has had his own television programme in Russia, as well as a solo concert at the Moscow International Jazz Festival and has toured the USA, Mexico, Russia, France, China, Kuwait, Scotland, and Japan. In 1990 he undertook a solo concert of his own compositions in Carnegie Hall, New York.

We are sharing our recent interview with him.

Twist Online : First of all please tell us about the start of your music career?
Odd-Arne Jacobsen : I started my career on an alto sax paste – After a while two valves were destroyed. I threw my eyes on my mother’s guitar that stood in a corner of our living room. My mother taught me d-a and g major – from then on I was just focused on guitars. Two of my uncles played on weddings and parties. After a while I was ready to play in wedding restaurants – revues etc.
My dear mother loved singing -and singing many arias including good La Boheme off. Puccini. Maria Callas was the big one for my mother (and for me today) An artist with sky-high integrity. More people who play so-called jazz should listen to her dynamics and phrases.

Twist Online : Who or what inspired you to get into music industry?
Odd-Arne Jacobsen : It was a natural development with nice musicians in my home town of Tromsø – far north in norway. Older more driven musicians taught me to “behave that way find my place in every way in an ensemble – or duo. Play my solos while listening to bass lines – harmonies – tempi etc … I will probably say that my uncles and my mother taught me to listen to all the follies of the music, they all told me to find my tone – I still work – every day. into a life cycle of music – The American songbook became my childhood learning and has been my guiding star: Jerome Kern – Georges Gerswin – Alec Wilder – Richard Rodgers – Erwin Berlin – Duke Ellington – Leonard Bernstein etc – etc.

Twist Online : Tell us about your recent release ?
Odd-Arne Jacobsen : My latest release as a solo artist is the production “While in Was Crossing The Bridge” The production has received fine reception both nationally and internationally. It is a pure solo production with me alone in the studio. With my 11 string alto guitar and nylonstrings classical both built in Stockolm Sweden by one of the world’s leading guitar builders – Georg Bolin. My Gibson Byrdland and div electronic were also used. All tracks were recorded at first recording – there is all magic and authenticity.

Twist Online : What kind of response you have received from the release?
Odd-Arne Jacobsen : I have a very nice response to the specificity of the production and the fact that solo guitar releases are very unusual. Anyone who plays guitar understands what it costs to reach a level where the orchestral element is reached. There, I have been delighted to study scores of string quartets of different composers and styles and transferred it to the guitar’s capabilities

Twist Online : What’s the best achievement in your career so far?
Odd-Arne Jacobsen : Best Achievement. May be that I have got to present my music in several continents – Europe -Asia – USA – South America. For example: Hiroshima – Shanghai – Mexico City – New York City – Moscow – with fine critics. after my concert in Weill Recital At Carnegie Hall and own TV program on Russian TV. I have been playing with several world names such as Jan Akkerman – Jan Garbarek etc——. But in hindsight when the silence comes, I reflect on having played with myself.

Twist Online : What’s the best part of being a music artist?
Odd-Arne Jacobsen : I like the challenge of making unarmed every day of my life that I have dedicated to my family / music. It is constantly developing things to appear clearer and better. It takes a whole life to play like himself. The music then becomes an echo of where you are in a developmental course on every human level.

Twist Online : Working in studios or performing on stage, what do you enjoy more?
Odd-Arne Jacobsen : Actually, they are both very challenging in their own way – in the studio it is more lonely – you become both the audience and the performer – here a lot of imagination is needed. Live is often very dependent on the type of audience receiving.
The messages sent out by musicians. Often, the sound is not like the rehearsal – sometimes worse and gratifying sometimes actually better. Maybe your own inner demons or angels are doing a job.
Maybe I like live better because you can’t control all things – monitors – noise and talk from the audience – fake guitars – bad days both from yourself and fellow musicians.

Twist Online : Are you working on any new project?
Odd-Arne Jacobsen :
I do that all the time – I am currently looking for someone who thinks – seems and plays in a different zone than myself. The congress zone can quickly become your own false security and prison. The job with the mental aspects is for me
More and more important as your own project – today I am ready to play with anyone – any time and anytime !!!

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