After a long-standing existence as a consistently reliable "sideman" in Norwegian jazz, the Gjøvik native Roy Nikolaisen is now quietly delivering a CD debut that places him among the top tier of Scandinavian jazz trumpeters.
"Roy's Choice" features a discerning and imaginative selection of musicians within an exquisite repertoire: three original Norwegian compositions specially commissioned for the occasion, four unjustly lesser-known American jazz classics, and two bossa novas by Jobim and Clare Fisher, with guitarist Tom Lund joining in to create the album's standout moments.
This was written by the late Erling Wicklund in 2004 when he reviewed Roy Nikolaisen's album Roy’s Choice.
Roy Nikolaisen (61 years old) finds himself among the elite Scandinavian jazz trumpeters. With a father who was also an exceptional jazz trumpeter, he absorbed jazz with his mother's milk and has gradually taken up the tradition in Norway after trumpet profiles such as Ditlev Eckhoff and Atle Hammer.
We have heard him in various contexts as a "sideman" in: Sharp 9, in Frode Nymo quintet, with Jan Erik Vold/Egil Kapstad, Trio De Janeiro, and more.
The time is ripe for us to hear Roy in a format where he is in charge of the ship himself. Now, Roy embarks on a journey with a new quartet featuring a repertoire well-rooted in the American jazz tradition.
The other members of the band are Magne Arnesen – piano, Olav Knerten Kamfjord – bass, and Håkon Paulsberg – drums (with whom Roy also played in the band KIX). Håkon has mostly worked with guitar and vocals in recent years but has a long history as a drummer with artists like Clifford Jordan and Arne Domnerus from earlier on.
