The trio POING, consisting of Frode Haltli, accordion, Rolf-Erik Nystrøm, saxophones and Håkon Thelin, double bass, has been performing music by Maja S. K. Ratkje since she wrote their first piece “essential extensions” in 1999. Since then they have showed themselves as one of the most interesting ensembles for contemporary music in Scandinavia, with a large number of first performances by European and Asian composers. They have visited main music festivals as well as clubs in the north of Europe, USA, China and Japan. The collaboration Wach auf! with Maja S. K. Ratkje as featured vocalist has existed since their 2000 debut in Saunabar, Hensinki. The repertoire reaches from Brecht/Weill via Norwegian workers’ songs to popular music from the 80s, all more or less coloured in red due to their regular eagerness to play the night before 1st of May. POING and Maja have recorded an album with selected songs from this repertoire released by Øra fonogram, spring 2011.
Record link
Tranen photos by Jan Davis:
From concert in Bergen 2011:
Concert images from Brugge 2009:
