Norwegian bassist and composer Sigurd Hole released his solo double bass album “Elvesang” (eng.: “Riversong”) in 2018, to great reviews worldwide. Alone on stage with his bass Sigurd shapes minimalistic soundscapes of rare beauty in which both his Norwegian musical heritage and the minimalism branch of modern classical music serve as important influences. Imbuing the music with almost zen-like tranquility, he invites the audience into a deep and meditative state of listening.

As the album title indicates, nature is an important underlying inspiration in Sigurd's work. In attempting to paint more or less abstract images of sound resembling different objects and situations in nature, he wishes to inspire to reflection about human kinds role as part of a bigger whole. A whole that we now, more than ever, must strive to approach with love, care, and respect in the way we live our lives. Inspired by a poem by the 13th-century poet Rumi featured in the albums liner notes, Sigurd urges us to find time to really listen, not only to music but also to each other, to nature - and to ourselves.

All day and night, music, a quiet, bright reedsong. If it
fades, we fade.
- Rumi (translated by Coleman Barks)

The concert is free, open to all, and part of Tromsø JazzFestival.