Funky band from Oslo playing clubs, festivals and events. Album #3, Taxman, released 9. October 2024 on Losen Records.
Bård Helgerud (guitars/vocals)
Håvard Fossum (saxophones)
Andreas Dreier (basses)
Torstein Ellingsen (drums)
Stina Stenerud (vocals)
About
Much of The Beatles’ repertoire is well suited for jazz musicians to play with. Rubber Soul Quartet & Stina Stenerud love the strong melodies, the harmonic moods and the rhythmic drive of the songs of The Beatles. With respectful reference to the original “standards”, the band play their re-arranged interpretations in a collective way.
The main intention with the band is to experiment with the repertoire, having fun playing both well known and not so well known songs, live.
The compositions are from Liverpool and London, but distilled in America and Brazil, and bottled in Oslo. The goal is not to copy, but to improvise, swing and groove; to disassemble the musical building blocks – and put them back together again.
The band is supported by Per Dreiers Minnefond.
New video out now!
Reviews
– Everyone has a relationship to this material, and it swings! (I once stood watching them through the window of an Oslo bar, it was impossible to move on), so why don’t all Norwegian jazz festivals book them? It’s quality, and that draws people. A no-brainer.
(Audun Vinger, Jazz i Norge, 2023)
– Jazz and improvised music is largely about finding your own thing. The Rubber Soul Quartet have nailed it with their personal Beatles interpretations. Perfect after work jazz – and certainly suitable for many other things too (…) Rubber Soul Quartet has created its own niche and the audience loves it.
(Tor Hammerø, Nettavisen, 2023)
– “Eleanor Rigby» gets a slinky Latin beat, a brisk-shuffling «Day Tripper» wanders down a gritty alley behind some American blues club (…) There’s a solid streak of toe-tapping swing through these different modes (the title track gets an especially refreshing jitterbug treatment), but the biggest constant is the quartet’s clear love of the music and joy of playing together.
(Geno Thackara, All About Jazz, 2023)
– The group’s clear love of these «English standards» is the main key to ‘Blackbird‘s’ understated charm (…) The arrangements are well-chosen to respect each song’s central qualities (…) True to the band’s name, there is always plenty of bounce and soul throughout.
(Geno Thackara, All About Jazz, 2021)
For customers in Norway and Denmark only:
Bestill CD her. Fyll ut skjema og VIPPS til nr 41282819
Concerts
09.10.24 – Herr Nilsen, Oslo – album release!
26.10.24 – Jonnys pub, Holmlia, Oslo Søndre Jazzklubb
02.11.24 – Glasshuset, Oslo Konserthus
09.11.24 – Connect, Lillestrøm Jazzklubb
16.11.24 – Quality Hotel, Tønsberg Jazzklubb
29.11.24 – Onkel Blaa, Bekkestua, Bærum
10.01.25 – Fredagsjazzen, Lillehammer Mikrobryggeri
01.02.25 – Glåmdal Jazzklubb, Kongsvinger
22.02.25 – Borg Bierstube, Sarpsborg