Roger Arntzen


Roger Arntzen is a Norwegian jazz bassist, known from playing in bands like In the Country, In the Country with Knut Reiersrud and Solveig Slettahjell, Ballrogg, Chrome Hill, One Small Step, John-Kåre Hansen Northern Concept, Ellen Sofie Hovland trio and previously also with Håvard Stubø Trio and the band Østenfor Sol. Through his projects he has worked with downtown NYC icon Marc Ribot, Bob Hoffnar, Josh Abrams, Toto Alvarez, BJ Cole, Michiyo Yagi, Tamaya Honda, Noritaka Tanaka, Tetuzi Akiyama, Neil Metcalfe, Terry Day, John Russell, Frode Grytten, Susanna Wallumrød, Frida Ånnevik, Tore Brunborg, Stian Carstensen, Bugge Wesseltoft, Mathias Eick, Odd Riisnæs, Lars Klevstrand, Moddi, Thomas Dybdahl, Steinar Ofsdal, Kari Svendsen, Jon Arne Corell, Alf Cranner, Göran Fristorp among others.
WWW Official Site

Career

Roger Arntzen was born in Bodø, Norway. He picked up playing the accordion at five years of age, changing instrument to the tuba when he was at high school. Later he switched to electric guitar bass, before he eventually landed as an upright bass player. He attended musical studies at the University of Oslo and at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, where he took his masters degree in performance with his fellow band colleagues in the piano trio In the Country.
Arntzen has been involved in different bands such as Østenfor Sol, and is now part of bands like the piano trio In the Country accompanied by the pianist and keyboarder Morten Qvenild and the drummer Pål Hausken. In the Country has been active since 2003, releasing nine well received albums, This Was The Pace Of My Heartbeat, Losing Stones, Collecting Bones, Whiteout with Andreas Mjøs, Sounds And Sights with Andreas Mjøs, Sunset Sunrise, Norwegian Woods and Trail of Souls with Knut Reiersrud, Solveig Slettahjell, Bugge Wesseltoft, ''Skogenes Song with Frida Ånnevik. He has also released the live-DVD abc and the EP Thomas Dybdahl & In the Country with Thomas Dybdahl. In the Country was awarded "Young Jazz Musicians Of The Year 2004" in Norway and Down Beat called their debut album "one of the finest and most arresting albums to come out of Europe" that year, while All About Jazz reviewer John Kelman has suggested Whiteout'' as a contender for the "best of" list for 2009.

Honors

Diskography (main projects)

Ballrogg

  • 2008: Ballrogg
  • 2010: Insomnia
  • 2012: Cabin Music
  • 2017: Abaft the Beam
  • 2020: ''Rolling Ball''

Damp

  • 2003: Mostly Harmless
  • 2005: ''Hoatzin''

Chrome Hill (previously known as Damp)

  • 2008: Earthlings
  • 2013: Country Of Lost Borders
  • 2018: The Explorer
  • 2020: This is Chrome Hill
  • 2023: Chrome Hill Duo meets Dōjō: Live at Aketa No Mise
  • 2025: ''En Route ''

Ellen Sofie Hovland

  • 2024: ''Hva med det i midten? ''

In the Country

  • 2005: This Was The Pace Of My Heartbeat
  • 2006: Losing Stones, Collecting Bones
  • 2009: Whiteout
  • 2010: abc, live-DVD
  • 2011: Sounds And Sights, live album including a DVD
  • 2013: Sunset Sunrise
  • 2014: Skogenes Sang, with Frida Ånnevik
  • 2014: Norwegian Woods
  • 2015: Thomas Dybdahl & In the Country , EP
  • 2015: Trail Of Souls
  • 2017: I Sentrum står et menneske '', samleplate
  • 2025: Remembrance''

Northern Concept

  • 2027: January Insomnia
  • 2013: ''Days ''

One Small Step

  • 2022: Gol Variations
  • 2023: ''Chair Variations''

Subtonic

  • 2004: ''In This House''

Discography (side projects)

LAMIEE.* / Dròlo 'Ensemble')
  • 2022: ''The Deafening Moment Of The Whistle After The Noise''

Judy Collins (with Thomas Dybdahl/In the Country)

  • 2015: ''Strangers Again''

Erik Wesseltoft

  • 2013: ''To Someone I Knew''

Ida Rønshaugen

Heidi Skjerve Quintet

  • 2006: ''Coming Home ''

Jeremy Spencer

  • 2006: ''Precious Little''

Gunstein Draugedalen

  • 2003: ''Om hundrede år er alting glemt''

Eckhard Baur

  • 2001: ''Movements''

Østenfor Sol

  • 2001: ''Troillspel ''

Nordnorsk ungdomsstorband

  • 2001: ''Distant Reports''

Lilleaker skolekorps

  • 1999: ''90 år - 1909-1999 ''

Hans Majestet Kongens Gardes musikkorps

  • 1996: ''Gardekonsert''