Thomas Strønen


Thomas Pohlitz Strønen is a Norwegian jazz drummer who has recorded more than 70 albums. He has worked with Iain Ballamy, Arve Henriksen, Mats Eilertsen, Ashley Slater, Eivind Aarset, Christian Fennesz, Nils Petter Molvaer, Bobo Stenson, John Taylor, Tore Brunborg, Morten Qvenild, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Sidsel Endresen, Bugge Wesseltoft, Tomasz Stanko, Koichi Makigami, Ernst Reijseger, Nils-Olav Johansen, and Stian Carstensen.
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Career

Strønen attended the Jazz Program at Trondheim Musikkonservatorium. He has participated in the following bands; Pohlitz, Humcrush with Ståle Storløkken and occasionally Sidsel Endresen, Food with Iain Ballamy and sometimes Christian Fennesz and the Swedish-Norwegian band Parish with Bobo Stenson, Mats Eilertsen trio Meadow with the British pianist John Taylor and Tore Brunborg. Furthermore, he plays with Maria Kannegaard Trio, Reflections in Cosmo, Time Is A Blind Guide, Trinity and Turanga. He has also made several commissioned works, and produced and arranged works for a variety of artists. Strønen is also an associate professor at Norges Musikkhøgskole.
Strønen is recording for the renowned German label ECM and also for Rune Grammofon. As a composer, Strønen has contributed to the release of over seventy recordings as well as several commissioned works for festivals and radio.

Composer of commissioned works

  • Gildeskål-stevnet 1999, with the poet Tristan Vindthorn, performed at Ørnes July 1999, by the musicians Håvard Lund, Håvard Bendiksen and Ole Marius Sandberg
  • Cheltenham Jazzfestival 1999, with Iain Ballamy, performed by the band Food
  • Bath Jazzfestival 2000, with Iain Ballamy, Arve Henriksen, performed by the band Food
  • Dølajazz 2000, with Tomasz Stanko, Christian Wallumrød, Håkon Kornstad, Johan Bertling
  • Music for the percussion ensemble Bad Valley Drums in 2001, 2002 and 2003
  • Music for the Ultima Festival, 2003
  • Music for Parish 2004 recording for ECM
  • Music for solo percussion and sampler for Nattjazz, in 2004.
  • Music for solo percussion and sampler for Edinburgh Jazz Festival, in 2004.
  • Exquisite Pain – Sophie Calle. Music for theatre in København, Århus and Odense.
  • Time is a blind guide – Commission for Conexions 2013, NRK/ BBC.
  • Badnajazz 2013. Commission for 25 drummers, saxophone, elektronics and video.
  • Winner of composition contest "Klangen av Kilden" - sounds for the concert house Kilden.
  • Commission for drum ensemble and saxophone, 60min, 5. Oktober 2012.
  • Urban X. Music for dance- performance for The Norwegian Opera, 2011.
  • Commission for 7 drummers, Cosmopolite and Victoria in 2010, 74 min.
  • Commission for Cheltenham Jazzfestival, 2010.
  • Film- music for TV2, Sneglehuset, 2009.
  • Commission, strings and drums – celebration of Edvard Grieg's 100-year jubilee in UK, 55 min. for The Norwegian Opera and ballet.
  • Badnajazz, Vossajazz: Commission for kids. Piece for 25 drummers, saxophone, electronics, dance and video.
  • Time is a blind guide: Commission for Conexions 2013, NRK/ BBC.
  • Food/ Emulsion: Emulsion Sinfonietta, UK. Verk for Sinfonietta, 15min, 2014.
  • Utsøgt Smerte/ Exquisite Pain: Sophie Calle. Theater i Copenhagen, Århus and Odense, DK. Full play.
  • På drømt hav/ On Dreamt Ocean: Music/ installation with Knut Bry for Kjersti Alveberg, The Norwegian Opera and ballet.
  • This is not a miracle: Composing full material for recording for ECM Records, 65min. Christian Fennesz/ Iain Ballamy.
  • Civilization and its Discontents: Commission for Theatre by Mark Hewitt, Brighton, UK.
  • Time is a blind guide/ Lucus: Composing full material for recording for ECM Records, Chamber ensemble.
  • Sylvia: Commission for Theatre, Drama Teater, Tallinn, Estonia. Full piece.
  • Lemur: Commission for Emulsion Sinfonietta, Cheltenham Music Festival. Durata 20 min.
  • Extended blind Guide to India: Commission for Oslo World Festival, 2018. 75min for chamber-ensemble, drum- ensemble, vocal og steelguitar.
  • Conversations with trees: Commission for Reading Fringe Festival, 2019. Full concert for violin, accordion, voice, tap dance and drums.
  • Bobo: Commission for Nordbotten Big band with Bobo Stenson as soloist, performed 10 times in 2019 to celebrate Stensons 75-years anniversary. Durata 25min.

Discography

Pohlitz Time is a Blind Guide Lucus with Time is a Blind Guide Bayou with Ayumi Tanaka and Marthe LeaRelations
With Yelena Eckemoff
  • Nocturnal Animals
With Parish
  • Rica
  • Parish
With FoodFood Organic and GM Food Veggie Last Supper Molecular Gastronomy with Iain Ballamy feat. Maria Kannegaard and Ashley SlaterQuiet Inlet feat. Christian Fennesz, Eivind Aarset, Prakash Sontakke, and Nils Petter MolværMercurial Balm, feat. Christian Fennesz, Eivind Aarset, Prakash Sontakke, Nils Petter MolværThis Is Not a Miracle with Iain Ballamy, Christian Fennesz
With HumcrushHumcrush with Ståle StorløkkenHornswoggle Rest at World's End Ha! feat. Sidsel EndresenEnter Humcrush
With Maria Kannegaard TrioBreaking the Surface with Maria Kannegaard, Mats EilertsenQuiet Joy with Maria Kannegaard, Ole Morten VåganCamel Walk
With MeadowBlissful Ignorance with John Taylor, Tore Brunborg
With NeedlepointThe Woods Are Not What They Seem Outside the Screen
With othersAtmosfear, with Bergmund Waal SkaslienSoundoff, with Bergmund Waal SkaslienStåhls Blå, with Ståhls blåBig Bambus, with Big BambusAt First Light, with Silje NergaardLove Seriously Damages Health with Siri GjæreHelp is on Its Way, with BayashiAfrican Flower, with Haug/Zanussi/StrønenRica, with ParishAbsence in Mind, with Anders Aarum TrioSkomsork, with Skomsork……………, with Phil Bancroft QuartetTuranga, with Mats EilertsenSchlachtplatte, with Ståhls blåSparkling, with TrinityRock!, with BayashiTime goes by, with Nora BrockstedtSoil, with Fredrik NordstrømFlux, with Mats EilertsenMonsters and Puppets with Maria KannegaardVoxpheria, with Tone Åse