Anne Mette Iversen Quartet - “Milo Songs”

Tickets: $15

“A classically trained pianist, Iversen's intelligent writing style organically balances intricate, through-composed ensemble playing and wide-open improvisation in a compelling chamberjazz aesthetic”...”This sharp outfit is definitely one to check out” - Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes

Bassist and composer Anne Mette Iversen has established herself as a stand-out bandleader, with 4 releases as a leader, tours through-out Europe and the US, worldwide aknowledgement from fans and media, and grants and rewards for talent and work.

Anne Mette Iversen Quartetʼs new album “Milo Songs” is scheduled for release on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records May 17th, 2011.

The new release reflects on and pays tribute to the childʼs worlds, through the exploration of a childʼs experiences and his perspective on life. Inspired by a little melody Anne Metteʼs son made up at age 2, which is found in all the tunes on this album, the music is telling stories about the turbulence of getting a sibling, the ability to exclude the world around you, the intense focus on something seemingly un-important to others, the fantasy world, the stubbornness, the strong will and fight for ideas, the dreams, and so forth.

Anne Mette Iversen Quartet has gained a reputation for their consistently engaging live performances, and for being true to jazz music in spirit, feeling and originality. They do not “play” the music; they speak through the music, they live the music. Because the musicians know each other so well, having played together for more than 7 years, they have developed an intuitive understanding of each others' musical language and personality, and are able to let the music grow and take off in new directions every night.

Anne Mette Iversen Quartet has toured in the US and Europe and performed at esteemed jazz venues and major European Festivals, such as Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Aarhus International Jazz Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center in NYC, Fasching in Stockholm, A-Train in Berlin, An Die Musik in Baltimore, and many others. They have performed live on WNYCʼs Soundcheck, and their recording of “West” was selected Song of the Day by NPR Music, in May 2008. The double album “Best of the West+Many Places” was selected “Best of 2008” by Jazznyt Blogspot and the web-zine Something Else!

The musicians are:
John Ellis – saxophone
Danny Grissett – piano
Otis Brown III – drums
Anne Mette Iversen – bass and compositions

Anne Mette Iversen has released:
1. "På den anden Side/On the Other Side" (Okapi 2004)
2. "This Is My House" (Okapi 2006)
3. "Best of the West + Many Places" (Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records 2008)
4. “Milo Songs” (Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records 2011)

Also visit the artist's website www.annemetteiversen.com and www.bjurecords.com

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Musician biographies

Pianist Danny Grissett has since his arrival to NY, performed internationally at jazz festivals and clubs in Italy, France, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Colombia, and many cities within the US. He has performed with such notables as Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson, The Mingus Big Band, Marcus Strickland, Russell Malone, Jeremy Pelt, Nicholas Payton, Buster Williams, and is a member of the Tom Harrell quintet. Grissett has released three albums as a leader: Promise (2006), Encounters (2008) and Form (2009) were all released on the Criss Cross Jazz label, and #4 is on itʼs way in 2011.

Drummer Otis Brown III is widely regarded as one of the finest young drummers in the jazz world today, and he has toured extensively throughout the US as well as performing at major festivals abroad. Currently Brown can be seen touring with Esperanza Spalding, the Thelonious Monk Institute's Jazz in America Initiative, Joe Lovano's Trio, Quartet and Nonet, Laurent Coq Trio, Franck Amsallem Trio and Quartet, Steve Wilson Quartet, Oliver Lake Big Band, guitarist Ron Jackson's Quartet and many others.

Saxophonist John Ellis has released 6 Cds as a leader. As the Second Place winner of the prestigious 2002 Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition, John Ellis is beginning to be recognized as one of New Yorkʼs premiere young talents of the tenor saxophone. Featured with artists as diverse as R&B star Bilal Oliver, eight-string guitar virtuoso Charlie Hunter, and bass icon, John Patitucci, John has performed extensively from the Filmore to Lincoln Center.

Bassist and composer Anne Mette Iversen has been leading her own groups since 2001. Her ongoing project is the Anne Mette Iversen Quartet; and currently she is also leading the Poetry of Earth project. Anne Mette has published three CDs (one is a double CD) as a leader, of exclusively original compositions and has received excellent media reviews and enthusiastic audiences world wide. As a composer Anne Mette has developed her own unique and personal style that has come out of a talent for unifying jazz music with European classical music. Her recent work with jazz quartet and string quartet (“Best of the West”) is a highlight exemplifying this, and one track, “West”, was selected NPRʼs Song of the Day. As performer Anne Mette has toured throughout Europe and the US, and performed with musicians such as: Terri Lyne Carrington, Ingrid Jensen, Ben Taylor, Nina Nastasia, Tineke Postma, Nina Nastasia and many others. Anne Mette has performed and arranged music for The Danish Consulate General in New York and the Danish Embassy in Washington DC. She also has scored music for three short films and an Off-Broadway play.