Norwegian Jazz Alert

Ballrogg, a Norwegian duo, is coming to Blues Alley for two sets on Wednesday, April 2. The band’s bassist, Roger Arntzen, is a member of In the Country, a Keith Jarrett-esque piano trio that records for one of my favorite boutique labels, Rune Grammofon. I wrote a piece about the Oslo indie and two of its records in the spring of 2005 (”The Fjord Foundation“). Since then, I have yet to hear weak Rune Grammofon disc.

Ballrogg’s debut is on a label called Bolage, not on RG, but that shouldn’t keep you away from this unusual Blues Alley booking. According to its PR, the band will be “exploring the music of Eric Dolphy in a small format, stripped down to only bass and reeds.”