We are happy to announce that Norway’s heaviest jazz band, Red Kite will release their 3rd album, “This Too Shall Pass”, on June the 19th on Is it Jazz? Records.
A lot has happened with the quartet since their last album in 2021. The work on their 3rd album has been delayed, since keyboardist Bernt A. Moen was going through some health issues that eventually led him to step down permanently.
The first taste from the new album is the track “Bernt”, and it can be heard here:
The band has this to say about the track:
This track is dedicated to our dear friend, and now former colleague, Bernt Moen, who unfortunately suffered some health issues, and had to step down after 11 years. He, Torstein and Even started playing together around the days of Blackjazz, almost 20 years ago. He’s a fantastic musician, great friend, all around great dude, and is already sorely missed, and it only seemed fitting to dedicate this track, as well as the whole album, to him. So, here’s to you buddy!
This album marks a bit of a transition for us. It was originally supposed to be the four of us, with our good friend, Gisle Johansen, as a guest on sax. Everything was planned with this in mind. But then things don’t always turn out the way you think, do they? All of a sudden we lost our keyboard player, gained a sax legend, played our first show as a new line up, and recorded an album with Ståle Storløkken – all within one week!
About “This Too Shall Pass” and the process, the band explains:
What can we say? It was interesting! A lot happened, and none of it good!
It all started when our friend’s cat disappeared. Then Even‘s dad had a few brushes with death. Then a swan died. Then all this sad stuff with Bernt happened. Then a friend died. Then we lost our heroes Ozzy and Ace. Then they found the cat’s leg. And then Even‘s childhood home burnt down. Meanwhile, the world wasn’t looking so sharp either.
So, the backstory is pretty bleak, BUT our old friend, jazz legend Gisle Johansen, who was initially only going to guest on the album, has now joined the band as a permanent member. So that’s pretty exciting! And luckily, another old friend of ours, Ståle Storløkken was able to help out on the recording – which is also pretty freaking cool!
And so in the end, terrible times were had by all, but also quite a few laughs, thankfully!
With artwork by Per Spjøtvold, the tracklist for “This Too Shall Pass” is:
1. Not to Be
2. Requiem for Bolla
3. Texas of Sweden
4. No Safe Harbour
5. For Ugly Ducklings
6. Bernt
7. Broken Hearts and Broken Bones
8. All’s Well that Ends
“This Too Shall Pass” will be released on the 19th of June in CD, Digital and Red Vinyl formats, and is available to pre-order now:
Red Kite formed back in 2013 after Torstein Lofthus (drums), Even Holte Hermansen (guitar) and Bernt A. Moen (keyboards) had played together on Shining’s “Blackjazz” album. Even had played with Trond Frønes (bass) in Grand General and invited him to join. Since all of them had a rock and metal background, they wanted to explore their jazz inspirations from artists like Alice Coltrane with the heavy inspiration from bands like Black Sabbath and have fun with that. This led to the release of their debut in 2019 and followed up with a new one in 2021.
For more information about Red Kite:
facebook.com/thisisredkite
