About
Kristoffer Berre Alberts has from his background as a jazz musician done everything from acoustic american free jazz to european contemporary improvised music. With his collaborations and releases with Nels Cline, Steve Noble, Maja Ratkje, Lasse Marhaug, Jamie Saft, Jim Black, Cortex, Paal Nilssen-Love, Terrie Ex and SAKA, he stand out as one of the most interesting saxophone players in Europe.
Bachelor of performing jazz from Jazz Academy, Trondheim, NTNU, 2008.
Master of performing jazz/improvised music from Norwegian Academy of Music, 2016
About “Hugs and Bugs” in Downbeat Magazine
- The results are gripping and calming, in turn, involving some of the most impressive improvising heard in recent times, even though these elements are "comprovisations", filtered by the mind of Alberts."
Martin Longley, 4 1/2 stars of 5 possible in Downbeat january 2022
Block Ensemble
«Hugs and Bugs»
Clean Feed Records - 2021
Composed, curated and edited by Kristoffer Alberts | Mixed and mastered by Lasse Marhaug
With
Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje vocal | Stine Janvin Joh vocal | Britt Pernille Frøholm hardanger fiddle | Didrik Ingvaldsen trumpet | Mette Rasmussen alto saxophone | Lene Grenager cello | Tanja Orning cello | Jasper Stadhouders guitar, kologo and mandolin | Mats Äleklint trombone | Nils Henrik Asheim organ | Frode Haltli accordion | Ingebrigt Håker Flaten double bass | Per Zanussi double bass | Dag Erik Knedal Andersen drums
Active Constellations
Discography
Block Ensemble
«Hugs and Bugs»
Clean Feed Records - 2021
With
Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje vocal | Stine Janvin Joh vocal | Britt Pernille Frøholm hardanger fiddle | Didrik Ingvaldsen trumpet | Mette Rasmussen alto saxophone | Lene Grenager cello | Tanja Orning cello | Jasper Stadhouders guitar, kologo and mandolin | Mats Äleklint trombone | Nils Henrik Asheim organ | Frode Haltli accordion | Ingebrigt Håker Flaten double bass | Per Zanussi double bass | Dag Erik Knedal Andersen drums
Composed, curated and edited by Kristoffer Alberts | mixed and mastered by Lasse Marhaug
Reviews
- The results are gripping and calming, in turn, involving some of the most impressive improvising heard in recent times, even though these elements are "comprovisations", filtered by the mind of Alberts."
Martin Longley, 4 1/2 of 5 possible in Downbeat
Exoterm - “Exits into a corridor
Hubro — 2019
With
Nels Cline - guitar
Kristoffer Alberts - saxophones
Rune Nergaard - bass
Jim Black - drums and electronics
All music composed by Rune Nergaard.
Produced by Rune Nergaard and Kristoffer Berre Alberts.
Recorded by Eli Crews at Figure 8 Recording, Brooklynns NY,
January 30-31, 2018.
Mixed by Johnny Skalleberg at Amper Tone.
Mastered by Espen Høydalsvik at Tinnitus.Mastering,
October 12, 2018.
Jim Black plays Sonor drums, Vic Firth Sticks, UFIP Cymbals, Hammerax Percussion, & ROLI instruments.
Reviews
- Characterised by a rapid turnover of ideas and rich textural detail, Exoterm’s heady brew throws elements of jazz, metal, improv and ambient electronica into a white-hot crucible.
Fred Grand, Jazz Journal
Cortex "Avant-Garde Party Music"
Clean Feed — 2017
With
Thomas Johansson - trumpet
Kristoffer Alberts - saxophones
Ola Høyer - bass
Gard Nilssen - drum
Reviews
«Keeping with its title, the music is a celebration, a soirée, and a jamboree!»
- Mark Corroto, 4/5 of 5 stars in All About Jazz
"Cortex’ femte album befester kvartettens posisjon som en av norsk jazz’ sterkeste egenstemmer.»
- Terje Mosnes, Jazzinorge.no
"Johanssons komposisjoner klarer bare så vidt å holde igjen bandet, som farer av sted som ville hester over alle hauger, det slår virkelig gnister av Ola Høyer på kontrabass og Gard Nilssen på trommer.»
- Audun Vinger, DN
"Don't sleep on this, it's one of the best albums of the year, and this band is unstoppable."
- Tim Niland, Music and More
Marhaug/Alberts
«Lindemenn»
KBA Records — 2016
With
Kristoffer Berre Alberts – saxophone
Lasse Marhaug - electronics
Reviews
”Generasjon Lindemenn breathes new life into the free jazz into noise paradigm, eschewing macho bluster for weird and minimal sonics.”
— Wire Jan 2017
Generasjon Lindemenn: In 2015 KBA Records released a collaborative album of Norwegians Lasse Marhaug and Kristoffer Berre Alberts. Titled "Organistskolen" it documented the first-time meeting of the two musicians. The album was released in a limited edition of 100 copies and sold out without being announced. One year later the duo return with "Generasjon Lindemenn", which being a studio creation has a different genesis. Recorded in Marhaug's Oslo studio in the spring of 2016 the album shows the two musicians pushing further wherer they left off on the first album, with Alberts' tenor and alto sax taking stabs at Marhaug's electronic noise constructions, with the two intertwining in ways that at times obscures who is playing what. "Generasjon Lindemenn" is certainly not easy listening, but within the dense sonic bombardment the two also display a playfulness that clearly shows that this is music that could go anywhere.
Alberts/Noble
«Second Coldest Yesterday»
Clean Feed — 2016
With
Kristoffer Berre Alberts – saxophone
Steve Noble - drums
Reviews
There is a certain quality of the unknown always present, and Alberts responds with a raw and rough toned patina to his playing which is very evocative in the context of Noble’s powerful drumming and they combine to be a considerable force”
— Tim Niland 2016
Damana
«Cornua Copiae»
Clean Feed — 2016
With
Kristoffer Albertsalto saxophone
Jørgen Mathisentenor saxophone
André Rolighetenbaritone saxophone and bass clarinet
Hayden Powelltrumpet
Kristoffer Kompentrombone
Øyvind Dalepiano
Adrian Myhrdouble bass
Dag Magnus Narvesendrums
Reviews
All About Jazz: ”More please!”
— John Sharpe
DAMANA, the octet of Dag Magnus Narvesen, assembles some of the very best jazz musicians in Norway, coming from slightly different corners of jazz. Some of them, you might have heard of already, like the reed section of the band – Kristoffer Alberts, Jørgen Mathisen and André Roligheten – who all come from the more progressive parts of the Norwegian jazz scene. With one foot in the free jazz tradition and the other stepping into free improvised music territory, this mini-big band is exploring new possibilities without forgetting what’s still valid in the old ones. The music is exciting, vibrant and sometimes even urgent, with that kind of vigor, freshness and wonder only possible through players with a deep musical sincerity and strong artistic conviction.
Saka with
Maja S.K. Ratkje
«RASAKA»
KBA Records — 2016
With
Kristoffer Berre Alberts – saxophone
Jon Rune Strøm – bass
Dag Erik Knedal Andersen – drums
Maja Ratkje – electronics / voice
Reviews
"Saka back her as a double quartet, working as two distinct bands, each in their own channel. … Ratkje’s vocalisations on Rasaka can be described more as a modern kind of scat, comparable to Leon Thomas’s work with Pharoah Sanders, though the ways in which Thomas and Ratkje go about their work are notably different; when she mimics the instruments Ratkje is more sibilant than plosive, using more harsh sounds than rounded ones...Ratkje
seems more at ease playing off Saka’s improvisations with greater ease. Her scat style is freer and more varied when set against their tempo and flair.
— Lottie Brazier - Wire Magazine December 2016
Cortex
«Live in New York»
Clean Feed — 2016
With
Kristoffer Berre Alberts – saxophone
Thomas Johansson – troumpet
Ola Høyer – bass
Gard Nilssen - drums
Reviews
«It sizzles with a barely contained energy, one that has yet to be harnessed or become world-weary.»
– 4,5 av 5 stjerner fra Mark Corroto, AllAboutJazz
«The music is simultaneously heavy and agile, flowing as rushing river and receives the highest possible recommendation.»
– Tim Niland, Music and More
«The combo shows how it is possible to survey and digest decades of musical precedent and come up with something that feels lived rather than studied.»
– 4,5 av 5 stjerner fra Bill Meyer, Downbeat Magazines
«Det Cortex nok en gang serverer oss er fri, åpen, men samtidig melodisk sterk og usedvanlig intens, kollektiv og groovy musikk med tidløshetens stempel på seg. Vi snakker heftige saker!»
– Tor Hammerø, Nettavisen
«Cortex er killer. Et solid håndlag med jazzhistoriens friere utfoldelser, men med blikket, og energien, vendt fremover.»
– Chris Monsen, Klassekampen, 5 av 6 stjerner.
Starlite Motel
«Awosting Falls»
Clean Feed — 2015
With
Kristoffer Berre Alberts — alto and tenor saxophones
Jamie Saft — hammond organ, whitehall organ, moog, lapsteel guitar
Ingebrigt Håker Flaten — Ibanez 8-string Fretless Bass, Fender Precision Bass, Univox Hi-Flyer Bass
Gard Nilssen — drums, percussion, electronics
Reviews
In “Awosting Falls”, non-idiomatic and idiomatic improv meets with… psychedelic rock
The music is puzzling and sensuous, cosmic and groovy at the same time. Now you can dream with a beat.
Alberts/Marhaug
«Organistskolen»
KBA Records — 2015
With
Kristoffer Berre Alberts – saxophone
Lasse Marhaug - electronics
Reviews
"Organistskolen" is documented as the first-time meeting of the two musicians. The album was released in a limited edition of 100 copies and sold out without being announced.
Snik
«Metasediment Rock»
Clean Feed — 2015
With
Kristoffer Berre Alberts – saxophone
Kristoffer Kompen – trombone
Ole Morten Vågan –bass
Erik Nylander - drums
Reviews
The Norwegian jazz scene is like the hat of a magician: when you think nothing more can get out from its mysterious hole, there’s something else emerging to amaze us. SNIK is such a case. The compositions are from two of the members of this quartet, trombonist Kristoffer Kompen and double bassist Ole Morten Vagan. Together with Kristoffer Berre Alberts and Erik Nylander they show us that it’s not possible to play cold jazz, even when surrounded by snow and ice. “Metasediment Rock” is to the sensible hearts what volcanos are to close-by villages: dangerous.
Cortex
Cortex
«Live!»
Clean Feed — 2015
With
Kristoffer Berre Alberts – saxophone
Thomas Johansson – troumpet
Ola Høyer – bass
Gard Nilssen - drums
Reviews
Cortex plays new jazz with the tools and forms of the old one. More exactly: this quartet practices a creative, exploratory jazz concept with the patine of the former years of free jazz, when the bop matrix was very much in evidence. Like in those times, the music in “Live!” is specially intense and powerful, with an “in-your-face” attitude never giving us a moment of rest. At the end of the album, we’re not tired. It’s the other way around: we get energized and joyful, ready for what’s coming next.Content goes here
SAKA
«Cementen»
Stone Floor — 2014
With
Kristoffer Berre Alberts – saxophone
Jon Rune Strøm – bass
Dag Erik Knedal Andersen – drums
Reviews
SAKA is characterized by the trio’s unbridled creativity and visceral fire power, moving seamlessly from minimalistic textures to explosions of sound. The trio creates exuberant and exciting improvisations that brings the great first generation of improvisers to mind. But far from copying, SAKA leads improvised music into the future with their own brand of improvised music. The members are some of the most active players on the Scandinavian scene, and are also part of critically acclaimed bands, such as Paal Nilssen Love Large Unit, Cortex, AKODE, Friends and Neighbors, Starlite Motel, Frode Gjerstad trio and All Included.
Cortex
«Göteborg»
Stone Floor — 2012
With
Kristoffer Berre Alberts – saxophone
Thomas Johansson – troumpet
Ola Høyer – bass
Gard Nilssen - drums
Reviews
Cortex is a norwegian jazzquartet, and their music is clearly inspired by the American avantgarde jazz of the 60s and 70s, with giants like Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman and John Zorn looming in the shadows. At the same time there is something unmistakably Nordic and contemporary about the way the debutalbum Resection sounds, giving associations to people like Magnus Broo and Kenny Wheeler. The quartet offers dynamic musicality and an effortless musical dialogue in a string-of-pearls of original songs, all written by Thomas Johansson, obviously an unusual compositional talent.
After the release of their debutalbum, Resection, the band has played on several jazzfestivals such as Nattjazz in Bergen, Molde Int. Jazz Festival and Dølajazz in Lillehammer as well as a tours in Norway, Europe and Japan. The record has received several great reviews as well as beeing played on Norwegian and international radio. All members share a common background in jazz studies from Trondheim, and they´re active in a number of other constellations – for example Mathias Eick Quintet, Saka, Cortex is a norwegian jazzquartet, and their music is clearly inspired by the American avantgarde jazz of the 60s and 70s, with giants like Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman and John Zorn looming in the shadows. At the same time there is something unmistakably Nordic and contemporary about the way the debutalbum Resection sounds, giving associations to people like Magnus Broo and Kenny Wheeler. The quartet offers dynamic musicality and an effortless musical dialogue in a string-of-pearls of original songs, all written by Thomas Johansson, obviously an unusual compositional talent.
After the release of their debutalbum, Resection, the band has played on several jazzfestivals such as Nattjazz in Bergen, Molde Int. Jazz Festival and Dølajazz in Lillehammer as well as a tours in Norway, Europe and Japan. The record has received several great reviews as well as beeing played on Norwegian and international radio.
All members share a common background in jazz studies from Trondheim, and they´re active in a number of other constellations – for example Mathias Eick Quintet, Saka, Friends&Neighbors, All Included, AKODE The Heat Death, Paal Nilssen Love Large Unit, Starlite Motel, Friends&Neighbors, All Included, AKODE and The Heat Death.
SAKA
«POSH!?»
FMR — 2011
With
Kristoffer Berre Alberts – saxophone
Jon Rune Strøm – bass
Dag Erik Knedal Andersen – drums
Reviews
SAKA is characterized by the trio’s unbridled creativity and visceral fire power, moving seamlessly from minimalistic textures to explosions of sound. The trio creates exuberant and exciting improvisations that brings the great first generation of improvisers to mind. But far from copying, SAKA leads improvised music into the future with their own brand of improvised music. The members are some of the most active players on the Scandinavian scene, and are also part of critically acclaimed bands, such as Paal Nilssen Love Large Unit, Cortex, AKODE, Friends and Neighbors, Starlite Motel, Frode Gjerstad trio and All Included.
Cortex
«Resection»
FMR — 2011
Reviews
The band’s music is clearly inspired by the American avantgarde jazz of the 60s and 70s, with giants like Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman and John Zorn looming in the shadows.
At the same time there is something unmistakably Nordic and contemporary about the way Resection sounds, giving associations to people like Magnus Broo and Kenny Wheeler.
The young quartet offers dynamic musicality and an effortless musical dialogue in a string-of-pearls of original songs, all written by Thomas Johansson, obviously an unusual compositional talent.
Some pictures
Get in touch
Drop me line at albertskristoffer@gmail.com or using this form if you would like to discuss booking or have other inquiries.