Solfrid Molland - Katedral for Tapte Drømmer

A poetic and musical journey with Solfrid Molland

On her debut album she highlights the largest minority group in Europe, the Romani people, and she is joined by no less than the Romanian group Taraf de Haidouks and the French-Russian singer and guitarist Pascal de Loutchek. The CD, is a beautiful musical journey to cathedrals and villages in Europe – a journey Solfrid took during the recording. The producer is Erik Hillestad.

Solfrid Molland grew up with European classical music, Russian folk music and Gypsy music. She has selected a collection of Gypsy music to sing which she then frames with her own compositions. These instrumentals are written for various cathedrals in Europe. Ingvar Hovland has also written lyrics with themes of homelessness, lived life and hope to melodies written by Molland.

The music of the Romani people may be called the blues of Europe in the sense that it gives voice to an oppressed people. Molland sings the songs in cooperation with characteristic representatives of the musical traditions of the Romani people, such as the recognized Romanian ensemble Taraf de Haidouks with Ionut Guluna and French-Russian Pascal de Loutchek. She is also joined by two Norwegian jazz musicians: Hayden Powell (trumpet) and Jo Fougner Skaansar (double bass). Solfrid Molland sings and plays the piano and accordion.

More information about the artists who are featured on "Katedral for Tapte Drømmer":

Solfrid Molland (piano, vocals and accordion) grew up in a home with Gypsy songs, Russian folk music, French chansons and Western classical music, a European musical universe which she draws on in her concerts and compositions. For several summers she travelled Europe as a busker with her red accordion. On her travels she has performed with Romani musicians and composed music inspired by the cathedrals she saw. Solfrid studied classical piano for five years at Østlandske Musikkonservatorium and has majored in music at the University of Oslo. She is a freelance musician, tours for Rikskonsertene (the National Concerts) and has played everything from Chilean folk music with Arja Saijonmaa to classical concerts at the Bergen International Festival. For video and sample music, go to: www.myspace.com/solfridmolland 

The group Taraf de Haidouks participates with Robert Anghel (violin), Ionica Tanase (cimbalom), Costel Vlad (accordion), Vasille Neacsu (double bass). This is a Gypsy music ensemble from Clejani in Romania giving concerts across Europe. They are tradition carriers with great international recognition, and have also performed at several of Norway's major jazz festivals.

Ionut Guluna (vocals) lives in Romania and performs with Taraf de Haidouks. He composed music for the film "The Bell" which was recently shown at the Cannes film festival. Pascal de Loutchek (singer and guitarist) leads the Gypsy ensemble Arbat based in Paris and is a tradition carrier in the Russian tradition according to Teater Romen in Moscow. He has released several records on the Hot Club Records label in Norway. Pascal grew up in a family of musicians with Russian origins. He has studied music at the Rachmaninov Conservatory and is Solfrid Molland's Russian Gypsy song teacher.

Hayden Powell (trumpet) graduated from jazz studies in Trondheim, has a Master’s degree from NMH (the Norwegian Academy of Music) and is now a freelance musician living in Oslo. Hayden was awarded the talent award at Trondheim Jazz festival in 2009. He plays with his own band "Magic Pocket", Trondheim Jazzorkester, Iro Haarla and others.

Jo Skaansar (double bass) graduated from jazz studies in Trondheim and has a Master’s degree from NMH (the Norwegian Academy of Music). He received Posten's "Norges Talentpris" (Norwegian talent award) in 2006 and has played with such musicians as Kenny Wheeler, Ulf Wakenius, Lill Lindfors, Karin Krog, Steve Dobrogosz, Per Arne Glorvigen, Frode Alnæs, Jørgensen and Cikada String Quartet.