For more than 30 years, the Norwegian collective Jaga Jazzist have been a unique creative force on the international music scene. Since the band’s humble beginnings in Tønsberg in 1994, they have been driven by a constant desire to explore what a large group of exceptionally talented musicians with ambitious visions can achieve together. Having released on world-renowned labels such as Smalltown Supersound and Ninja Tune, the group found a home at Brainfeeder – the imprint owned by Flying Lotus – in 2020 to release their ninth studio album “Pyramid”. Taking a deep dive into post-rock, jazz and psychedelia influences they nodded to forebears spanning from 80s jazz band Out To Lunch and Norwegian synth guru Ståle Storløkken, to contemporaries Tame Impala, Todd Terje and Jon Hopkins. ‘Tomita’ is a nod to Japanese composer and synth player Isao Tomita, and ‘The Shrine’ alludes to Fela Kuti’s legendary Lagos venue.

Composer Lars Hornveth said at the time: “I feel that this album is a small symphony, each part containing its own rooms to explore.” Therefore, it was a very natural progression to create new orchestral versions of the compositions on “Pyramid” and record them at the historic Store Studio in Oslo, home of The Norwegian Radio Orchestra (Kringkastingsorkestret abbreviated as KORK).  

“The way we arrange the music for Jaga and the orchestra is based on the idea of remixing ourselves. Lars’s music contains so many layers, countermelodies and hooks that can be expanded and rearranged into long, symphonic pieces. The music on this album was arranged by Erik Johannessen, with plenty of ideas and input from Lars. We drew inspiration from composers we love, including Jean-Claude Vannier and Serge Gainsbourg, Bernard Herrmann, Claude Debussy and Henryk Górecki. The opportunity to work with an orchestra doesn’t come along very often, so we took great pleasure in placing the orchestra front and centre, creating long overtures that take detours into both Vertigo and Melody Nelson, before everything finally comes together as one grand ensemble.”