Batagraf (established 2005 in

Oslo Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...

) is a Norwegian percussion ensemble, created and led by

Jon Balke Jon Georg Balke (born 7 June 1955) is a Norwegian jazz pianist who leads the Magnetic North Orchestra. He is the younger brother of saxophonist Erik Balke. Career Balke started playing classical piano but switched to blues at 12, though he pe ...

. Formed in 2003, the concept of the group was to research and investigate the relation between rhythm and language, inspired by various African and ethnic traditions. The group functions as a core group with a pool of collaborators. In 2009 they attended the Nattjazz in Bergen with the entertainers Are Kalvø and Espen Beranek Holm, two of Norway's most popular radio personalities, for the show «Pratagraph» gaining brilliant reviews. Batagraf has oalso collaborated with sound poets like Jaap Blonk and Sidsel Endresen, as well as rappers and instrumental soloists like Runar Gudnason, Nils Petter Molvaer, Arve Henriksen and more.

Members

(keyboards, electronics, tungoné, darbouka, percussion) * Helge Norbakken (sabar, gorong, djembe, talking drum, shakers, percussion) * Snorre Bjerck (gorong, percussion)

Discography

* 2005: ''Statements'' ( ECM Records) * 2011:''Say And Play'' ( ECM Records) * 2016: ''On Anodyne'' (

Grappa Music Grappa Musikkforlag (established 1983 in Norway) is a Norwegian music company initiated and directed by Helge Westbye. It is one of the oldest and biggest independent record companies in Norway today. The company represents prominent Norwegian a ...

), with Trondheim Voices * 2018: ''Delights of Decay'' ( Jazzland Recordings, with No.4,

Mathias Eick Mathias Eick (born 26 June 1979) is a Norwegian jazz musician, and the brother of the jazz musicians Johannes Eick and Trude Eick. He is mainly known from his releases on the jazz label ECM Records. His main instrument is the trumpet, but he als ...

and

Trygve Seim Trygve Seim (born 25 April 1971) is a Norwegian jazz musician (saxophone) and composer. He started to play the saxophone in 1985 after hearing Jan Garbarek's CD ''Eventyr''. Career Seim was born in Oslo. He studied music at Foss videregåe ...

References

External links

Batagraf Official Website
Musical groups established in 1992 1992 establishments in Norway Musical groups from Oslo ECM Records artists Grappa Music artists Jazzland Recordings (1997) artists {{Norway-band-stub