Is It Jazz? Records reveal second single from upcoming Aksel Røed’s Other Aspects album

“Moonshine Movement” is the second single from “Do You Dream in Colours”, the upcoming album from AKSEL RØED’S OTHER ASPECTS, and, according to Røed himself the track is a “groovy alibi for the album itself”, as he explains:

The tune consists of a single bass line and a simple drum groove. Sigurd exerts a steadying influence, but makes sure to stir things around and shake things up. Barnes rips straight into a solo with a mind-bending alto horn, whilst the rest of the wind section tightly underscore the solo before an arranged B-section comes in and sets the band up for yet another solo round. This time it’s both Lauritz and Aksel who step to the fore, and again…the B-section follows before the trumpets howl their way towards a drum solo finale.

The tune is meant to be long and static, inspired by the calmness of the Johan Lindstrøm Septett, and the roughness of Angles 9.  With Sverre insisting on keeping the bass line heavy and clear for 8 minutes straight, you just can’t miss it. Hopefully you will enjoy the spaceflight upon which the soloists embark.

Very little arrangement has been done for this tune, it’s a vehicle for full-blown soloing on top of a somewhat “naive” groove. The piece stays very much the same (at least what’s written) until 6 minutes in, then we get a different melodical space for Sigurd to blast some drums until we tie it up for the last blast from the horn section. It feels like it’s never going to end, and you will wish it wouldn’t.

“Moonshine Movement” can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of services at link.isitjazzrecords.no/Aksel-Roeds-Other-Aspects_Moonshine-Movement

“Do You Dream in Colours” will itself be released on Is it Jazz? Records on the 17th February in CD, LP, and Digital formats. Recorded at the Duper Studios in Bergen,  and with cover photo by William Østensen and cover design by Tom Korsvold, tracklisting is as follows:

1. Goiserer Jodler / To Whom This May Concern

2. I Usually Paint by Myself

3. Bergen is the Prettiest in Blue

4. Moonshine Movement

5. When You Dream in Colours

Pre-orders for “Do You Dream in Colours” are now available at

Webshop: isitjazzrecords.no/shop

Bandcamp: akselroedsotheraspects.bandcamp.com

Whilst studying at the Grieg Academy, Aksel Røed’s original intention on forming OTHER ASPECTS back in 2019 was simply to write music for one of his academic projects. But, given that he had, in fact, created an octet that included in its ranks not only some the finest young Norwegian musicians, but also others with a renowned track record, proved to be too much of a temptation for the much sought-after Jazz saxophonist and quickly became the main focus of Røed’s attention.

OTHER ASPECTS is the largest project, in terms of band members, that Røed (GENERAL POST OFFICE, DAG ARNESEN) has been involved with. Aside from Røed himself, the lineup of OTHER ASPECTS, includes his brother Lyder Øvreås Røed on trumpet and flugelhorn, Andreas Hesselberg Hatzikiriakidis on second trumpet, Sigurd Steinkopf on drums, Sverre Sæbø on bass, and Isach Skeidsvoll on piano. Aside from Røed himself on tenor sax, the saxophone section is made up of Lauritz Lyster Skeidsvoll (BEAR BROTHER, MASTER OOGWAY) on soprano and tenor, and Michael Barnes (BERGEN BIGBAND) on baritone sax and bass clarinet.  Barnes, who Røed describes as an “Aussie who writes the best scores for large ensembles in Bergen”, also happens to be Røed’s long time mentor and friend.  

Musically Røed finds insipiration in the old saxophone recordings of Ornette Coleman, Albert Ayler and Pharoah Sanders, and in the composition styles of Django Bates and Charlie Hadens Liberation Orchestra, but OTHER ASPECTS bears Røed’s hallmarks, with music that constantly drifts into different and surprising directions. As he recently explained:

The music is composed but not set, meaning its perfectly acceptable, and even encouraged, to think and play outside the box. Most of the magic within the band lies in the free improvisation. 

The next live appearance of AKSEL RØED’S OTHER ASPECTS  will be on the 22nd of February, when the band will celebrate the release of the album with a show at the at Bergen Kjøtt.

Details about the show can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/events

More information about AKSEL RØED’S OTHER ASPECTS can be found at facebook.com