Svein Magnus Furu

Svein Magnus Furu was born 10. Nov 1983 in Oslo, Norway. His musical career started playing alto saxophone in a school band, later also in a big band for youngsters. This is also where he picked up the tenor, witch would later be his “weapon of choice”. In 1999 he entered music college, mostly playing classical saxophone, but also in various funk and punk bands. During these years he also took jazz lessons with trumpeter Eckhard Bauer. After a year in the Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces, he devoted his time solely to jazz and improvised music. He continued his studies at the jazz course at Sund Folkehøgskole north of Trondheim, and was admitted to the Norwegian Academy of Music in 2004. He finished his studies with Fredrik Ljungkvist, Morten Halle and Ivar Grydeland spring 2008. Svein Magnus Furu has played in several bands the last few years: Trabant, Aphrodisiac, Fence, Diplodokus duo, kvartett og trio, Fri ØKS, Ambush, Brilliant Corners, and has played with among others Øyvind Brække, Thomas Dahl, Lene Grenager, Joel Grip, Eirik Hegdal, Even Hermansen, Ola Høyer, Aksel Jensen, Geir Lysne, Guro Skomsnes Moe, Jo Berger Myhre, Tatsuya Nakatani, Trygve Seim and many more.
He is living in Oslo with his wife Ida.
Some info about my bands follow
Trabant is a young and eager trio based in Northern Europe. The repertoire consists mostly of own compositions, but they also interpret Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra, Led Zeppelin and Bob Dylans songs. The music is based in the modal jazztradition of the 60's, but bears in it references to country, rock and blues. The expression is contemporary, focusing on improvisation, composition, energy and originality.
Trabant has toured a lot in Norway the last years, and will go on a tour of Eusope spring 2008
Johannesen/Sandbakken/Furu trio
Coming from the creative enviroment at the Music Academy in Oslo comes this trio with a new and interresting expression. Inspired by Paul Motians classic trio, they make melodicly inventive, modern and challenging music. The three musicians have long experience touring Norway and Europe with, among others, Petter Wettre quartet, "jazzintro"contestants Revolver! and Aphrodisiac, Hoo Ray, Trabant and Aksel Jensen Lucky Three.
Fence is a punk rock band, and it has been playing for ten years. The band has been playing frequently on the Norwegian scene, touring most of the country south of Trondheim. Some of the venues we have played: ByLarm in Trondheim, Garage in Oslo and Bergen, John Dee in Oslo, Bø, Haugesund, Sarpsborg, Hemsedal and many more. Fence released their first full length album, "The New Diplomacy" on Luckee Records in 2005, and is currently recording all new material in Panser Studio for a new album.
Aphrodisiac is a jazzquintet playing the music of Magnus Wiik with lyrics by Anja Eline Skybakmoen . The music is melodic and groove, its inspirations going from everything from Debussy to Carla Bley. Aphrodisiac will be playing in the Norwegian Jazz competition Jazzintro 2008.
Please visit my VIRB page!
Fence: Streets of Oslo
sveinmagnusfuru.com