Nils Petter Molvær

Norwegian jazz trumpeter Nils Petter Molvær will play a show at Warsaw's Progresja.

Molvær began his career in the 1980s in the group Masqualero, which over the course of several years released a series of albums on the famed ECM Records; he became known as a solo artist in the 1990s, when, with his debut album Khmer, he introduced downtempo-inspired nu jazz to the ECM salon. Since then, he has released eleven more studio albums, collaborated with the likes of Bill Laswell's and Zakir Hussain's Tabla Beat Science ensemble and guitarist Eivind Aarset, and recorded music for film and theatre.

Molvær himself sees no contradiction in his various endeavors, stressing that he is interested in improvisation in all its guises. Growing up, I didn't play jazz standards. I started with electric Miles Davis when I was 16, and grew up with the development of Miles, from Bitches Brew to Agharta. I still love it all. In my opinion Khmer is still somewhat connected to that part of the "tradition," if you can call it that, as is most of the music I've been listening to for the past decade.

Molvær will perform at Progresja with a band that includes Eivind Aarset (guitar), Rune Arnesen (drums), Audun Erlien (bass), DJ Strangefruit (turntables), Darknorse (special effects), Kaare Lystad (sound engineering) and Tord Knudsen (lighting).