In those times of revamping music from the past, from a trendy movement to another, Norwegian musician and head of Jazzland label, Bugge Wesseltoft has way much more on offer. As said by Compost Records CEO, Michael Reinboth himself, our man spends his time drawing unceasing new conceptions of contemporary music whereas you'll find more than just jazz…

Reasons why music is so quintessential for both of us here are far more than the instant emotions it provides us with… It's probably because music is related to so many things in our environment. People gatherings of different natures and meanings, natural relation with images of all kinds, not to mention its intimate association with cultures from all around the world.
Scands have always had their own way of defining their environment, as shown by the architecture of their houses and a solid tradition of design and I guess this has much to do with the music they're conceiving, made from mixtures of matters which, to some of us, would have seemed unthinkable a few years back, on what could be better depicted as a sort of contemporary Arts Déco spirit.

We're nothing but the result of our global history, said to me one time US singer, CeCe Rogers and I have to admit that I hardly find anything better when trying to give you a better idea of the one we're talkin'about right now. A man who's obviously evolved on many different directions, from ambient classical to minimal electronic, with an acurate sense of rhythm & groove to build the shapes of a unique art form.

"We've ended up a cycle and entered into another one. So see how it goes. How the major companies will react ; if they want to keep on releasing shitty music that doesn't sell or get rid of this habit and develop quality artists. As for the independant labels concern, the music is better and better…"


Film Ing… What is this then that you wanted to film ?
Well, most of the tracks on this new album are the result of live things that we've been doing for a while. As for your question itself, Film Ing isn't only the title of my new album, it's also the title of a track where I do normally film with my camera what's going on on stage. And it's so difficult sometimes to come with a title…

We tend to say that music suggest pictures…
In a way, yes. But music can also be a picture in itself while not necessarily concrete. It may be more abstract, although I like the so called cinematic music.

Got the feeling that your music looks quite introspective, like coming from your deepest innersides…
I love music and I think about music nearly all day long. Some people could think that it's like an obsession. I have new concepts than come to my head every day which I try to fulfill in a way to make them happen and do them the best way I can.

Would you say that you're a music addict ?
Most definitely. I look at everything in the credits to see who's done what and blablabla…

Do you manage to keep some space for your life as a husbdand, as dad… well, a man ?
Oh I do, coz' it's not good to be focused 24/7 on the same subject. It's good to be in the position where you can have some distance. So most definitely, no talk about music when I'm home. Plus, I also have to realize that not everyone has the same kind of relation with music as I have.

How would you explain this quite versatile state of mind emerging from Scandinavia ?
Hmm ! Good question. Music is a kind of underground thing in Norway. We don't have so many commercial acts in Norway, so that people doin' music here are making good music if I may say so. It doesn't have to be jazz or techno ; it can be everything from rock to instrumental and for sure, it's experimental and people work damned hard to do it the best way they can.

Noticed a typical hi-tech way of making design in Scandinavia. Is there a typical sense of aesthetics over there ?
I think there is but it doesn't necessary have something to do with technology. I'd rather tend to think about some typical primitivism in Scandinavia as compared to India for instance. As for regarding aesthetics, I don't really see anything special hailing from Scandinavia, except may be the fact that scandinavian aesthetics is quite simple. Nothing negative in there, but see what I mean when I do the comparizon for instance with french rococo… We've got easy lines, probably not so advanced.

I remember seing you at Paris New Morning accompanying Sidsel Endresen with your piano and a small beatbox, creating incredible effects while twisting organic and digital sounds prior takin'us with you on a sort of trancey voyage.
Ah ! Thank you. It was a very good experience. I like to do almost solo concerts like this…

And you've had these collaborations with Laurent Garnier…
We met something like three to four years ago. I've done a couple of songs with my band at a gig with him and some other stuff at Le Rex. We've even recorded pieces of music together but I don't know what he's gonna do about this. I like him very much.

Amongst your guests on this new album of yours is an awesome guy who I came to discover last year while on stage alongside the John Hassel Band at Paris Factory Jazz Festival…
You mean Dhafer, Dhafer Youssef… I've played piano last year on his album called Electric Sufi and I liked very much his voice. So I've asked him to sing on a track which I thought that would fit to him. And he came with his oud and his incredible voice to mix his roots with my stuff. And I've liked it very much…

Which is not too surprising, considering your previous works with Marie Boine and Sidsel Endresen…
I love mixing different vibes also it sometimes can be hazardous if not dangerous when you forget about the sense of balance.

While seing his label considered as being on the so called nu jazz tip, Michael Reinboth of Compost Records declared feeling much more on his shoes while using your own New Conception Of Jazz term...
Oh interesting to see Michael having these words…

But what is/are this/these New Conception(s) Of Jazz ?
I'm only trying to mix my jazz music with electronic. Meanwhile I think that the Compost people are coming from the opposite field. They come fromp electronic and I think they want to mix it with jazzy vibes. I must say that Beanfield are amongst my favourite people there.

Do you have connections with people coming from other Scandinavian countries ?
More on a jazz point of view. Don't know that much about electronic music in Scandinavia, although I can say that the Denish scene is quite undergound.

What to expect then from you in the near future ?
A tour starting in March with dates in France then UK with Matthew Herbert + Germany for two weeks and a little bit later on some summer festivals.

But what about America?
Guess I'll never go to U.S. as it's a real pain in the ass to get the working permit. As a matter of fact, I think we should do the same with them in Europe and don't tell me we haven't enough talented musicians here…

Would you have the feeling that it's now time for the return of quality music ?
Have to say that I've got this feeling for quite a long time. This said I think we've ended up a cycle and entered into another one. So see how it goes. How the major companies will react ; if they want to keep on releasing shitty music that doesn't sell or get rid of this habit and develop quality artists. As for the independant labels concern, the music is better and better.

As a label manager, how do you face Internet and the principle of free downloading that is most of the times associated to it ?
Don't have any problem with it in the sense of when you release quality music, people want to buy it. Those who download from Internet are people who don't feel anything for the music. But on the other hand, Internet is such an incredible tool. A key to the future which I'll definitely use myself as a way for transmitting concerts from my studio for instance then manage some time after so that you can ask the questions you want and create a good communication with people. Guess It's going to be like the television the way we would have liked to have it today.


BUGGE WESSELTOFT NEW CONCEPTION OF JAZZ Film Ing LP (Jazzland)
(more info : jazzlandrec.com)