Maja S. K. Ratkje: Solo, Voice + Electronics // SPUNK: Live in New York

About

Roulette presents an evening of vocal improvisation and free jazz from Maja S. K. Ratkje and SPUNK, one of Norway’s most well-known improvisation ensembles.

With her voice as the main sound source, Maja S. K. Ratkje will present a vocal improvisation using the acoustics of Roulette’s concert hall space. With the help of various electronic devices, she will create unique soundscapes that utilize her expressive voice as the main instrument. Lighting designer and videographer Tord Knudsen provides live visuals. A graduate of the Norwegian State Academy of Music in Oslo, Ratkje is the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions, including the Distinction Award at Prix Ars Electronica for her solo album, Voice.

Now in their 20th year, SPUNK is comprised of four of Norway’s most innovative musicians: Maja S. K. Ratkje, Hild Sofie Tafjord, Lene Grenager, and Kristin Andersen. Established in 1995, SPUNK combines individual talents ranging from vocal experiments, instrumental virtuosity and impulsive improvisation with a witty sense of play. The quartet derives its free improvised music from a variety of sources, with the expression of each of the group's four members given equal weight within the ensemble. The name of the ensemble recalls the playful word invented by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren's fictitious character Pippi Longstocking. Bold, witty, and always alert, SPUNK makes engaging music that keeps the sound of surprise alive.