The Story
Legendary Norwegian bassist at 80 makes a sensational comeback after a stroke in 2017.
The Bjørn Alterhaug Quartet - featuring Erlend Vangen Kongtorp on tenor saxophone, Vigleik Storaas on piano, Tom Olstad on drums, and Bjørn Alterhaug on double bass - was formed two years ago.
This recording grew out of a four-day tour organized by the Mid-Norwegian Jazz Center. The approach was inspired by classic LPs from the 1950s-70s, when sessions often took place in a single day. Our studio session lasted about six hours - essentially a musical experiment. 'Blame It On My Youth' was one of the pieces recorded at Øra
Studio in Trondheim on October 6, 2025. Based on that studio experience and the more private reflections of an 80-year-old, I chose the album title 'Blame It on My Age.' At my age, it's not unusual to think about one's own physical changes over time. The answer is often clear: everything moves more slowly than before.
Unexpected thoughts have crossed my mind - even giving up playing altogether. Especially after the stroke in 2017, when my index and middle fingers simply refused to obey the musical 'commands' from my brain. A long and laborious process began to get my fingers and brain to play together again.
Supportive musicians helped me through a tough period of doubt and uncertainty about whether I could continue playing bass. After five or six years, I felt I had reached a musical level that seemed acceptable to me - and, according to my fellow players, was not a hindrance to them. That felt good.
Our music - jazz - is rooted in a long and diverse tradition, one that is never static but always in motion. Passing it on in a generous and creative way, so that the best in each individual can be brought out through interaction, is one of the most important aspects of this art form. Jazz also shares many parallels with life itself: education, politics, social development - where presence, attentiveness, and give-and-take for the common good are essential. In short, it is a participatory and democratic art form.
Track Listing
- Sogno Misterioso
- Blame it on My Youth
- Stev
- Friends
- Egeli
- Oleo var. 1
- Easy Living
- Drum Bird
- Peace
- Oleo var. 2
Additional Details
Label: Losen Records
Genre: Jazz
Language: English
Run Time: 53:33 mins
Region: 0
Release Date: 03/06/26
UPC: 7090025833298
Description
Legendary Norwegian bassist at 80 makes a sensational comeback after a stroke in 2017.
The Bjørn Alterhaug Quartet - featuring Erlend Vangen Kongtorp on tenor saxophone, Vigleik Storaas on piano, Tom Olstad on drums, and Bjørn Alterhaug on double bass - was formed two years ago.
This recording grew out of a four-day tour organized by the Mid-Norwegian Jazz Center. The approach was inspired by classic LPs from the 1950s-70s, when sessions often took place in a single day. Our studio session lasted about six hours - essentially a musical experiment. 'Blame It On My Youth' was one of the pieces recorded at Øra
Studio in Trondheim on October 6, 2025. Based on that studio experience and the more private reflections of an 80-year-old, I chose the album title 'Blame It on My Age.' At my age, it's not unusual to think about one's own physical changes over time. The answer is often clear: everything moves more slowly than before.
Unexpected thoughts have crossed my mind - even giving up playing altogether. Especially after the stroke in 2017, when my index and middle fingers simply refused to obey the musical 'commands' from my brain. A long and laborious process began to get my fingers and brain to play together again.
Supportive musicians helped me through a tough period of doubt and uncertainty about whether I could continue playing bass. After five or six years, I felt I had reached a musical level that seemed acceptable to me - and, according to my fellow players, was not a hindrance to them. That felt good.
Our music - jazz - is rooted in a long and diverse tradition, one that is never static but always in motion. Passing it on in a generous and creative way, so that the best in each individual can be brought out through interaction, is one of the most important aspects of this art form. Jazz also shares many parallels with life itself: education, politics, social development - where presence, attentiveness, and give-and-take for the common good are essential. In short, it is a participatory and democratic art form.
Track Listing
- Sogno Misterioso
- Blame it on My Youth
- Stev
- Friends
- Egeli
- Oleo var. 1
- Easy Living
- Drum Bird
- Peace
- Oleo var. 2
Additional Details
Label: Losen Records
Genre: Jazz
Language: English
Run Time: 53:33 mins
Region: 0
Release Date: 03/06/26
UPC: 7090025833298
