Terje Rypdal: In A Miles Mood

R.J. DeLuke

Interviewer since 1999

R.J. DeLuke is an indefatigable jazz fan and arbiter elegantiarum who aspires to ultimate hipness; also an upstate NY freelance writer for various media.

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Published: March 6, 2006

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Rypdal adds another Miles story. "A guy here had sort of a limousine and he used to pick up everybody from the airport. He picked up Miles and he immediately said, "Mr. Davis, I don't know much about your music. and Miles said, [in Miles imitation again]: 'What kind of car is this?' They became friends and had dinner and things.

As for the music scene, Europe is a place where American musicians can find work they might not find in the states. Rypdal says it's not a bad market, but has dwindled.

"You could tour anywhere in the '70s. All of Europe and Norway. But it seems to me one-fifth of the clubs are left. That's a problem. The thing that's been more popular is the festivals. Europe is still a good market, especially during the summertime. But I don't know how it would be to start all over again. I would probably have to be a music teacher or something, together with playing. But there are new names out there [musicians]. I have no idea how they manage. They are playing in too many groups, to make a living.

As for the future? "I'm expecting a call from Manfred, he said from his home on this February day. "I wrote a thing called 'Melodic Warrior' for the Hilliard Ensemble. They have recorded a lot of things on ECM, a British vocal ensemble. This piece is based on poetry of American Indians. I got a book from a friend of mine, translated into English. I got some fantastic lyrics, mostly to respect nature and so on. That will probably be the next ECM release.

After that I'd very much like to make a real guitar oriented album again. I have a trio that is called Skyward, it started when the album Skywards (ECM, 1997) came out. I'm maybe changing our name. Then there are a couple commissioned works. So this year will be quite busy I guess.

Thus far, there are no plans for a tour in the States ["Can you get someone to invite us? he joked]. "I haven't heard anything. But it seems this album, we already have quite a few nice reviews from England and so on. This band would probably cost too much to travel with. I would like to do more with my trio, actually. So, that might be possible. Because it would not be too expensive.

"There are ups and downs, he says of his musical career. "I've probably been more fortunate than most musicians, with ECM. It's probably the only record company that you can still get all the releases. If a few records don't sell so much, that's not important. So you have this continuity that's unique.

Selected Discography

Terje Rypdal, Vossabrygg (ECM, 2006)
Michael Galasso, High Lines (ECM, 2005)
Terje Rypdal, Selected Recordings :rarum VII (ECM, 2002)
Terje Rypdal, Lux Aeterna (ECM, 2002)
Terje Rypdal, Double Concerto (ECM, 2000)
Markus Stockhausen/Arild Andersen/Patrice Héral/Terje Rypdal, Karta (ECM, 2000)
Ketil Bjornstad, The Sea II (ECM, 1998)
Tomasz Stanko, Litania (ECM, 1997)
Terje Rypdal, Skywards (ECM, 1997)
Ketil Bjornstad, The Sea (ECM, 1995)
John Surman/Karin Krog/Terje Rypdal/ Vigleik Storaas, Nordic Quartet (ECM, 1995)
Terje Rypdal, If Mountains Could Sing (ECM, 1995)
Ketil Bjornstad, Water Stories (ECM, 1993)
Terje Rypdal, QED (ECM, 1993)
Terje Rypdal, The Singles Collection (ECM, 1989)
Terje Rypdal, Blue (ECM, 1987)
Terje Rypdal, Chaser (ECM, 1985)
Terje Rypdal/David Darling, Eos (ECM, 1984)
Terje Rypdal/Vitous, Miroslav/DeJohnette, Jack, To Be Continued (ECM, 1981)
Terje Rypdal, Descendre (ECM, 1979)
Terje Rypdal/Miroslav Vitous/Jack DeJohnette, Terje Rypdal/ Miroslav Vitous/Jack DeJohnette (ECM, 1979)
Terje Rypdal, Waves (ECM, 1978)
Barre Phillips, Three Day Moon (ECM, 1978)
Edware Vesala, Satu (ECM, 1977)
Terje Rypdal, After the Rain (ECM, 1976)
Terje Rypdal, Odyssey (ECM, 1975)
Terje Rypdal, Whenever I Seem to Be Far Away (ECM, 1974)
Terje Rypdal, What Comes After (ECM, 1974)
Terje Rypdal, Terje Rypdal (ECM, 1971)
Jan Garbarek/Bobo Stenson/Terje Rypdal/Arild Andersen/Jon Christensen, Sart (ECM, 1971)
Jan Garbarek Quartet, Afric Pepperbird (ECM, 1970)
Jan Garbarek, The Esoteric Circle (Freedom, 1969)
George Russell, Electronic Sonata for Souls Loved By Nature (Soul Note, 1969)
Terje Rypdal, Bleak House (Polydor/Universal Norway, 1968)
George Russell, Essence of George Russell (Soul Note, 1966)