Nils Petter Molvaer, a Norwegian trumpet player and composer, was born September 18, 1960 in Sula. He is also a producer and composer. His music blends many styles, including jazz, ambient, electronic, break beats and elements from rock and pop music, and creates soundscapes that are full of intensity. Molvaer’s style, which is often eclectic, is very similar to Toshinori Koondo’s avant-garde trumpeter. He is interested in electric and acoustic music, which shows his ability to handle the conventions of rock, pop and funk.
In 1997, Molvaer released his first album as a leader, Khmer. It features an unexplored blend of improvisational and hypnotically spun beats. The album received extraordinary media and public response and was awarded the German Record Critics Award.
Solid Ether was Molvaer’s follow-up to Khmer. It was released in May 2000. Solid Ether is based on the idea that music can never be finished, and that creating and producing music are always in progress. “Ether” doesn’t exist so it can’t be solid. It’s paradoxical, just like life.
Molvaer’s 2002 album NP3 sees him continuing to use the concepts developed through Solid Ether and Khmer by combining significant differences in order to create contrasting structures. Molvaer’s creative and soulful use of new music manufacturing technologies is a strong feature on NP3.
Molvaer’s newest studio album (2005) is called ER. This record features a broad range of musical expressions, from soft, downbeat to strong, powerful productions. Even though the soundscapes from his previous albums will be recognized, Molvaer has gone in a different direction with ER. He has allowed programmers such as Jan Bang, Reidar Skaar, DJ Strangefruit and Reidar Skaar more creative freedom.
Other/Guest 1990 – So I Write (Sidsel Endesen 1990 – Nonsentration (Jon Balke 1993 – Exile (Sidsel Endesen 1994 – Small Labyrinths(Marilyn Mazur 1995 – Hastening Westward) Robyn Schulkowsky & Nils Pelter Molvaer 2003 – Electra 2007 – Ataraxiss (Deeyah). User-contributed text may also be released under the Creative Commons FDL.