Full Community is the Oslo-based ensemble, ranging from seven to nine different musicians on stage each concert, and headed by guitarist-composer Håvard Nordberg Funderud, who also runs the Nice Things Records label. Full Community focuses on improvisation based on six predetermined musical ideas: a study in individualism vs. collectivism, letting the listener experience how each musician strives to shape the group’s musical output, sometimes working to support each other while nurturing stability, and other times calling out for a radical change in direction and encouraging chaos. But the most essential motivation behind this ensemble and label is the importance of expressing the creative spirit and working in a community.
Typical to the DIY philosophy of the label and the ensemble, Funderud was responsible for the mixing and mastering of its self-titled debut album and bassist Henrik Sandstad Dalen was responsible for the artwork. The ensemble features Danish sax players Amalie Dahl and Maria Dybbroe, Norwegian sax player Lauritz Skeidsvoll, pianist Liv Andrea Hauge and bassist Petter Asbjørnsen, and Polish drummer Patrycja Wybranczyk, among other young Norwegian musicians.
The six improvised pieces allow the music to develop organically and on its own conversational accord, with Funderud suggesting the basic ideas and moods. The first piece highlights the interplay of Dahl, Skeidsvoll, trombonist Sigurd Skogdal and Funderud, as they slowly build the tension towards its cathartic climaxes. The second one offers a fragile and then playful interplay of Dahl, Dybbroe, Hauge and Funderud. The short, third piece attempts to unleash the raw and chaotic power of such an ensemble. Skeidsvoll, Skogdal, guitarist Viktor Bomstad and Funderud lead the fourth piece and patiently build its psychedelic-fusion-like energy. The fifth piece experiments with a spiritual, collective groove, relying on the power of reeds and brass players. The last, sixth piece goes full circle back to the patient but the passionate mode of building the explosive power of the ensemble, as exercised in the first piece. It would be interesting to follow the evolution of this fine ensemble as Funderud feeds it with his creative vision.
Eyal Hareuveni
Amalie Dahl (s), Maria Dybbroe (s)), Lauritz Skeidsvoll (s), Sigurd Skogdal (tb), Ben Rodney (tp), Håvard Nordberg Funderud (g), Viktor Bomstad (g), Liv Andrea Hauge (p), Petter Asbjørnsen (b), Henrik Sandstad Dalen (b), Patrycja Wybranczyk (dr), Jomar Jeppsson Søvik (dr)
