Lage Lund
Lage Lund is acclaimed as one of the finest guitarists of his generation, and one of the more compelling jazz artists today. A regular in the “Rising star – Guitar” category in the Downbeat Critic’s Poll, he has been hailed by Pat Metheny as a favorite young guitarist, and is “all music and all soul” according to Russell Malone – one of the judges who awarded Lund top prize in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition.
Armed with a growing and impressive body of original compositions, and mastery of the standard repertoire – Lund swings with great authority displaying a staggering harmonic sophistication and a singularly fluid voice as a soloist. He also brings a “casually magnetic” presence to the stage,“ channeling reticence into a whisper-quiet mystique” and “balances his abundant proficiencies with an aesthetic of gleaming calm” (New York Times).
Born and raised in Norway, Lund relocated to Boston after high school on a scholarship to Berklee College of Music. In 2002 he moved to New York and soon became the first electric guitarist ever to enroll at the Juilliard School of Music. In the years since his Monk Competition victory, he has become a sought-after sideman with the David Sanchez Quartet, the Maria Schneider Orchestra, Mark Turner, Seamus Blake and many more.
After a series of three releases featuring bassist Ben Street and drummer Bill Stewart 2019 sees the release of “Terrible Animals”. Joined by a never-before-convened, top-of-the-pyramid rhythm section (Sullivan Fortner, piano; Larry Grenadier, bass;Tyshawn Sorey, drums) it is the most compositionally ambitious and daringly performed of Lage Lund’s five albums on Criss Cross. Ten far-flung originals that elicit the full measure of their creativity , spurring Lund – who makes ingenious use of effects within his flow – to some of his most dynamic and varied playing on record.
Through frequent appearances and tours stateside and throughout Europe, Asia and around the world, Lund has ascended to the highest ranks as a performer and a creative force. He is among those setting the agenda for jazz improvisation in the 21st century.
“Of the younger cats, Lage is THE one. He’s a wonderful player. Scary actually!” Kurt Rosenwinkel
Christian Röver
Christian Röver is a master musician, composer and guitar professor. He has performed throughout Europe, Asia and America. His list of musical partners spans all continents: Rhoda Scott, Pee Wee Ellis, Houston Person, George Garzone, John Zorn, Chris Cheek, Matt Garrisson, Jim Black, Dan Rieser, John Stowell, Jarek Śmietana, Skuli Sverrisson, Cesar Olguin, Enzo Zirilli, Alberto Marsico, Raetus Flisch, Piotr Barron, Jaromir Honzak, Gildas Boclé, Emil Mangelsdorf, Wolfgang Engstfeld, Gregory Isaacs, Yumiko Murakami and many others. He lived in the USA for almost a decade. There he graduated summa cum laude from Berklee College of Music, won the Joe Zawinul Award and several first prizes at Music Fest USA. In Europe, he has been honoured with the Anděl Award, among others.
Röver is at home in all band formats. With the “Far East Far Out Orchestra”, he led a modern big band with East German and Japanese musicians. At the Leipzig Bach Festival, he presented his arrangement of the Goldberg Variations for three electric guitars. According to the NEUE ZÜRICHER ZEITUNG, he is a pioneer of live looping. As a composer and arranger, his interests range from classical to contemporary music, from jazz in all its forms to popular music. Numerous albums as a bandleader testify to his virtuosity, enormous versatility and musical independence. As a sideman, his great empathy is highly appreciated.
Röver is also much in demand as a teacher. He has taught at Berklee College of Music, at music academies in Graz, Zurich, Leipzig, Weimar, Birmingham, Enschede, Helsinki, Prague, Gdansk, Tel Aviv and worldwide. His students can be found on major labels such as ACT, UNIVERSAL etc. and now teach at various universities themselves. Christian Röver has also been active as a journalist since the 1980s. He has conducted numerous interviews with well-known musicians, written reviews and led guitar workshops. His work has been published in “Gitarre & Bass” magazine, among others. This year will see the publication of several of his textbooks on counterpoint, ear training, accompaniment and improvisation.
Whether at the Gewandhaus, the Semperoper, the Gasteig, the Birmingham Symphony Hall, London’s 606 Club or a good jazz club in Prague: Christian Röver is always good for a surprise with his diverse projects. John Abercrombie wrote about him: “I was immediately impressed by his guitar playing and sense of musicality. A very original musician!”
Mickylee
A native of ex-Yugoslavia, Miroslav Mirosavljev aka Mickylee has found his home in Vienna Austria, where he has been active in the music scene for many years.
After getting his Master of Arts Degree in Jazz Guitar and Jazz Composition at the world-known University for Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz, where he studied with Guido Jeszenszky, Karl Ratzer, and Karlheinz Czadek, Mickylee concentrated mostly on playing and teaching. However, his portfolio also includes composing music for theater and motion pictures. During his long collaboration with Virtual Sheet Music, he arranged many works for solo guitar as well as other ensembles, such as string quartets, brass quartets, etc.
In 2001, Mickylee won the 1st prize at the International Big Band Composition Contest in Barga, Italy. He regularly performs in Austria and all across Europe but has also played concerts in North America, Africa, and Asia. On his YouTube channel, Mickylee has around 400 videos, mostly due to his 2013 project called “Daily Solo”, where he posted a video a day for a whole year.
His solo album “deComposing Cats” ensured him a place among the top Jazz/Fusion guitar players in this part of the world. He is also a member of a Viennese Fusion/Funk band Inspirational Corner, with which he recorded an album called “Chameleon Lab Explosion”. “In the Wheel” is the name of the album he recorded with acoustic guitar player Peter Mayer. In his collaboration with renowned guitar players John Stowell and Ulf Bandgren, Mickylee recorded an album called “Portuguese Blue”, published under the “Quinton Records” label. “Revival” is his most recent project and self-titled album with his long-time friend and musical colleague, one of the most acclaimed singers, Chanda Rule.
Besides teaching privately and in the music school in Brunn am Gebirge, Mickylee works as a University Professor at the JAM MUSIC LAB Private University Vienna, where he also holds the position of Dean of Studies.