International band Himmerland play new music across styles, cultures and frontiers. Photo/supplied
Danish band Himmerland is one of the most travelled groups on Denmark's roots and folk music scene. They regularly tour the world playing at festivals in Scotland, Europe, Canada, Russia, South America and Australia and will be performing at the National Jazz Festival in Tauranga at Easter. Himmerland come from
different regions of Denmark, Poland and Ghana. They compose their own music, infusing it with various different cultural traditions and describe it as a melting pot of folk, world, roots and jazz with myriad other world influences.
Band leader Eskil Romme (soprano saxophone) is from Funen, but has lived in Himmerlands in Northern Jutland for most of his life - hence the band's name. During the 30 years Eskil has played, he has mixed traditional Danish music with jazz and other related genres. On his many travels in Scandinavia and the UK he developed his very own "North Sea blend" of sounds and styles.
For percussionist Ayi Solomon, whose daily musical work is with Denmark's top world and jazz names, building Himmerland's repertoire was his first experience of European folk music.
"Building the band required a lot of discipline as we all came from different musical backgrounds," says Solomon. "I am a Ghanaian and from a tradition of drum and dance music. However, my musical career began with me playing highlife music, reggae, funk, soul, soukous, etc., so when songs are presented for the band to work on, my contribution to the composition would come straight from the elements of my musical background.
Inspiration for guitarist Sigurd Hockings has come from both Scandinavian and Celtic music traditions.
