Eivind Aarset 4tet

Guitarist and his quartet with two drummers bring cinematic new album.

On Strange Hands, the regular quartet of guitarist Eivind Aarset sounds sharper and more unpredictable than ever. This quartet, with bassist Audun Erlien and drummers Wetle Holte and Erland Dahlen, has been playing together for years. The music returns to the core: fewer embellishments, more direct expressiveness, but retaining the mysterious, cinematic character that is so characteristic of Aarset's sound.

The Norwegian guitarist (1961) began his career in heavy metal, with Jimi Hendrix as an important example. Later he discovered jazz and played with Ray Charles, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jan Garbarek, Nils Petter Molvær, and Bugge Wesseltoft, on whose label Jazzland Strange Hands was released in March 2026. He incorporates influences from ambient, postrock, drum-'n-bass, and noise into a sound where electronic processing and acoustic playing form one instrument. Yet he is mainly recognized by his clear tone and phrasing.

Eivind Aarset guitar, Audun Erlien bass, Wetle Holte drums, Erland Dahlen drums