About us

ENGLISH:

BDT is a trio with a unique sound, blending jazz with singer/songwriter, blues and contemporary music. As a listener, one is drawn into their musical universe, without thinking about genre. The three musicians bring their different backgrounds and sounds to the music, and make this band their playground. They offer warmth, humour and brilliant musical interaction. Beautiful harmonies and surprising dissonance provide both the light and shadow the lyrics need to reach the audience. Since 2001, the trio has released two albums, several singles and videos and has played numerous concerts at festivals and in clubs. 

Birgitte Damberg (b. 1971) comes from Stathelle in the south of Norway. She studied both classical clarinet and vocal jazz at the Norwegian State Academy of Music in Oslo. After many years of working mainly as a clarinetist in orchestras and military bands, she has changed direction in the last 15 years to singing and composing. This broad background makes her music quite unique and exciting. In addition to performing in BDT, she teaches singing and clarinet part-time at the Edvard Munch Music College in Oslo. 

Åsmund Reistad (b. 1969) is from the east of Norway and is also a graduate of the Norwegian State Academy of Music. In addition to his contribution in BDT, he performs predominantly Norwegian folk music, playing both guitar and mandola. He plays with some of the greatest folk artists in Norway, as well as performs solo, both traditional and original compositions. His work has taken him on tours and festivals around the world, including the USA, Japan, South Africa and Europe. He has also contributed to many cultural/musical programs for schools, nationally and locally. www.reistadfolk.no

Per Einar Watle (b. 1971) is from Stathelle in the south of Norway. He is a guitarist who has immersed himself in Django Reinhardt’s string swing style. He has his own string swing trio and is a member of the Kristiansand Ensemble. His background is also from such bands as Søyr and Northern Europe Jazz Quartet. He is regularly used as a freelance musician on records, in films and in other productions. He has travelled extensively in relation to different cultural/musical productions for schools, nationally and locally.  http://watle.no/

NORSK:

Birgitte Damberg Trio er et ensemble med et uttrykk som ikke uten videre lar seg putte i bås. Visst er jazz et viktig element, og visst kan man ane impulser fra singer/songwritertradisjonen. Men framfor alt har trioen et unikt uttrykk. Som lytter blir man dratt inn i et eget musikalsk univers, der tekst og musikk blir formidlet av bandet gjennom tett samspill, varme og humor. Uttrykket er moderne og melodiøst. De lyriske stemningene, men også det som skurrer eller gir motstand i musikken, er med på å gi tekstene både lys og skygge. Birgitte Damberg Trio ble dannet i 2001, og har siden da spilt konserter på festivaler, jazz- og viseklubber m.m. De har fra første stund stått fram som store publikumsfavoritter.