Eivind Opsvik is a Norwegian musician who’s been living in New York since 1998. His main instrument is the upright bass, but he also spends time playing lap steel guitar, old keyboards and drums, composing music, recording, mixing and producing (he has a studio in the basement) and running a record label.
His main projects are Overseas, Opsvik & Jennings and his solo project.
'Overseas' is the name of Eivind's band. The band was formed in 2002 and is Jacob Sacks on piano and organ, Tony Malaby on saxophone, Kenny Wollesen on drums and most recent addition, Brandon Seabrook on guitar. Eivind plays bass and writes all the music. Four records have been released; Overseas (2003), Overseas II (2005) and Overseas III (2008). Overseas IV was recorded in the summer of 2011 and released on Loyal Label in April of 2012.
Opsvik & Jennings, the experimental pop duo with tunesmith and guitarist Aaron Jennings, released their third album in 2009 on CD and Vinyl; “A Dream I Used to Remember” (Loyal Label).
Eivind is currently working on a solo album, it will be an audio/visual release in collaboration with photographer Michelle Arcila where each song will be accompanied by a photograph. Expected release in 2013.
Eivind also performs with a plethora of other bands and musicians:
Tony Malaby's Paloma Recio, Nate Wooley Quintet, Jesse Stacken Trio, Skuli Sverrison's Seria, Two Miles A Day (record featuring: Jacob Sacks, Mat Maneri, Paul Motian), Jeff Davis Trio with Russ Lossing, Mary Halvorson's Reverse Blue, Rocket Engine, Plainville, Kris Davis Trio, Håkon Kornstad, David Binney with Brian Blade and Craig Taborn, Rocket Engine, Tone Collector, Jesse Harris' Cosmo, The Interaction of Non-Interaction (w Ben Gerstein), Poor Pluto ...and more
Thursday June 23rd 7pm at Kenny’s Castaway, Manhattan Harris Eisenstadt’ Canada Day Harris Eisenstadt - drums, Nate Wooley - trumpet, Matthew Bauder - tenor sax, Chris Dingman - vibraphone, E.O. - bass
Friday June 24th 11pm at The Bell House, Undead Jazzfestival, Brooklyn Night 2 of the Undead Jazzfest: A Night of Round Robin Improvised Duets!! Featuring: Dean Bowman, David Torn , Erik Friedlander, Jim Black, Dave King, Elliott Sharp, Jamie Saft, Eivind Opsvik and many more
Saturday June 25th 01:20am at HOMAGE SKATEBOARD TRAINING FACILITY, Undead Jazzfestival, Brooklyn Jeremy Udden’s Plainville Jeremy Udden - alto sax, Pete Rende - piano & organ, RJ Miller - drums, Ryan Scott - banjo, E.O. - bass
from TimeOutNY: “No one ever refers to composers of instrumental jazz as songwriters, but over the past few years, a group of like-minded local artists have made the term seem apt. If the Past Seems So Bright (Sunnyside), the latest from saxist Jeremy Udden’s Plainville project, joins releases by bassists Chris Lightcap and Eivind Opsvik (a Plainville member)—2010’s Deluxe and 2008’s Overseas III, respectively—to form a mini movement. This is beauty-forward jazz, serene yet deeply engaging, in which improvisation serves melody rather than the other way around. As you can hear on the new album (or at this release party), Udden favors a pastoral sound, driven by Brandon Seabrook’s folksy banjo and Pete Rende’s ’70s-style keys; on tracks like “Bovina,” the leader’s horn flutters against the loping backdrop like a butterfly. If a future-minded ensemble like Fieldwork is the Rush of NYC jazz, think of Plainville as the Band. Dance-friendly art-pop outfit Glass Ghost shares the bill.”
From BrooklynVegan: “After a successful first show in February charity concert series NONCERTS will return to Cameo Gallery in Brooklyn on April 29th, and the main lineup is: Elvis Perkins, Martha Wainwright, and Jesse Harris (who also has a bunch of collaborative shows scheduled at LPR). Dave Godowsky will also again perform a couple songs and play in the house band which features an all-star line up of NYC musicians: Pico Alt, CJ Camerieri, Jesse Harris, Dave Godowsky, Clarice Jensen, Ben Lester, Eivind Opsvik, Caleb Burhans, Christina Courtin, and Doug Wieselman. The venue, Cameo Art Gallery, is hidden in the back of the Lovin’ Cup Café at 93 North 6th Street in Williamsburg. As I’ve been told, “just follow the signs for the restrooms and you’ll find it (not a joke).” Tickets are $20 and on sale now. 100% of the proceeds go towards getting pianos in every NYC public school”
This Weekend - Friday & Saturday, March 18th & 19th @ Cornelia Street Cafe
Two Miles A Day Jacob Sacks - piano, Eivind Opsvik - bass, Paul Motian - drums, Mat Maneri - viola
sets at 9:00pm and 10:30pm - cover charge: $15 + one drink minimum Cornelia Street Cafe is located at 29 Cornelia Street between Bleecker and West 4th streets 212.989.9319
Wire (UK) wrote: “Putting viola player Mat Maneri with veteran drummer Paul Motian was a stroke of genius. They share an obsession for pernickety, ornate gesturing and their concept of time transforms pulse into endlessly malleable modules….. An enjoyable record, an important one even”
