Month / June 2015

by trondjs

17. A Different Viewpoint

Moving around to the back of the stage for a different viewpoint, on this photo we see Jon Lord, Magnus Johansen, Martín Méndez and Martin Axenrot from a new angle.

Jon Lord, Magnus Johansen, Martín Méndez, Martin Axenrot

Jon Lord, Magnus Johansen, Martín Méndez, Martin Axenrot seen from the back of the stage.

I was moving around to the back of the stage for a different view here. I think this was during the closing notes of “Gigue“, the wonderful track from Jon Lord’s “Sarabande“ album from 1976.

Photographically speaking, this is the contrast to photo 15 in this blog. This photo has the focus nailed on Jon himself at the other side of the stage. Taken at full aperture on the tele zoom I was using (f/2.8), the shallow depth of field is visible in that only Jon is truly sharp here. Bassist Martín Méndez is not quite focus, while Magnus Johansen on keyboards and drummer Martin Axenrot are slightly blurry. This adds to the feeling of depth and presence in the photo.

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by trondjs

16. Jon Lord

Jon Lord.

Jon Lord

Jon Lord in profile by the grand piano, sheet music in front of him.

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No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.

by trondjs

15. Should it Stay or Should it Go?

Jon Lord with Magnus Johansen in the background

Jon Lord with Magnus Johansen in the background

Jon Lord with Magnus Johansen in the background

I’m in two minds about this photo, showing Jon Lord at the front, his right hand on the keyboard of the Hammond organ, with keyboard player Magnus Johansen at the back, his gaze focused on Jon.

The composition of the photo is just great. But there’s one problem – the focus isn’t quite right. The keyboard on the Hammond organ and Jon’s hand is pin sharp, but sadly both Jon and Magnus are slightly out of focus.

Dilemma.

I like the composition of the photo very much, with Jon playing the Hammond organ, and Magnus keeping a close eye on him. But neither of them are in focus. One of them should have been.

So – what do you think? Should I use this photo in the photo book, despite it not being perfect when it comes to focus point – or should I leave it out?

The fact that Jon is playing the Hammond, indicates that this is during rehearsals for “Gigue“, another wonderful track from Jon’s 1976 “Sarabande” album.

As far as I can remember, they rehearsed “Bourée” and “Gigue” back to back, although being separted in the actual consert.

Anyway: Feedback is appreciated!
Should I keep this photo in the book, despite it not being techinically perfect (both musicians seen properly are slightly out of focus). Still I feel the scene is portraied beautifully.

Comments are more than welcome on this one!

All Material: © Copyright Trond J. Strøm. All Rights Reserved.

No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.

by trondjs

14. Violinists and Rockers

First violinists Sveinung Lillebjerka and Åse Våg Aaknes at the front, bass player Martín Méndez, drummer Martin Axenrot and keyboardist Magnus Johansen visible at the back.

Violinists and rockers

1. violinists Sveinung Lillebjerka and Åse Våg Aaknes at the front, bassist Martín Méndez, drummer Martin Axenrot and keyboardist Magnus Johansen at the back

First violinists Sveinung Lillebjerka and Åse Våg Aaknes at the front, bass player Martín Méndez, drummer Martin Axenrot and keyboardist Magnus Johansen visible at the back.

The latter three with their gaze fixed in the direction of Jon Lord.

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No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.

by trondjs

13. Jon Lord and Two Martins

Jon Lord, Martín Méndez and Martin Axenrot

Jon Lord, Martín Méndez and Martin Axenrot

Jon Lord by the grand piano, Martín Méndez on the bass and Martin Axenrot on the drums in the background. First violinist Ellen Samdal can be seen on the right side.

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No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.

by trondjs

12. Maestro and Conductor

Jon Lord with conductor Torodd Wigum in the background.

Jon Lord with conductor Torodd Wigum in the background

Jon Lord – with conductor Torodd Wigum visible in the background

Jon Lord pictured in profile in a break between numbers, with conductor Torodd Wigum visible – albeit blurred – in the background, looking towards Jon.
The conductor for the evening, Torodd Wigum, is the House Director for the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra (TSO). He gathered the “Lord Chamber Orchestra” for this concert, made up of members of the TSO, the Trondheim Soloists, and some very promising music students. Torodd himself played solo viola both in TSO and the Trondheim Soloists earlier – indeed he can be seen with the latter chamber orchestra playing the viola on “Beyond the Notes Live“, a DVD from Jon Lord’s 2004 tour. (This DVD only seems to be available from amazon.de now.)

All Material: © Copyright Trond J. Strøm. All Rights Reserved.

No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.

by trondjs

11. Axe

Martin Axenrot, drummer

Martin Axenrot, drummer from Opeth.

Martin “Axe” Axenrot from Opeth handled the drums used during the concert – and of course he did it excellently. His drum solo during the number “Gigue” received a standing ovation during the concert.
Having played with Swedish prog-metal band Opeth since 2005, joining full time the year after, Axe is one of those drummers which combines excellent technique, great skill and speed, with jazz leanings, providing that wonderful flair that no pure “speed drummer” or “power drummer” comes close to. Come to think of it, Jon Lord himself played with another drummer which fits this description nicely during the largest part of his career.

Last year (2014), Axe was named “best prog drummer in the World” by Rhythm Magazine after an extensive poll.

Martin Axenrot’s private life played an important role in his involvement in this concert. His significant other, Nathalie Lorichs, has a father, Christer, who befriended Jon Lord probably while Jon still was in Whitesnake, if I’ve understood things correctly (and since Christer will be reading this, we’ll quickly have it fixed if I’m mistaken).

So Nathalie probably has been raised with Jon’s music as a backdrop. She was asked to do background vocals for the concert in Trondheim in 2007. For the 2010 concert, she was invited to do the main vocals on several numbers. More about that – and photos of Nathalie singing – later. (So sorry, Christer, I’m afraid I didn’t take any photos of you!)

It was via Nathalie’s participation that Martin Axenrot and Martín Méndez from Opeth got involved with this concert – and from reports I’ve had, both of them were very keen and humbled to be given the chance to work with the legendary Jon Lord.

A cropped, colour version of this photo, which I posted to Flickr after the concert, can be seen here.

All Material: © Copyright Trond J. Strøm. All Rights Reserved.

No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.