In May 2003, my band hit the studio to record my debut solo album. The band is: Petter Wettre - saxophone Roy Powell - piano Andreas Bye - drums and yours truly on upright and electric bass.

The album was recorded at the "Cookie factory", owned by Norwegian bass great Terje Gewelt.

The tunes The tunes for the album were mostly composed by myself, in addition, Roy Powell kindly contributed two great tunes. We also recorded my arrangment of the John Coltrane classic "Giant steps" in 7/8 signature.

The Mix The sound engineer for both recording and mixing was Mr Anders Svinndal. Anders is an independent sound engineer, and he got one of the best bass sounds I've ever got in the studio!

Dig it! Is released by Nagel-Heyer records in Hamburg- Germany.

Sound

41b	This is a modal medium tempo piece by Roy Powell. The file features the head, and bass solo
Sir Nuke	this is an uptempo piece featuring the 6 string electric. Demo is excerpt from head and bass solo
Another song	This is a latin flavoured ballad type tune. Has a standard-jazz-vibe to it

Reviews of ”Dig it!”

• Frode Berg has produced a CD and put a band together that can go out and be compared to anyone, anywhere! May “Dig it!” prove to be a door opener for a musician of the highest order!

Tor Hammerø “PULS”

• It’s the delightful positive musicianship one first notices on this recording, that may well be called a jazzy “joy-record”
• Buy, spin, and listen, because this is food for the soul!

Trond Erikson “Smaalenene”

• Delightful historical jazztour from Norwegian guys in their mid 30’s
• Like a roller coaster display not of what jazz is today, but what jazz is, period.

Jon Arnesen ”Sapsborg avisa”

• …and cook it does, when Berg and his musicians strike up some “power-jazz”
• Hip!

Roald Helgheim “Dagsavisa”

• Berg comes first and foremost across as a hard-swinging jazz-bassist
• …demonstrates everything from machine-gun bass to elegant bossa

Terje Mosnes “Dagbladet”

• …as listener one feels like one is participating on each and every track!
• …Berg could not have made better choices when it comes to his musicians
• …“Dig it!” has become an extremely listenable documentation of creative contemporary jazz!

Stein Kagge “Aftenposten” 5 stars (out of 6)

• Well, He said “Dig It!” and I think I’d be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t. This album is not only a perfect showcase of Frode Berg’s obviously virtuosic talent, it is a brilliant display of his talent as an composer, arranger and ensemble member. Petter Wettre, Roy Powell and Andreas Bye seem to be the perfect finishing touches to what is an amazing debut album.

- Sam Webster Wiredjazz 5 stars (out of 5)

• Berg is technically very proficient, and obviously a Pastorius fan

• Nice to know that Scandinavians can still swing!

Tony Hall “Jazzwise magazine”

• Berg really knows how to latch onto a rhythm; listen to his original “Sir Nuke” where he and drummer Andreas Bye push the beat and race through chord changes with aplomb.
• And look out too for Berg’s finger-busting electric bass solo on the same track.
• The album ends, fittingly, with a nostalgic and gorgeous Berg-penned ballad, “Victor”.
• For those who like variety in their music, “Dig it!” offers a heady medley of bebop chops and sultry bossa nova sounds in the form of tight grooves with hard swing and serious punch.
• It also manages to capture that elusive balance between harmony and dissonance.

-Double bassist magazine (UK)

• Frode Berg plays six-string electric and acoustic bass with zeal on Dig It!
• Berg's unit sounds loose and relaxed

-Ronn Wynn “JazzTimes magazine” (US)

Best Jazz of 2004

1. Stefon Harris & Blackout: Evolution (Blue Note)
2. Geri Allen: The Life Of A Song (Telarc)
3. Patricia Barber: A Fortnight In France (Blue Note)
4. Pyeng Threadgill: Sweet Home – The Music of Robert Johnson (Random Chance)
5. Frode Berg: Dig It! (Nagel Heyer)
6. Louis Smith: Louisville (Steeple Chase)
7. James Carter: Live at Bakers (Warner Bros.)
8. Mike Wofford Trio: Live at Athenaeum Jazz (Capri
9. Satoko Fujii Quartet: Zephyros (Natsat).</B></U>
10. McCoy Tyner: Illuminations (Telarc)

-Blues bytes

Best Jazz of 2004

1. Stefon Harris & Blackout: Evolution (Blue Note).

2. Geri Allen: The Life Of A Song (Telarc

3. Patricia Barber: A Fortnight In France (Blue Note).

4. Pyeng Threadgill: Sweet Home –

5. Frode Berg: Dig It! (Nagel Heyer). This Norwegian bassist (acoustic and electric) surrounds himself with phenomenal players (sax, piano, drums). From straight ahead to nearly outside, the playing, composing and arranging are first rate. The cover of Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” is exciting and the original material just magnificent.

6. Louis Smith: Louisville (Steeple Chase).

7. James Carter: Live at Bakers (Warner Bros

8. Mike Wofford Trio: Live at Athenaeum Jazz (Capri).

9. Satoko Fujii Quartet: Zephyros (Natsat).

10. McCoy Tyner: Illuminations (Telarc).

11. Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Paseo (Blue Note).

-Mark E. Gallo “Jazzreview.com”

• Norwegian acoustic/electric bassist Frode Berg may not be a household name within global jazz circles, but he should be, after recording this irrefutably, attractive set.
• Berg is a monster bassist, indeed.

Glenn Astarita “Jazzreview.com”

2004 Best-of-Year
Other Notable New Releases

John Abercrombie Quartet - Class Trip (ECM 1846) Apr 27

Fred Anderson/Hamid Drake - Back Together Again (Thrill Jockey) Mar 23

Derek Bailey & Milo Fine - Scale Points on the Fever Curve (2003) (Emanem 4099)

Frode Berg - Dig it! (Nagel Heyer 2040) Mar 30

— with Petter Wettre, Roy Powell & Andreas Bye

Tim Berne's Big Satan - Souls Saved Hear (Thirsty Ear) July 27

Andy Bey - American Song (Savoy) Feb 24