Ars Nova Workshop presents the Norwegian / Swedish quintet Friends & Neighbors, at Solar Myth on December 3, 2025.

Friends & Neighbors are a powerhouse of the Scandinavian jazz avant-garde, known for their explosive energy, fearless improvisation, and deep-rooted reverence for the radical spirit of 1960s free jazz. Taking their name from a lesser-known Ornette Coleman classic, the quintet channels the uncompromising ethos of artists like Coltrane, Ayler, and Shepp, while forging their own fiercely contemporary sound. Comprised of André Roligheten (tenor saxophone), Thomas Johansson (trumpet), Oscar Grönberg (piano), Jon Rune Strøm (double bass), and Tollef Østvang (drums), the group draws on a vast web of experience from their work in ensembles such as Gard Nilssen’s Acoustic Unity, Cortex, Universal Indians, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, and Paal Nilssen-Love’s Large Unit. Friends & Neighbors have steadily built a reputation for high-intensity performances and adventurous compositions that balance ecstatic abandon with striking lyricism, making them a vital force in modern improvised music.