Live from the Copenhagen Jazzfestival 2021

Electronic Jazzdub

The Thing is to Feel It!

An improvisation inspired by my son ;o)&#13;
In the void between electronic soundscapes and jazz you find jazz guitarist Tao Hojgaard and his latest solo guitar project ”Space Jazz &amp; Stellar bleeps”&#13;
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A man, a guitar and loads of electronic devices which, each in their own manner, modulate and tweak the jazzy universe of the guitar and thereby create a new ”sound” – a sound possibly best defined as dreamy, lyrical fabulating film music – an urban expression, sometimes pulsating, and with the ability to create images within the listener.&#13;
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The visual inferno of cables, electronic machinery, flashing leds and countless knobs is in contrast to the classic look of the jazz guitar. Soundscapes, all initiated by the guitar, are created on the spot, in real time and deftly tweaked with the electronic devices. No preprogramming or prerecorded samples. An expansion of the guitar - the instrument and a showcase that “knobs tweaking” can be a very expressional instrument in its own right.&#13;
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Tao cites influences including jazz guitar pioneer Jim Hall, electronic musician/composer Scott Morgan, the father of Bebop Charlie Parker, as well as a wealth of film music composers.&#13;
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Visit the official website of Tao Højgaard www.taohojgaard.com

<a href="https://theartistunion.com/tracks/42a95f" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Download for free on The Artist Union</a>

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Sweet Child

A little unfinished experiment on creating rhythms/arpeggios from the guitar signal, and a little test of some interesting chord voicings.

03-24-2023

An improvised tribute to Stefan Betke aka pole

With a background in Jazz and improvisational music, Copenhagen-based guitarist Tao Hojgaard creates soundscapes and subtle electronic music in real time. Equipped with a guitar, a sampler and a wide array of effects pedals Tao sculpts beautiful and subtly complex music with a strong sense of melody and a clear reference to his Scandinavian roots.

A man, a guitar and loads of electronic devices which, each in their own manner, modulate and tweak the jazzy universe of the guitar and thereby create a new ”sound” – a sound possibly best defined as dreamy, lyrical fabulating film music – an urban expression, sometimes pulsating, and with the ability to create images within the listener.

The visual inferno of cables, electronic machinery, flashing leds and countless knobs is in contrast to the classic look of the jazz guitar. Soundscapes, all initiated by the guitar, are created on the spot, in real time and deftly tweaked with the electronic devices. No pre-programming or post production. An expansion of the guitar - the instrument and a showcase that “knobs tweaking” can be a very expressional instrument in its own right.

Tao cites influences including jazz guitar pioneer Jim Hall, electronic musician/composer Scott Morgan, the father of Bebop Charlie Parker, as well as a wealth of film music composers.

Visit the official website of Tao Højgaard www.taohojgaard.com

<a href="https://theartistunion.com/tracks/086fde" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Download for free on The Artist Union</a>

Same Song Every Night

Another live track philosophizing on space and time. 
With a background in Jazz and improvisational music, Copenhagen-based guitarist Tao Hojgaard creates soundscapes and subtle electronic music in real time. Equipped with a guitar, a sampler and a wide array of effects pedals Tao sculpts beautiful and subtly complex music with a strong sense of melody and a clear reference to his Scandinavian roots.

A man, a guitar and loads of electronic devices which, each in their own manner, modulate and tweak the jazzy universe of the guitar and thereby create a new ”sound” – a sound possibly best defined as dreamy, lyrical fabulating film music – an urban expression, sometimes pulsating, and with the ability to create images within the listener.

The visual inferno of cables, electronic machinery, flashing leds and countless knobs is in contrast to the classic look of the jazz guitar. Soundscapes, all initiated by the guitar, are created on the spot, in real time and deftly tweaked with the electronic devices. No pre-programming or post production. An expansion of the guitar - the instrument and a showcase that “knobs tweaking” can be a very expressional instrument in its own right.

Tao cites influences including jazz guitar pioneer Jim Hall, electronic musician/composer Scott Morgan, the father of Bebop Charlie Parker, as well as a wealth of film music composers.

Visit the official website of Tao Højgaard www.taohojgaard.com

<a href="https://theartistunion.com/tracks/db5493" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Download for free on The Artist Union</a>

Aphelion

Preliminary sessions Steen Rock &amp; Mute State collaboration

<a href="https://theartistunion.com/tracks/31d3e7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Download for free on The Artist Union</a>

Tast #1

Anders Juhl trumpet
Mute State everything else, including live remix of the trumpet.

Picturesque downtempo created in the here and now with a guitar, a sampler, and a billion guitar pedals looped and tweaked beyond recognition. With focus on curiosity and playfulness, Mute State aka jazz guitarist Tao Hojgaard creates soundscapes and lush electronic music in real time. Dusty soundscapes, crackling textures, and melodic fragments meets subtle “subby” bass lines in an improvisational expression morphing along as one continuos nonlinear storyline. The instrument is comprised of cleverly interconnected loop machines and guitar pedals which with their advantages and limitations inspire to explore new musical paths.

"My aim is to create nonlinear music, or movement without movement if you will. Imagine you are looking at the surface of a pond, firstly you might look at your own reflection after a while you notice the reflections of the clouds you dwell at their shapes and movement behind you – now you shift your focus to the surface itself with all it´s rippling activity a leaf might come sailing by, eventually your gaze will penetrate the surface, now you might be looking at the bottom, noticing the sandy texture, the movement of plants etc, non of these elements ever seizes but are constantly in effect and in constant relation to each other – were you there experiencing this microcosmos with someone, his or hers experience would be different from yours, not in terms of taste and preference because those will be irrelevant, but in the order and nature of what caught your attention and what you brought into this environment yourself. I have wet dreams about achieving this in my music, and that is what the Mute State project is about." Tao Hojgaard aka Mute State

The Trumpeteer

Mute State in collaboration with vocalist Astrid Engberg.
Thank you Bryan Shay aka Abor Cat for the wonderful title!

Picturesque downtempo created in the here and now with a guitar, a sampler, and a billion guitar pedals looped and tweaked beyond recognition. With focus on curiosity and playfulness, Mute State aka jazz guitarist Tao Hojgaard creates soundscapes and lush electronic music in real time. Dusty soundscapes, crackling textures, and melodic fragments meets subtle “subby” bass lines in an improvisational expression morphing along as one continuos nonlinear storyline. The instrument is comprised of cleverly interconnected loop machines and guitar pedals which with their advantages and limitations inspire to explore new musical paths.

"My aim is to create nonlinear music, or movement without movement if you will. Imagine you are looking at the surface of a pond, firstly you might look at your own reflection after a while you notice the reflections of the clouds you dwell at their shapes and movement behind you – now you shift your focus to the surface itself with all it´s rippling activity a leaf might come sailing by, eventually your gaze will penetrate the surface, now you might be looking at the bottom, noticing the sandy texture, the movement of plants etc, non of these elements ever seizes but are constantly in effect and in constant relation to each other – were you there experiencing this microcosmos with someone, his or hers experience would be different from yours, not in terms of taste and preference because those will be irrelevant, but in the order and nature of what caught your attention and what you brought into this environment yourself. I have wet dreams about achieving this in my music, and that is what the Mute State project is about." Tao Hojgaard aka Mute State

http://www.mutestate.com

Embarking Upon A Thing #1 Live feat. Astrid

A live musical conversation between Earth Reeves on vocals and Mute State on guitar/electronics
Picturesque downtempo created in the here and now with a guitar, a sampler, and a billion guitar pedals looped and tweaked beyond recognition. With focus on curiosity and playfulness, Mute State aka jazz guitarist Tao Hojgaard creates soundscapes and lush electronic music in real time. Dusty soundscapes, crackling textures, and melodic fragments meets subtle “subby” bass lines in an improvisational expression morphing along as one continuos nonlinear storyline. The instrument is comprised of cleverly interconnected loop machines and guitar pedals which with their advantages and limitations inspire to explore new musical paths.

"My aim is to create nonlinear music, or movement without movement if you will. Imagine you are looking at the surface of a pond, firstly you might look at your own reflection after a while you notice the reflections of the clouds you dwell at their shapes and movement behind you – now you shift your focus to the surface itself with all it´s rippling activity a leaf might come sailing by, eventually your gaze will penetrate the surface, now you might be looking at the bottom, noticing the sandy texture, the movement of plants etc, non of these elements ever seizes but are constantly in effect and in constant relation to each other – were you there experiencing this microcosmos with someone, his or hers experience would be different from yours, not in terms of taste and preference because those will be irrelevant, but in the order and nature of what caught your attention and what you brought into this environment yourself. I have wet dreams about achieving this in my music, and that is what the Mute State project is about." Tao Hojgaard aka Mute State
www.mutestate.com

Everything Shall Pass

"My aim is to create nonlinear music, or movement without movement if you will. Imagine you are looking at the surface of a pond, firstly you might look at your own reflection after a while you notice the reflections of the clouds you dwell at their shapes and movement behind you – now you shift your focus to the surface itself with all it´s rippling activity a leaf might come sailing by, eventually your gaze will penetrate the surface, now you might be looking at the bottom, noticing the sandy texture, the movement of plants etc, non of these elements ever seizes but are constantly in effect and in constant relation to each other – were you there experiencing this microcosmos with someone, his or hers experience would be different from yours, not in terms of taste and preference because those will be irrelevant, but in the order and nature of what caught your attention and what you brought into this environment yourself. I have wet dreams about achieving this in my music, and that is what the Mute State project is about." Tao Hojgaard aka Mute State

Improv 29 - 10 - 2018

Impro 23 June

A guitar, a couple of synths and a sequencer!
"My aim is to create nonlinear music, or movement without movement if you will. Imagine you are looking at the surface of a pond, firstly you might look at your own reflection after a while you notice the reflections of the clouds you dwell at their shapes and movement behind you – now you shift your focus to the surface itself with all it´s rippling activity a leaf might come sailing by, eventually your gaze will penetrate the surface, now you might be looking at the bottom, noticing the sandy texture, the movement of plants etc, non of these elements ever seizes but are constantly in effect and in constant relation to each other – were you there experiencing this microcosmos with someone, his or hers experience would be different from yours, not in terms of taste and preference because those will be irrelevant, but in the order and nature of what caught your attention and what you brought into this environment yourself. I have wet dreams about achieving this in my music, and that is what the Mute State project is about." Tao Hojgaard aka Mute State

Hardware improv 26 - 10 - 2019

Taking the art of jazz guitar to the frontier, Tao uses a variety of effect pedals and loop machines to build robust, droning soundscapes. All sounds are initiated by the guitar and tweaked in real time with electronic devices. No preprogramming or slick computer-tricks. An expansion of the guitar - the instrument and a showcase that “knobs tweaking” can be a very expressional instrument in its own right.

Mute State

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