Steinar Albrigtsen/Tom Pacheco
When Norwegian music of the 90’s is summarized, it will be
impossible to forget Steinar Albrigtsen. He has come forth as one of the most respected
"roots" personalities, both as a musician and as a character. When he made his
first appearance he told the media that the most important thing was to make a record that
he could be familiar with. It made no difference if he sold "five, ten or fifteen
thousand", as he put it. The record sold 180.000 copies and Steinar received a
Norwegian music award for it. He has also sold over 400.000 records in Norway.
For Steinar Albrigtsen the music has always been something that he
had to follow. He was born in Hammerfest in Finnmark, but grew up in Tromsdalen. His
father was a sailor and brought music from all around the world into the house. Steinar
was exposed to all types of music; from Edit Piaf to Fairport Convention, from Led
Zeppelin to Hoola Bandoola Band. In the beginning of the –80’s, Steinar went
professional, and has always been faithful to his music.
A wide Norwegian audience met Steinar for the first time on TV. The audience noticed
instantly that this was an artist with an image. The Harmony of Roy Orbison, the raw tone
of John Lee Hooker have, in spite of great contrast both have their own way of expressing
a mans’ deepest feelings. In Albrigtsen they have a common source.
His partner Tom Pacheco was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1946. His father, Tony,
was a jazz guitarist. He taught Tom to play the guitar and lively jamming sessions were a
way of life at home. Tom began performing in cafés after leaving Massachusetts to study
at Hofstra University in New York. In 1965 he formed the Ragamuffins, who supported Jimi
Hendrix on a number of occasions and released two singles. He then formed Euphoria with
three other folk singers, including Sharon Alexander whom he had met at university.
Euphoria made one album (1969). In 1975, Tom began work with the producer George 'Shadow'
Morton. The result was two albums, which both appeared on the RCA label. Tom became
disillusioned with the music business and moved to the East Coast, settling in Woodstock.
During the years he lived there, he played gigs in small venues with his band, The
Hellhounds.
He moved to Austin, Texas, in 1982, returned briefly to New York and then Woodstock,
before moving to Nashville in 1986. Then a friend invited him to live in Ireland, and the
second and incredibly prolific phase of his recording career began...
Meanwhile, Tom had begun to do gigs in Norway, where his songs were greeted with great
enthusiasm. On one of these trips, he happened to meet Steinar Albrigtsen. This was the
beginning of an explosive musical partnership and of Tom's astoundingly successful career
in Norway. In 1993 they recorded a duet album, Big Storm Comin' . Tom's last Scandinavian
album, Bluefields, was recorded in Oslo and features a number of Norwegian musicians.
Besides being a serious musician he also is a great songwrighter,
and has written songs for The Band's 1998 album, Jubilation. This concert will be an
exciting meeting with Tom Pacheco and Steinar Albrigtsen with
Tor Hauge on drums
Andy Nesblom on bass
