Jono El Grande [Norway]

1999 - Utopiske Danser / Utopian Dances

2003 - Fevergreens

2009 - Neo Dada

2010 - Phantom Stimulance

2011 - The Choko King [Live Compilation]

2015 - Melody Of A Muddled Mason

2018 - Artificial Stupidity

bandcamp.com: http://jonoelgrande.bandcamp.com/releases

off site: http://www.jonoelgrande.com

Jono El Grande biography

Jon Andreas Håtun (b. 1973-07-29), better know by his stage name Jono El Grande, is the composer/performer/protagonist charged with the amalgamation of 'Jono El Grande & The Luxury Band' (formerly know as 'The Jono El Grande Orchestra'). His first band 'Mannes Fatales' formed in '89 with three chaps from school. They entertained performing surrealist poetry over an array of electronic pops and squeaks. Unfortunately the band only performed three live acts before disbanding in '90. For the continuing two year period ('90 - '92), Jono El Grande flirted several concept bands for one-night live performances, recordings, and rehearsals: The Terror Duo, Black Satan, The Pez Dispensers, Acetaded Beat, As Drosera. After high school it was sometime before he released a concrete album, working sporadically with Radio stations and films, ever furthering his aptitude in composing. At this time he also participated in several bands: Menü Tizz Aura (1995 - 96), The Gringo Quartet (1996), Grande Corpse (1996) and Vidunderlige Vidda (The Wonderful Mountain Plateau) (1996 - 98).

Jono El Grande hit his creative straps in '03, releasing his acclaimed album "Fevergreens" on the famous Norwegian label, Rune Grammofon. Sound wise the band finds influences from early Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart, King Crimson, Henry Cow, Igor Stravinsky, etc, while adding splices from both pop and film soundtracks. The extensive Orchestration (not so different from early Zappa) whets the imagination with a playful, though sometimes slightly cheesy, outlook on experimental music.