Nils Petter Molvær, a groundbreaking jazz trumpeter from Norway, emerged from the local music scene to study at the conservatory in Trondheim. He gained recognition as a member of Masqualero and later released solo material with ECM, blending ambient, house, and electronic elements with his trumpet. Molvær's innovative approach continued with albums like Khmer, Solid Ether, NP3, and ER, featuring collaborations with programmers like DJ Strangefruit and Reidar Skår. His boundary-pushing sound reached a wider audience with Thirsty Ear's An American Compilation and subsequent releases like Hamada, Baboon Moon, Switch, and Buoyancy under labels like Thirsty Ear and OKeh.

Nils Petter Molvær, a trailblazing jazz artist born in 1960 on the Norwegian island of Sula, distinguished himself through his work with nu jazz group Masqualero and subsequent solo releases on ECM. Molvær's music, which fuses traditional jazz with ambient and electronic influences, garnered international acclaim with albums like Khmer, Solid Ether, NP3, and ER, showcasing collaborations with leading programmers. Thirsty Ear played a pivotal role in introducing Molvær's experimental sound to American audiences, leading to further albums like Hamada, Baboon Moon, Switch, and Buoyancy released under labels including Thirsty Ear and OKeh.