Streif
Music is the language of the human soul.  It is a language which is expressed through a plethora of styles and genres.  STREIF consists of a group of musicians familiar with a variety of musical languages, who can take an audience, using different associations and improvisations, to new musical landscapes Our music reflects the soul of the musician - always searching for new ways to express him/herself, never settling into one tradition, but moving on to new challenges and sources of inspiration.

A concert with STREIF aspires to be an ear-pleasing, emotional, and humorous experience. Our repertoire is drawn from the entire spectrum of European traditions. STREIF has established a reputation as a group that shows remarkable abilities to grasp and interpret music from different cultures, where improvisation and creativity are the trademarks.
With the clarinet as common denominator, it is fascinating to discover the distinctive and unique ways in which the instrument is used in, for example, a Turkish taksim, a Caribbean waltz, a Jewish nigun or a Hungarian czardas.

Georg Reiss

clarinet, tarogato, saxophone.
Born in Oslo, 1956, studied music at the Norwegian State Academy of Music and subsequently at Guildhall School of Music in London. Since graduation he has worked as a freelance clarinettist and saxophonist. Familiar with all styles of music, he has chosen to specialize in yiddish, gipsy, and jazz music. Georg plays regularly with Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra, Gjertrud's Gipsy Orchestra and Magnolia Jazzband

Tom Karlsrud

accordeon, tenor horn.
Born in Hallingby, 1961, graduated from the Norwegian State Academy of Music in 1984. Tom has his musical roots in traditional Norwegian music. He has, along with Georg, worked with the Jewish singer Bente Kahan, and currently, they both play with Gjertrud's Gipsy / Gypsy Orchestra. Tom is also a professional sound engineer and runs his own record company, Lærdal Musikkproduksjon

Torbjørn Økland

guitars, bouzouki, mandoline, trumpet.
Born in Haugesund. He is one of the cornerstones of the Norwegian pop group, Vamp, and has, in addition, participated in more than 50 recordings of different styles of music. Torbjørn is a true magician of sound and has a unique ability to add just the right flavour to the music he interprets.

Birger Mistereggen

percussion, jew's harp, vocals
Born in Rendalen. He graduated from the State Academy of Music in Oslo in 1992 and later in 2001, where he specialized in "Norwegian folk-drum tradition", a rare tradition that has its roots from the 16th century. He is now operating as a full time freelance percussionist within different musical styles and as a teacher. He is a regular member of a vocal quartet called FOLK, plays drums in the traditional jazz band Odeon and together with Georg in Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra