Rune Grammofon will be releasing a new album soon from In the Country, the project of pianist Morten Qvenild, writing partner of Susanna from Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, ex-member of Jaga Jazzist and Shining and current member of jazz/pop-crossover act The National Bank. Read more: http://www.runegrammofon.com/v2/catalog.php?shownews=48

New mp3 today from EST aka Esbjörn Svensson Trio. Forget about the Bad Plus or whatever other jazz crossover act you might be hearing about. Fans of Jaga Jazzist and any other Smalltown Supersound acts should take note as well, if they haven't already. It's no secret in Europe where they are considered one of the continent's best jazz acts, but everyone else needs to listen up: EST are the real deal. The instrumentation is basic: piano, bass and drums; but the sound they create is far from standard. EST fearlessly uses rock production techniques, electronics and effects to augment their music, but it's more than just that - it's also the clever songwriting and ensemble playing. EST may bear the namesake of keyboardist Esbjörn Svensson, but they are very much a band in the way they interact and improvise. I selected this song from their most recent album "Viaticum" for its solid rhythm, folksy-melody and fuzzy bass line. It may not showcase all the eclectic influences that the group are known for, but it's as good a place to start as any. Check it out.

Jaga Jazzist reports that they just finished shooting a video for "All I know is tonight", the first single from their upcoming album "What we must". It was directed by Lasse Gretland and is intended to have a spooky Ed Wood/Tim Burton/Twin Peaks vibe. Check out some stills here: http://www.jagajazzist.com/v2/sql/newslist.php?shownews=36

New tourdates for Jaga Jazzist:

03/09 - NRK, Petre Sessions, Oslo (NOR)
04/04 - Cosmopolite (Album release), Oslo (NOR)
04/06 - De Warande, Turnhout (BEL)
04/07 - De Doos, Hasselt (BEL)
04/08 - OC Kreun, Kortrijk (BEL)
04/09 - CC Luchtbal, Antwerp (BEL)
04/10 - Ancienne Belgique, Brussels (BEL)
04/12 - Maroquinerie, Paris (FRA)
04/13 - Chabada, Angers (FRA)
04/14 - Ninkasi, Lyon (FRA)
04/15 - Victoire 2, Montpelier (FRA)
04/16 - Giboulees Festival, Le Creusot (FRA)
04/17 - Cargo de Nuit, Arles (FRA)
04/18 - 4 Sans, Bordeaux (FRA)
04/19 - Bikini, Toulouse (FRA)
04/21 - Arena, Madrid (SPA)
04/22 - Electro2m5, Zaragoza (SPA)
04/23 - Bikini, Barcelona (SPA)
04/26 - Flog, Florence (ITA)
04/27 - La Palma, Rome (ITA)
04/28 - Boretto Theatre, Reggio Emilia (ITA)
04/29 - Jazz not Jazz Fest, Zurich (SWI)
04/30 - Usine, Geneva (SWI)
05/02 - Flex, Vienna (AUS)
05/03 - Palac Ackropolis, Prague (CZ)
05/04 - WZ, Wroclaw (POL)
05/05 - Fabryka Trcziny, Warsaw (POL)
05/06 - Maria, Berlin (GER)
05/06 - Hipnoza, Katowice (POL)
05/10 - Fabrik, Hamburg (GER)
05/11 - Stadtgarten, Cologne (GER)
05/12 - Karlstorbahnhof, Heidelberg (GER)
05/13 - Tivoli, Utrecht (NL)
05/14 - Paradiso, Amsterdam (NL)
05/15 - Doornroosje, Nijmegen (NL)

Jaga Jazzist has selected "All I Know Is Tonight" as the first single for their upcoming album "What we must". It was premiered live on NRK Store Studio yesterday and should be hitting radio by the end of the month.

The upcoming Jaga Jazzist album "What we must" will come with a special bonus CD featuring demos and rarities. Tracklisting:

01. All I Know Is Tonight
02. Stardust Hotel
03. For All You Happy People
04. Oslo Skyline
05. Swedenborgske Rom
06. Mikado
07. I Have A Ghost Now What?

Bonus CD:
01. Mikado (demo)
02. All I Know Is Tonight (demo)
03. Stardust Hotel
04. Swedenborgske Rom (demo)

Smalltown Supersound has announced that Jaga Jazzist is finished with their new album "What we must" and will release it on April 4. The record is said to span many musical styles including shoegazer pop and 70's prog and, if the new songs I heard live in November were any indication, a bit of post-rock atmospherics. Seven songs total, produced by Marcus Schmickler and Kåre Chr. Vestrheim.

Here's the details on the two latest new releases from Norwegian avant label Rune Grammofon:

Alog - Miniatures (RCD 2043)
The third album from the duo described as "setting new standards in contemporary music" (The Milkfactory) and "one of modern music's most interesting groups" (BBC Online). Their debut "Red Shift Swing" was a breath of fresh air at the tail-end of last century, a mature and original release from two sonic explorers, already masters at seamlessly blending electronic and acoustic elements. Their sound has since been perfected through the follow-up "Duck-Rabitt" (RCD 2020) and concert activities before arriving with this, their best collection so far. Inventive and intriguing electronica with a human and organic nerve.

Shining - In The Kingdom Of Kitsch You Will Be A Monster (RCD 2044)
Brand new album from young quartet counting two former Jaga Jazzist members and writers in their ranks, giving new meaning to the concept of progressive art rock and marking a change in musical direction from their two previous jazz albums. For the first time they use a number of guitars, vintage keyboards, horns and percussion instruments, but forget about endless synth soloing and long symphonic excursions leading nowhere. This is young, fresh and vital music with a strong sense of direction, bridging the gap between classic King Crimson and ECM lyricism.

The latest from Norwegian hardcore act JR Ewing:

Finally, after over 2 years of touring, we're working on our 3rd record in the studio. For the last 3 weeks we have recorded drums, bass and guitars for 15 songs, most of these which will become the new JR Ewing album. Tracking has been done with Mike Hartung at Propeller Studios, as well as with Don Dons at Hangaround Sounds, both studios located in Oslo. We are extremely happy with the result so far, and from what we've heard from the selected friends we've played the stuff for, it's a refreshed and exciting JR Ewing that will be heard on the upcoming record. We're totally convinced this is the best record we could ever do, and we can't wait for you to hear it. The last leg of recording, vocals, effects and mixing, will be done in the first weeks of January with Mike Hartung and Kåre Vestrheim (Jaga Jazzist, Gluecifer, Gåte etc), so stay tuned. As far as labels and releasedates go, we will inform you all when we know more.

Check out pics from the Jaga Jazzist 10-year anniversary concerts: http://www.jagajazzist.com/v2/sql/newslist.php?shownews=34

MIC Norway on the 10th anniversary of Jaga Jazzist: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2004121013144630400549

Norway's JR Ewing are back in the studio recording a new album with producers Kåre Chr. Vestrheim (Jaga Jazzist, Gluecifer, Gåte) and Mike Hartung (Satyricon, Savoy) and will also be tracking guitars with Don Dons of WE. The band plans to do fifteen songs that they say "represent a new side of JR Ewing," and are "simply the best songs we've ever written." There's no label confirmed yet, but expect a release sometime early next year.

Went and saw Supersilent and Jaga Jazzist last night and totally had my mind blown. I missed the first little 10 minutes or so of Supersilent, but what I caught was way more noisy and intense than I anticipated. Don't worry, that's a good thing. Words fail to describe how amazing and visceral they were - the sounds they produce are beyond comparison. Jaga Jazzist had a tough act to follow, but they tore it up and played quite a few new tracks due to appear on their next album. Drummer/bandleader Martin Horntveth radiates an astonishing amount of energy and really drives the rest of the 10-piece band beyond what constitutes a typical jazz show. If you get a chance to see either of these groups, don't pass it up.

The Northwest Passage Festival starts tonight here in SF. I'm not sure if I'll make it out to see Maja Ratkje and Arve Henriksen tonignt, but I'm definitely going to Supersilent and Jaga Jazzist tomorrow. If anyone else is thinking of going, it looks like I'll have an extra ticket as my wife is sick and is not so inclined to attend. Let me know.

Here's this week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Origin I
02. Lars Winnerbäck - Vatten under broarna
03. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
04. Stina Nordenstam - The World is Saved
05. Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside
06. The Refreshments - Easy to Pick Up, Hard to Put Down
07. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
08. Björn Skifs - Skifs Hits!
09. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao!
10. Brolle Jr. - Paradise Will Wait
11. Mats Bergmans - Vänd dig inte omo
12. The Haunted - Revolver
13. Stefan Nilsson - Så som i himmelen
14. Lisa Ekdahl - Olyckssyster
15. Alcazar - Dancefloor - Deluxe
16. Europe - Start from the Dark
17. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
18. Anna-Lotta Larsson - Känn en doft av kärleken
19. Blacknuss - Gold
20. Rebecka Törnqvist - Travel Like in Songs

After a two month break, Jaga Jazzist is back in the studio to wrap up their new album for an early 2005 release. They've now enlisted the help of producer Kåre Chr. Westrheim to finish tracking and to handle mixing. Kåre has worked with quite a few high profile Norwegian musicians including Gluecifer, Kaisers Orchestra and Odd Nordstoga. Check out pics from the sessions here: http://www.jagajazzist.com/v2/sql/newslist.php/