<\/p>\n
Jazz Gems from Karin Krog, John Surman and Bergen Big Band.<\/p>\n
With the release of the album Seagull Karin Krog once again worked with the world renowned English composer and saxophonist John Surman. Both were invited to the CD project by the renowned Bergen Big Band, comprised of musicians from widely different musical genres. The result was highly successful and received raving reviews both in Norwegian and international press. The selection of songs on Seagull is refreshingly varied. Here is a mixture of familiar and unfamiliar gems, many of them Krog and Surman’s own compositions. Rhythms influenced by jazz and samba gives an original touch to the energetic big band, creatating delightful variations in the music. The sparkling and stylish contribution from the inspired musicians in Bergen Big Band harmonizes perfectly with Surman soloist contributions on saxophone and Krog\u00b4s relaxed, controlled and perfectly timed vocals that alternate between warm intimacy and cool elegance.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Karin Krog reunited with John Surman, accompanied by Bergen Big Band.<\/p>\n
Krog made her appearance on the Scandinavian jazzscene in the early 60s and has since then worked in most countries in Europe, Russia, China, Indonesia, Australia, Japan and the US. In the 60s she worked with musicians like Jon Christensen, Jan Garbarek and Arild Andersen. In the US she worked for the first time in 1967 with the the Don Ellis orchestra, concerts and recording. Sharing a mutual interest in electronic music Krog and Surman recorded an album in 1978, \u201dCloudline Blue\u201d, and they have worked in duo during the past decades. They recorded \u201cSuch winters of Memory\u201d and \u201cThe Nordic Quartet\u201d for ECM; \u201cFreestyle\u201d for the Odin label. They produced \u201cBluesand\u201d For Meantime records, a label Krog started in 1987. \u201cBluesand\u201d won the Norwegian Grammy \u201cSpellemannsprisen\u201din year 2000, as the jazz CD of the year. Krog finds working with Surman a great challenge because it includes live electronics as well as acustical pieces like only saxophone and voice. Karin Krog is a jazz innovator with a talent very few artists \u2013 international or otherwise \u2013 can match. Awarded The Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, First Class (2005) by the King of Norway, given for \u201coutstanding service to the country and humankind\u201d, she is only the second jazz musician to ever have been bestowed this prestigious honor.<\/p>\n
The city of Bergen, which lies on the west coast of Norway, is home to a wide variety of professional musicians. The BBB have been together in their present form since 1993, and since then have performed at many concerts to great acclaim both in Norway and on the international stage. Thus it seems surprising that this CD should be the very first album to be produced by the band. What is perhaps less surprising is that they have chosen Karin Krog to join them on their debut album. Karin has been one of Norway \u0301s most distinguished jazz artists for many years and during this time been a valued ambassador for Norwegian jazz throughout the world. Karin Krog has been awarded the St.Olavs Orden by his Majesty King Harald for her contribution to Norwegian and International jazz. The iceing on the cake came when Karin asked the English composer and saxophonist John Surman to direct the band and assist in the production of the album, and when Jan Erik Kongshaug agreed to travel across to Bergen and supervise the recording of the album.<\/p>\n
– I wrote \u00abMy Shining Hour\u00bb, \u00abCanto Mai\u00bb & \u00abJubilee\u00bb for Karin some years ago. More recently I arranged \u00abSeagull\u00bb & \u00abLa Calada\u00bb for her, and \u00abDon \u0301t Just Sing\u00bb & \u00abSweet Talker\u00bb were arranged especially for this date. There are two other arrangers\/ composers whose work is featured on the CD. Firstly John Warren; John is a Canadian composer, arranger, and saxophonist who settled in England in the early sixties. For thirty years, he directed a big band playing his compositions that has included the cream of British musicians. Now based in Yorkshire he directs the Voice of the North big band and Northern Brass (a blend of jazz quintet and brass choir) in performances of his work. Karin has been a fan of his work for many years and has included \u00abLament\u00bb, \u00abNorthern Sun\u00bb, \u00abDon \u0301t Get Around Much\u00bb & \u00abYou \u0301d Better Love Me\u00bb, all of them arranged by J.W. The other, and very special arrangement was written by the late Don Ellis, with whom Karin worked in Hollywood in the late sixties. This is his arrangement of \u00abAngel Eyes\u00bb.<\/p>\n
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