12 points! writes:
From Oslo, here comes The Core, out to rehabilitate any notions of Norwegian jazz as somehow austere and hymnal. Bristling with dark resolve, The Core have conjured a neat trick, with an unashamedly retro take on Coltrane’s great post bop toward free quartets of the late ’60s, made sound as though it were minted yesterday. The sense of excitement and discovery can be attributed to the positive collective psyche of four outstanding young Norwegian musicians in drummer Espen Alberg, pianist Erlend Slettovel, bassist Steinar Raknes and saxophonist Jørgen Mathisen, who attack the band’s largely modal repertoire with real gusto and then back it up with both energy and stamina, the grit that’s often conspicuously absent in today’s jazz.

Tangos, Ballads & More is the name of Steinar Raknes debut solo album. Strongly influenced by latin american music the band plays Raknes´ compositions, merged with tangos, bossa nova ballads and elements from norwegian folk music.

Petter Wettre has since the early ninetees established himself as one of Norway's most important performers on the tenor saxophone. As a Berklee Graduate, Petter returned to the Norwegian jazz scene in 92. Since then he has released 13 albums, of which 8 on his own label; “Household Records”, (est. 2003). (...) In 96 he released his first album; “Pig Virus”, which earned him a Norwegian Grammy nomination. A five time nominee, the latest in 2007, Petter has won the prestigious price twice. In 2000 for the album; “The only way to travel”, a duet album with drummer Per Oddvar Johansen, and last year with his quartet and the album "Fountain of Youth".

Audun Automat plays electric, acoustic, dirty, noisy, melodious and beautiful jazz with a tinge of rock. It walks the line between the composed and the improvised, the ugly and the pretty, the ensemble and the soloist, and chaos and order. The music is both accessible and challenging at the same time. And I play the Fender Rhodes.