Audun Automat was initiated in 2006 by bassist Audun Ellingsen and was originally a band inspired by European freejazz from the period around 1970. Since than the focus has moved from open forms to more composed structures and the expression has matured and become more nuanced. But we can still hear an echo of the 70 ́s in the instrumentation, the sound aesthetics and maybe even in the attitude to improvisation. Audun Automat has released two Cds: Night Creatures and Inside the Beehive.

Heavy and melodic prog/jazz/rock from new group consisting of some very prolific musicians from the Norwegian scene. Having played a few sensational gigs as Kenneth Kapstad Group this impressive line-up is now ready with a more fitting name for their debut album. With gifted violinist Ola Kvernberg, who won a Norwegian Grammy for his album ”Liarbird”, on board it´s difficult not to think of the Mahavishnu Orchestra when trying to place Grand General in a musical perspective. The interplay between the soloists is superb and with this rhythm section you can´t go wrong.

The Norwegian bass player Steinar Raknes released the debut album of the quartet october 2008, and the band has been a great success on the Norwegian jazz scene since then. Strongly influenced by latin american music and norwegian folk music bass player Steinar Raknes has brought together a spectacular unity of musicians and created a band with an unique sound. The band plays new compositions by the band leader, and tangos and bossa nova ballads merged with elements from norwegian folk music. This is inspired jazz music, soft and melodic, powerful and energetic at the same time.

The Core is, quite simply, one of Norway’s most energetic jazz bands, out to rehabilitate any notions of Norwegian jazz as somehow austere and hymnal. The band’s music is rooted in acoustic modal jazz from the 60s, combined with more contemporary grooves rooted in funk and rock. The music is generous and lets the listener be part of a high-energy journey. The music is generous enough to bring the listener into their high-energy journey; live performances showcase the band’s energy, stamina and grit of a kind that is too often absent from today1s jazz.