Stina Hellberg Agback - harp Filip Augustsson - double bass Jon Falt- drums

Finding the Way, the new Prophone release by the Maratone Quintet and a follow up to 2008's Setting Out, represents the present sound of Scandinavian jazz at it's best. The characteristic energy and voltage of their live performances is strongly represented on this new album. Influences for the music come from musicians Dave Douglas and the Esbj�rn Svensson Trio, to name but two of several. Their frontline of trumpet and guitar, and techniques used by the musicians, creates a unique and personal touch for the band, in addition to their maturing compositional and playing talents.

The new album by Tonight At Noon, a quintet of respected members of the contemporary Finnish jazz scene led by drummer Andr� Sumelius, follows the group's critically acclaimed 2011 debut "To Mingus With Love". Since that time the group has performed at nearly all Finnish festivals of significance and successfully completed an extensive domestic tour of Finland organized by the Finnish Jazz Federation."People, Stories and Dreams" features seven dynamic, energetic compositions by a trio of the group's personnel, works forged in the crucible of many live performances.

Hit it!

The award-winning, Helsinki-based tenor/soprano saxophonist Joonatan Rautio has performed with many top Finnish and International artists, among whom Jim Beard, Randy Brecker, Jon Balke, Jukkis Uotila, Lars Danielsson, Anders Jormin, Ron McClure, Peter Erskine and Finland's UMO Jazz Orchestra are offered as examples. He has led many of his own groups, appeared on dozens of recordings, and as a player is well known for his virtuosity, soloing acumen and vitality. His musical background is firmly rooted in the jazz tradition. Commitment, on Prophone, is his latest trio's latest release.

Dayna Stephens, one of the most interesting saxophonists of his generation, stars on A Week Ago Today, together with bandmates Andr� Sumelius, George Kontrafouris and Teemu Viinikainen.Drummer and producer Andr� Sumelius, who befriended Stephens while doing concerts and recordings together in San Francisco and, later on, NYC, and wanted to bring Dayna to Finland to record, envisioned the project from the start. Dayna Stephens' melodic compositions make up the majority of the album's music, but a few of Sumelius' compositions and one from Kontrafouris round out the production.

Healing Flows is the Aapo Heinonen Quintet's sophomore effort. The quintet's young musicians are multi-faceted, award-winning virtuosos in the Finnish jazz arena, but the striking music on this album is closer to modern big band played with a small ensemble than the traditional Finnish jazz these players grew up with.

Joel Lyssarides is a multi-awarded Swedish jazz-musician. Starting to take piano lessons at the age of 4, Joel claims that one of his early inspirations to jazz was from hearing Charlie Parkers "Blue Bird." Only 25 years old, Joel already has a 10 year career behind him, and has toured and collaborated with artists such as Anne Sofie Von Otter, Dirty Loops, Benny Andersson, Nils Landgren and Silvana Imam. Over the years Joel has received a number of prominent awards. At the age of 21 he won the Jan Wallander award, which gave him a Steinway grand piano and access to a studio in central Stockholm. Joel has also been awarded by the Swedish Association of composers as well as been nominated for "Newcomer of the year" by the Swedish radio. In November of 2017 Joel recorded his debut album with fellow musicians Niklas Fernqvist on Upright bass and Rasmus Svensson Blixt on drums. The music is inspired by flamenco and americana but also reflects Joel's interest in romantic classical music, mainly drawing inspiration from the Russian composer Scriabin and the Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla. The album presents an intense and challenging music for the classic pianotrio-format.

In the past, jazz musicians had both a tradition of playing for dancers and a tradition of picking inspiration and music from other genres. LSD does the same thing on this record. Harmonically simple, singable songs with a clear groove are the foundation that is then allowed to blossom in all it's splendor or maybe become something completely different. "It brings the music to the people, for the people, and by the people". (Jason Marsalis) The trio feels like a three-headed beast when they play together. One organism, one unit that can do whatever it wants. LSD has worked together since 2011 and has since then been touring a lot in Sweden and even in Nordic neighboring countries. They also toured in Canada in 2017 and have previously released two albums: "Trio Colossus" 2012 and "Soon" 2014, which both received brilliant reviews internationally. So great that even Sonny Rollins has expressed his appreciation of LSD's Trio Colossus. This release is sure to garner the same praise.

Classical Music

It seems serendipitous that LaGaylia Frazier and Jan Lundgren would meet. Seven years after their first introduction, the pair reunited to "make some real music," as LaGaylia says Jan put it. Until It's Time is the outcome. The soul singer and the jazz pianist truly turn their passion for music into an energy infused release, with other artists and musicians, including LaGaylia's father, jazz singer Hal Frazier, contributing their expertise to the album.

"The music on this CD is a combination of my own jazz background and my love and studies of some great classical composers". - Lars Jansson In 1998, Lars Jansson started as a guest professor in Aahus, Denmark. After some years he continued to teach in Esbjerg, where he was asked to compose music for The Esbjerg-Ensemble. Etienne Boudreault was playing in the ensemble at that time, and he later introduced Lars to the Ensemble MidtVest. Ensemble MidVest was founded in 2002 and consists of ten brilliant young musicians, comprising of a string quartet, a wind quintet, and a pianist. All works on this CD are composed by Lars Jansson and most are commissioned by the Ensemble MidtVest.

Vocals: Stina Agustsdottir Guitar: Mikael Mani asmundsson Keys & Synths: Magnus Johann Ragnarsson Bass: Henrik Linder Drums: Magnus Trygvason Eliassen

Pianist Anton Dromberg (Bear Garden, Erik Palmberg Quartet) and vocalist Anna Berglund (Anna Arco, Berglund Band) are no novices on the Swedish jazz scene. In 2021, they celebrated their tenth anniversary as a duo and released the debut EP Dream Maker, which was appointed "Vocal and Piano Album of the Year" by Lira Music Magazine. The duo's songs have aired on Swedish national radio, P2, and found their way onto several major Spotify- playlists such as "Svensk Jazz". The music has been described as heartfelt, melodic and with exceptional interplay whether it is original material or a new version of a Burt Bacharach ballad

Erik Palmberg Trumpet, flugelhorn, compositions Anton Dromberg Piano Niklas Wennstrom Double Bass Sebastian Voegler Drums "We have had a busy, yet inspiring time since our last album. I began working on the new material just back from our tour, after weeks not only spent playing the music, but also talking about music with my band mates. The discussions and musical exchange sowed the seeds for the new songwriting. I was inspired by a new understanding and awareness towards the different musical styles and ideals that were existing within the group. " /Erik