At Footprint Records, we are very proud to present Naoko Sakata's first solo album, Inner Planets. Over the last years, she has appeared in many different improv constellations on the Swedish jazz scene, but during her ten years in Sweden, Ms. Sakata has also evolved into an amazing solo improviser on the piano. These recordings were made with Ms. Sakata and a Fazioli Grand Piano at Studio Epidemin, in February 2019. On Inner Planets, you will hear six selected and un-edited takes from this recording session. Per Sjösten made this DXD recording and Naoko played straight from her heart - no compositions. We love it and we hope you will too. Naoko Sakata can also be heard on the albums Dreaming Tree (Naoko Sakata Trio, FR 084) and Thomas Markusson's Open (FR 107) from Footprint Records.

Swedish jazz has since the 50s had a unique sound. The fire of American, mixed with the melancholy of Swedish folk music, evolved into a genre of its own. The great baritone saxophonist Lars Gullin composed music in this way with ingredients from jazz, Swedish folk music and the classical repertoire. This record emphasizes these elements and gives new life, not only to his music, but also to Swedish jazz. A child prodigy on the accordion Lars Gullin became a professional musician first as a pianist in 1947. He planned on a classical career until in 1949 he filled the baritone chair in Seymour Osterwalls ban. In 1954 he won the best newcomer award in DownBeat magazine. Over the next two decades, he would go on to work with some of the biggest names in contemporary jazz, including Archie Shepp, and Chet Baker. He died in 1976.

The 82nd protagonist of the Jazz thing Next Generation series comes from Minsk in Belarus, where he grew up as the son of an artist family and was gently introduced to the world of music by his mother, a classical pianist, early in his childhood. Alexei began playing piano at the age of five, and he became enthusiastic about the saxophone at the age of twelve, which is why he went to Germany in 2003 with a heavy heart due to the better educational opportunities. He studied under Professor Wolfgang Engstfeld at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne until 2010, and played in the Federal Youth Jazz Orchestra (BuJazzO) under the direction of Peter Herbolzheimer. Malakhau: In Belarus, I could hardly have lived so freely, let alone earned a living from music. Of course, he had to work very hard for a several years to give art the freedom it really deserves. Life between two different countries therefore also gives a distinctive personality stamp in the sense of Leiblich. Hardly any other jazz musician currently combines elements of classical and modern music in such a natural and relaxed way. I grew up with classical music, it paved my way. I encountered experimental art on the wayside.

Memorabilia was written in 2016 by jazz bassist and composer Mats Eilertsen and premiered at JazzFest in Trondheim the same year. The work is written for two trios: Mats Eilertsen Trio (Harmeen Franje, piano; Thomas Stronen, drums; and Mats Eilertsen, bass), and the vocal ensemble Trio Mediaeval (the acclaimed vocal trio of the three sopranos Anna Maria Friman, Linn Andrea Fuglseth and Berit Opheim.) Recently recorded in Newtone studio in Oslo, the album is now available, and has been released alongside a concert in the Norwegian Opera House. The music unites the two trios in a sacred, lyrical expression, giving the piano trio room to improvise. The lyrics are a mixture of traditional masses and poems by the Norwegian lyricist Tor Ulven. Darkness and drama meet nicer views of life. About faith, doubt, and time. “Minutes, maybe hours, of your own existence. That you forgot, but I still remember. You live a secret life in someone else’s memory.” (Tor Ulven)

Peter Asplund is one of Swedens foremost trumpet players. Or why not say it like it is? He is one of Europes or even the worlds foremost trumpeters. Why draw a line when there is no need to? Jazz is not limited by any national borders. It has been written: ""A fantastic musician who always plays straight from the heart"" - and to which we can all readily agree! Over the years he has developed his dynamic and energy-loaded, slightly melancholic and melodic trumpet style until he can express what he feels when he feels. This applies when he plays a standard by, say, George Gershwin, Cole Porter or Duke Ellington. And it also applies when he plays some of his own original compositions, tunes with a distinct accent on melody, my own standards he calls them. Of his new release, he writes: I was born in September. There is something special about that month. The light, the air, the scent of nature. For many it is a beginning of something, for others, an end. You reminisce. You look forward in time. You pause and regard the present. Wherever you happen to be, September brings forth both feelings and thoughts on life. These are mine. All My Septembers stay with me forever.

Simon Westman Trio has been playing together since 2010, they have performed at jazz clubs in Gothenburg and are praised for their sound and their interaction. The members of the trio are individually strong voices on the Swedish jazz scene. Simon has played and collaborated with Bohuslän Big Band, Yasuhito Mori Scandinavian Connection, Lasse Lindgren Big Band, Svante Thuresson, Magnus Lindgren, Lina Nyberg and Samuel Ljungblahd, among others. The trio initially called themselves MMS Trio, the music they played was a mix of American jazz standards, European "ECM jazz" and Nordic show. But in May 2019, Simon began composing original music for the trio, after getting his thumbs out (thanks to his friend and colleague Alexander Lövmark) and booking time for recording in Nilento Studio. The debut album "Stay a While" was recorded in January 2020.