[engl] Elephant9 was already established as a vital live favourite on the Norwegian scene - due to a number of energetic and enthusiastically received concerts - before their highly acclaimed debut album "Dodovoodoo" was released in May 2008. 11 years later, and after another four studio albums, it was about time to properly document this live force in the form of not only one album, but two double albums. Indeed, the very limited vinyl only "Live at the BBC" album was released in 2011, but this time the band booked a four day residency at the intimate Kampen Bistro in Oslo and invited old friend Reine Fiske - a vital presence on previous albums "Atlantis" and "Silver Mountain" - along for two of the evenings. Everything was recorded in front of enthusiastic crowds and later mixed by Christian Engfelt, another trusted collaborator. It's a rough warts-and-all mix, with no overdubs, repairs or edits. Tracks are picked from all their albums, often given lengthy workouts with room for improvisation. The trio is extremely tight and telepatic, with Ståle as the obvious soloist, but it's worth to mention the drummer for a change, Torstein being a powerhouse that truly shines on these recordings.

[engl] It's not often a "jazz" band take the big step from the club scene to a 1300 capacity rock venue like Oslo's Rockefeller. But then again, Elephant9 is not your ordinary jazz band. Often being named Norway's best live band - surely quite rare for an instrumental band - they are equally popular in jazz and rock circles. On this, their fifth studio album, Elephant9 are back to the core trio of their first two albums; Ståle Storlokken, Nikolai Hængsle and Torstein Lofthus, three of Norway's finest musicians. "The Greatest Show On Earth" displays some truly astonishing playing and is a more dynamic, structured and focused album with all tracks clocking in around the six minute mark. It's also very much a trio effort where all members are equal, and not only a vehicle for a soloist. Ståle Storlokken (keyboards) is widely considered the most inventive keyboard player on the Norwegian scene, his playing with bands like Supersilent, Humcrush, Motorpsycho, Terje Rypdal and countless others being firm testament to this. Nikolai Hængsle (bass) is since long a member of popular rock group Big Bang as well as Ketil Moster's quartet Moster!, Needlepoint and Band Of Gold. Torstein Lofthus (drums) is probably the most in demand session drummer in Norway. "Lashes of mellotron and textured guitars create a sprawling psychedelic jazz epic. Few have come close to the greatness of this in recent years. " Record Collector (UK) "There's no denying the thrusting vitality charging through the snaking chicanes conjured by this formidable fusion unit. " Jazzwise (UK)

[engl] On their fourth album, counting the limited vinyl only "Live At The BBC", Elephant9 join forces with Reine Fiske, the quite excellent Swedish guitarist from Dungen, The Amazing and Träd, Gräs och Stenar, for yet another heavy slice of mindblowing modern rock'n'jazz psychedelia. Reine Fiske makes his entrance on the title track, the long intro section almost sounding like it could have come off an early Terje Rypdal album. No coincident considering Fiske is a big Rypdal fan and Storlokken being Rypdal's keyboard player for well over a decade. His guest spot ends with the final thirteen minute tour de force and its heavy funk intro reminiscent of another guitar great and his Band of Gypsys. "Atlantis" is all originals, four from Storlokken and three from Eilertsen, recorded at Stockholm's legendary Atlantis studio under the masterful supervision of Janne Hansson and the band's regular engineer Christian Engfelt. Ståle Storlokken is widely considered to be the most inventive keyboard player from the fertile Norwegian jazz scene, his playing with bands like Supersilent, Humcrush, Motorpsycho, Terje Rypdal and countless others being firm testament to this. Nikolai Eilertsen was first known to the Norwegian public through his playing with popular rock group Big Bang and later chart topping pop group The National Bank.

[engl] Reine Fiske has on several occasions proved a perfect guest for the trio, both on record and on stage. Never one to fight for attention, with Elephant9 he's a true equal given the opportunity to express himself both as a soloist as well as a rhythm guitars, his interaction with Ståle's keyboards creating some magic sequences. Ståle Storlokken is a founder member of Supersilent since 1997, and has for many years been Terje Rypdal's trusted right hand. Nikolai Hængsle is most known from Bigband and Band of Gold. Torstein Lofthus was a member of Shining for several years and has played with a large number of jazz, pop and rock artists. Reine Fiske is a founder member of Dungen and Träden, the continuation of the legendary Swedish group "Träd, Gräs Och Stenar".

[engl] Their first two albums, Exit (2013) and Enter (2014), presented us with sizable and ambitious line-ups of 28 musicians. Ritual (2016) saw it reduced to 21 and with Arrival it's been trimmed down to a "mere" 14, with the core trio of Fire! (Mats Gustafsson, Johan Berthling and Andreas Werliin) and the two singers Mariam Wallentin and Sofia Jernberg being the only constant members since the beginning. Apart from this reduction, the main line-up difference is the introduction of a string quartet. This "cleanup" has worked wonders, keeping the rhythm and horn sections to their bare necessities, with the string quartet expanding the canvas and bringing a new, exciting dimension to the table. And on top of their game; the two powerful and sublime singers, quite different, but still blending perfectly. We also have to mention drummer and producer Andreas Werliin for his work in the audio department; rarely have we heard such a detailed, warm, deep and dynamic mix from a relatively complex combination of instruments. Arrival is a collection of more individual compositions and songs, including two stunning cover versions. Blue Crystal Fire by visionary guitarist Robbie Basho was first heard on his 1978 album Visions of the Country. At Last I Am Free was originally written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rogers of Chic. Although the rest of the tracks are credited to Berthling, Gustafsson, Werliin and Wallentin, it's important to stress that this time the orchestra members have had considerable creative input throughout the process. Arrival is light and shade, joy and despair, structure and improvisation, performed by an ensemble of excellent musicians.

[engl] Eight new beguiling Mulelid compositions expertly balancing energetic, often rhythmically complex and harmonically rich music with beautiful and evocative melodies. It's not all about Mulelid though, bassist Hegge (31) and drummer Winther (28) effortlessly conjure additional layers, tones and textures, incorporating a sense of calm; an unhurried yet constantly unfolding sound world which can be said to be distinctively Scandinavian, most typically heard in Hegge's sole composition "Bruremarsj (Wedding March)". Kjetil André Mulelid grew up in the small village of Hurdal, and started playing the piano when he was nine, after hearing Chopin on the stereo. In highschool he had the good fortune of studying with some inspiring piano teachers. Later he did a bachelor degree in jazz performance at NTNU in Trondheim, again being blessed with top teachers, such as Erling Aksdal, Vigleik Storaas and Espen Berg. He is also a member of jazz quartet Wako. Bjorn Marius Hegge has been making waves on the Norwegian jazz scene lately, with his quintet's debut album "Hegge" winning a Norwegian Grammy. He also has his own trio with pianist Oscar Grönberg and young drummer ace Hans Hulbækmo.