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Ian Shirley of OM Swagger: Working in the music business I listen to music - old and new - all the time. Not only do I have a big record collection but it's my job at Ace Records. In mid-2023 out of the blue I received a link to three tracks recorded by Kronstad 23. I knew nothing about the individual members or bands they had been in previously. I found out they came from Norway. I played those three tracks - Malibu, Minibil and Dalen - and something happened. I just could not stop playing them. They just hit the spot. It was the best kind of jazz, instrumental, funky, pliant and captured four intuitive musicians totally in tune with each other.

Addictive guitar and keyboard melodies echoed, to my ears anyway, Soft Machine, Weather Report and Keith Jarrett's seminal Belonging and My Song albums. Further enquiries revealed that the four members of Kronstad 23 were as follows: Alexsander TosdalTveit (Guitar), Eirik Romcke (Bass), Oyvind Arnodd Vie Berg (Rhodes Piano, Moog, Organ & Percussion) and Hans Christian Dalgaard (Drums & Percussion). Long-term friends, they now lived in different parts of Norway. They only came together to record which made the musical chemistry of the funky jazz they produced even more compelling.

I expressed an interest in releasing an album which chimed in with their own desires. Were there any more tracks? I was in luck as they had a second recording session planned in October 2023. Fantastic. As that date approached I must admit I was worried. What if the same chemistry was not there? Just after Christmas, the tracks arrived. Powered by a different drummer -Ivar Thormodsaeterwho matched Dalgaard in execution and feel - the seven new tracks were as good as the first set. There were even a couple of other musicians drafted into this session to augment the sound on some tracks. These were Havar Skaugen (Tenor & Baritone Saxophone) and Havard Alisoy Sovig (Cornet). One trackfrom this session - Kysten - became a total ear-worm in the way it built up and then powered to a conclusion with a driving rhythmic pulse. It became my favourite. But honestly, every track had its merits. Crucially, sequenced together we now have an amazing album of instrumental jazz.

Description

Ian Shirley of OM Swagger: Working in the music business I listen to music - old and new - all the time. Not only do I have a big record collection but it's my job at Ace Records. Whether it's helming the reissue of classic jazz, blues, punk, soul or funk albums or steering Bob Stanley and Jon Savage compilations into port I'm listening to music constantly. I've also run my own label for a while now and put out music ranging from the award winningPan Machinealbum of Kraftwerk covers by the Ebony Steel Band, to the leftfield electronics of umlaut-crazy Spoon Fazer.

In mid-2023 out of the blue I received a link to three tracks recorded by Kronstad 23. I knew nothing about the individual members or bands they had been in previously. I found out they came from Norway. I played those three tracks - Malibu, Minibil and Dalen - and something happened. I just could not stop playing them. They just hit the spot. It was the best kind of jazz, instrumental, funky, pliant and captured four intuitive musicians totally in tune with each other.

Addictive guitar and keyboard melodies echoed, to my ears anyway, Soft Machine, Weather Report and Keith Jarrett's seminalBelongingandMy Songalbums. Further enquiries revealed that the four members of Kronstad 23 were as follows: Alexsander TosdalTveit (Guitar), Eirik Romcke (Bass), Oyvind Arnodd Vie Berg (Rhodes Piano, Moog, Organ & Percussion) and Hans Christian Dalgaard (Drums & Percussion).Long-term friends, they now livedin different parts of Norway. They only came together to record. Which made the musical chemistry of the funky jazz they produced even more compelling. The name Kronstad 23 refers to a district of the city of Bergen.

I expressed an interest in releasing an album which chimed in with their own desires. Were there any more tracks? I was in luck as they had a second recording session planned in October 2023. Fantastic. As that date approached I must admit I was worried. What if the same chemistry was not there? Just after Christmas, the tracks arrived. Powered by a different drummer -Ivar Thormodsaeterwho matched Dalgaard in execution and feel - the seven new tracks were as good as the first set. There were even a couple of other musicians drafted into this session to augment the sound on some tracks. These wereHavar Skaugen (Tenor & Baritone Saxophone) and Havard Alisoy Sovig (Cornet). One trackfrom this session - Kysten - became a total ear-worm in the way it built up and then powered to a conclusion with a driving rhythmic pulse. It became my favourite. But honestly, every track had its merits. Crucially, sequenced together we now hand an amazing album of instrumental jazz.