Applemagazine From 22 January 2016

NORDIC UNION is the name behind the new musical collaboration, built by Frontiers President Serafino Perugino, between singer Ronnie Atkins of the legendary Danish Hard Rock institution PRETTY MAIDS and the up-and-coming Swedish songwriter and producer Erik Martensson of ECLIPSE and W.E.T. fame. Curious what that might sound like?

A 2 disc set of self-penned songs from ex-Slade bassist Jim Lea. The first disc is a reissue of Jim's critically acclaimed studio album most impressively, the vast majority of instruments featured are played by Jim.
Includes three previously unreleased bonus tracks: 21st Century Thing? Thank God It's Friday Right Now and Am I The Greatest Now?…

Wholly instrumental, prog/jazz fusion in approach, the band is led by drummer Arild Brøter who writes most of the material. Together with his henchmen - including Marie Faerevaag on saxophone - they create a musical landscape as exhilarating and energising as a Norwegian fjord. ‘Crab Key’ and ‘Erised’ are good examples with Oyvind’s Broter’s sweeping keys complementing Stephan Hvinden’s heavier guitar figures - ‘Erised’ could even be a theme to a Scandi crime thriller. ‘Second Rate Punk’ develops into a funky wig-out where the guitar plays off the added brass section with great effect. This Chicago brassiness (as in Chicago, the band) continues on the strangely entitled NOL861613060…

Mid 50s genius from Sonny Rollins - 5 albums in a single set, all presented in LP-styled sleeves. Includes 'Worktime' (1956), 'With The Modern Jazz Quartet' (1956), 'Tenor Madness' (1956), 'Moving Out' (1956) and 'Saxaphone Colossus' (1957).
Worktime is a record that perfectly illustrates why Rollins was one of the greatest players on his horn for many decades running! There's a depth of tone on the record that rivals Coleman Hawkins or Lester Young - but a quickness of pace and imagination that shows a clear influence from Charlie Parker, and a deftness that few were bringing to the tenor at the time. The rhythm section here is super tight - and features Ray Bryant on piano, George Morrow on bass, and Max Roach on drums…