Scandinavian Star

Although Billy Joel never was a critic's favorite, the pianist emerged as one of the most popular singer/songwriters of the latter half of the '70s. Joel's music consistently demonstrates an affection for Beatlesque hooks and a flair for Tin Pan Alley and Broadway melodies…

Enter Stratosphere, a tight knit Quintet that mixes symphonic progressive and melodic rock in a manner that will leave you speechless. The band is the brainchild of keyboard virtuoso Jeppe Lund, himself a huge fan of symphonic rock and he has dreamed of making a record such as Fire Flight. With Goran Edman on lead vocals; his clean, yet powerful voice is one of a kind. Goran blends perfectly in a loud music setting and excels on the neo-classical twist. Both his lead and backing vocal qualities are state of art. He has become a household name singing with bands such as Kharma, Vindictiv and, of course, with Yngwie Malmsteen. To complete the line up we have guitarist Jonas Larsen, whose nifty fretwork reminds US of Yngwie himself and Richie Blackmore.

Christmas songs! Not exactly what you’d expect from Rebekka Bakken, the risk-taking shooting star of the exploding Scandinavian vocal scene, Christof Lauer, the equally stormy and thoughtful sound magician of all timeless post-post and pre-pre styles and Geir Lysne, the most important European reviver of the big band score.
This music will certainly not be heard on the third week of Advent in the lifts of department stores. Which doesn’t mean that they approach the subject arrogantly or in an ironic deconstructive manner. They treat the spiritual templates between chorale and folksong with respect for the former aims and atmospheric uniqueness. The world-weary hits such as "Jingle Bells" and "Oh Christmas Tree" have anyway been left outside in the blizzard. Lauer’s approach to this material is without affectation based on his emotional background…

The members of the duo Jamhunters are Peter Michael, keyboard and Lars Fabiansen, guitar. The repertoire consists of own compositions in a style that can be described as a unique mix of smooth jazz/lounge music mixed with pop- funk- and Latin-rhythms.

Edward Vesala is one of those rare treasures whose every recorded move seems to ooze with profundity. Flanked by an all-star cast of mostly Scandinavian talent, he and his collective visions have produced some of the most inestimable highpoints of the ECM discography. On Satu, it’s as if he has stumbled into an old radio program, the signal of which has only now reached us. As in a community of mystics squinting into the morning sun, it brightens with the golden light of selfless realization. The thrumming bass of Palle Danielsson vibrates like an inner voice in the title cut, an earthen call to wordless action.

She has performed with musicians such as Heinz Holliger, Pinchas Zukerman, James Galway, Salvatore Accardo, Maurice Andrè, Keith Jarrett, Christopher Hogwood and Claudio Abbado, and appeared as soloist with many of the worlds major Chamber Orchestras and Symphony Orchestras.