Dorothia Gibson Short from the press office recommends Herbie Hancock's "Head Hunters":

Herbie Hancock's record "Head Hunters" was my introduction to fusion. Prior to that my knowledge of jazz was limited to swing and the melodic and beautiful sound of Bill Evans. I was around 13 years old when I heard "Head Hunters" for the first time, and I have played this album many times since then. The record is more or less a universal journey in the landscape in which Herbie Hancock toys with elements of jazz, rock and powerful rhythms and takes the listener to unknown places one just has to end up liking. For decades Herbie Hancock has inspired numerous musicians, and "Head Hunters" is no exception. Madonna and 2pac are amongst those who have used samples from this album. "Head Hunters" was an inovative recording in its day and is still an important record today.

Svein Ringstad from the press office recommends "Sonny Side Up":

"Sonny Side Up" is a gem. I'm always returning to bop and avant garde from the 50s and 60s, when jazz and many of the foremost jazz musicians were a part of the civil rights movement. Bop was rebellious, forward-sighted and political. On this album Dizzy Gillespie, as always, impresses with his incredible technique,  complex playing style and lively presence. With Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt making up the trio, smiles and admiration soon run rampant. Home movies have given those of us who also enjoy the roots of jazz new opportunities. Buy the series "Jazz Icons" and "Casual Jazz" on DVD. They're all there, and for the most part with great picture and sound quality from great concerts. Bring on winter's long dark nights ...

Festival service department head Knut Hanssen recommends Odeon Jazz Quintet's "Over The Waves":

I would like to recommend "Over The Waves" with Øistein Isachsen on clarinet and Morten Gunnar Larsen on piano as well as Birger Mistereggen on percussion and vocals. Mistereggen's vocals on the opening track "I'm jealous" are simply unforgettable. Gunnar Gotaas on trombone and Børre Frydenlund on banjo, mandola and vocals also make strong contributions on this recording. Musically the recording spans from Latin-American composers via Jelly Roll Morton to gospel. A great album guaranteed to put you in a good mood.

Web publisher and festival journalist Frank Sandøy recommends Bugge Wesseltoft’s ”Sharing”:

My first real intro to jazz! I had heard tunes by Miles Davis and John Coltrane, but his album was the first jazz album I really listened to. The wonderful mix of jazz and electronica fascinated me. Not quite the typical sounds one might associate with jazz or electronic music, but something rather different. The words ”new conception of jazz” were written on the cover, and that made me very curious about this type of music. The first time I played the album I listened to it five times in a row. I just could not stop! Since then I have listened to a lot more stuff by Wesseltoft and this type of jazz.

Volunteer coordinator Grete Karlsen recommends "Supersilent 10":

I would like to recommend "Supersilent 10". The atmosphere on this recording calms the soul and has a warming effect on cold winter days. Arve Henriksen's soft trumpet blends with the careful sound of Helge Sten's electronics and Ståle Storløkken's keyboards, and the music moves slowly around the room caressing the listener. Occassionally the music resembles Norwegian folk music. Then, it blends with the electronics and flows over into noise jazz. But you do not have to worry about waking the neighbours. Even the noise is Supersilent ...

Together with Tore Brunborg and Jon Christensen, Ketil Bjørnstad has made an irresistibly evocative album. These three musicians suit each other. Brunborg and Bjørnstad communicate beautiful melodies in perfect interaction while Christensen's cymbals colour the landscape. Remembrance is a recording which has room for reflection and is without a doubt a new highlight in Ketil Bjørnstad's impressive discography.

The New York based quartet Mostly Other People Do the Killing is one of the freshest US bands around at the moment.
On their latest album Forty Fort, they emerge more confident and together, but at the same time more playful than ever before. With a saxophone, trumpet, bass and drum line-up, the band presents forceful and swinging tunes with spectacular solos and sections of fri improvisastion filled with great commitment and large doses of humour. Warmly recommended!

Standards and Vanguards was one of last year's most pleasant Norwegian CD surprises. Released on Grappa and with composer/pianist/writer Helge Iberg as tour guide and interpreter, this recording takes the listener on a journey through a selection of "standards" presented in new and unusual harmonic versions. Iberg has teamed up with Elin Rosseland who received Radka Toneff's memorial prize at last year's Oslo Jazz Festival. Her musical qualities are still a well kept secret for the general public. This CD is well worth listening to over and over again.

In the 70s two electric bass players hallmarked their own individual and easily recognizable sound. Jaco Pastorius inspired a whole generation of bassists playing fretless electric bass in groups such as Weather Report. In contrast Eberhard Weber chose a more lyrical and melancholy approach with his self-designed electric double bass. Weber, whom many will recall as Jan Garbarek's regular bassist and from ECM recordings with amongst others Gary Burton and Pat Metheny, had a group called Colours in the 70s. The group made three albums, Yellow Fields, Silent Feet and Little Movements, which have been re-released by ECM on a box set. The compilation gives a fresh retrospective on the first years of European melodic jazz. Solid performances by amongst others saxophonist Charlie Mariano (who passed away in 2009) and Norway's Jon Christensen, who played on the first of these recordings.

Norwegian bassist Mats Eilertsen released Radio Yonder in November. This is Eilertsen's fourth release as a leader, and he has put together a new band with Tore Brunborg, Thomas Dahl and Olavi Louhivouri for the occasion. With the exception of a-ha's Hunting High and Low, Eilertsen has composed all the music on Radio Yonder, and this great band brings the tracks to life with vitality and lyricism. And Hunting High and Low works surprisingly well as a jazz cover!

Send us your jazz recommendations, and we will publish them here!