The superb US saxophonist teems up with Norwegians in new, fearless, dynamic free jazz trio.

Filipino-American Jon Irabagon (37) is a founder member of Mostly Other People Do The Killing and an integral member of the Mary Halvorson Quintet, Dave Douglas Quintet and Barry Altschul´s 3Dom Factor and has taken part on a vast number of records. He has topped both the Rising Star Alto Saxophone and the Rising Star Tenor Saxophone categories in Down Beat´s critics polls and been named one of Time Out New York´s 25 New York City Jazz Icons.

Third album in three years from this young, progressive, heavy trio.

Krokofant typify a new and invigorating movement currently sweeping across the Nordic region: hard boiled improvisation and strong instrumental personalities bolted onto rock beats and driving rhythms. Equally powerful on record and on stage, Krokofant pull no punches, sounding off like some unholy three-way marriage of early 70s jazz rock (Mahavishnu Orchestra, Terje Rypdal), the sprawling progressive odysseys of King Crimson and Van Der Graaf Generator, and the fierce heat of John Zorn or Peter Brötzmann’s harsh free jazz ensembles.

For a Die Hart Jimmy’s fans, like myself it is going to be something special. I discovered Jimmy pretty late , in the middle of 90’s but it was lifespan finding.I never stopped listening to him since and kept digging back to find more and more. The man possessing The Voice almost as sensual as female’s voices are. More of that ,with his deeply emotional interpretations, he had kind of female sensitivity coming with too. With unusual phrasing , meaning and full of silent notes between he became quickly a favourite of the female pantheon of the Be Bop era. A lot can be said about a Little Jimmy, as he had been nick named by Lionel Hampton, but it is not a place for. Those who will feel that hunger for more after listening to that start looking for more with no prompts. Those who already know they do understand.

All goods things in life must finally come to the end, so is this lovely Fest. Four Days of total enjoyment drown me down and energised to survive  the rush in the same time. What matters here it that again it helped me learn a lot new things about the music and about myself too. It definitelly made me happy and wanting to come back nect year again . To see the City I love. To meet the Friends who are living there. To fee The Music.

As all things were going better and better, soon all good time together replaced the old good sleep. With things like that one needs to catch up a day as once it passed it passed. There is no way back. But who would be worried about the time passing by when the music surrounds you and drives your spirit high? Exactly. Therefore trully yours himself jumped to the pool as well as there was really the one way only to go.

After the 1st day positive energy boost , the day two was looking even more impresive. There were two highlits appealing to me already in the program: My beloved Globe Unity Orchestra and the Aki Takase Duo act with Ingrid Laubrock. Unexpectedly a closing set on the main stage came as a most welcome challenge to me as well, but let’s do not get ahead of the story.

Here we are. This is a report from the first day of the festival weekend this year. As always there was a lot of great music and the great fun. Meeting with friends and interesting conversations with both: artists and visitors. When the music buzzes around and the heart rate goes up the magic happens. Jazz junkie like myself can stay alive as long as the sounds keep feeding back. And with a good hype one gets the good vibe, follow the write up below to find out more.

Album/DVD showcases sold out show with fellow Snarky Puppy members Michael League and Robert “Sput” Searight

Two-time Grammy-winner and founding member of Snarky Puppy Bill Laurance fulfilled a lifelong fantasy with his sold out show at the Union Chapel. He will share it with the world with the release of the album and DVD Live At Union Chapel on November 11th on Ground UP Music/Verve Label Group.

Soweto Kinch’s restless inspiration seemingly knows no boundaries, and the multi-award winning saxophonist, band-leader, composer, rapper and radio host has applied his talents to a wide range of different styles and themes over the course of his career. Whether it’s the daily grind of inner city life (2006’s A Life in the Day of B19) or the seven deadly sins (2013’s The Legend of Mike Smith), Kinch can always be relied upon to delve deep into his source material and examine it from a fresh new angle.