Mezzoforte

Mezzoforte - © By Ulla C. Binder, www.mezzoforte.com

Mezzoforte (band)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Mezzoforte is an instrumental jazz-funk fusion band from Iceland, formed in 1977.[1]

They signed a record deal with Icelandic label Steinar.[1] Their biggest hit single was "Garden Party" (1983), taken from their second album.[1] It peaked at number 17 in the UK Singles Chart. The famous solo that takes place two minutes into "Garden Party", was created and played on the flugelhorn by English trumpeter, Stephen Dawson. [2] "Garden Party" was later covered by Herb Alpert, at a slower speed than the original, apparently as he had learned the track from the single played at the wrong speed.[1] Another single, "Rockall" spent one week at number 75 in the same listing in June that year, and was used as a signature tune by several European radio chart shows.[1][2]

The band was named after the traditional musical term mezzo forte, an instruction to play literally "moderately loud".

Band members

Original line-up from 1977:

  • Eyþór Gunnarsson  Keyboards
  • Jóhann Ásmundsson  Bass
  • Gunnlaugur Briem (Gulli)  Drums
  • Friðrik Karlsson (Frissi)  Guitar

Other members, present and past:

  • Bruno Müller  Guitar (2005-present)
  • Sebastian Studnitzky  Trumpet & keyboards (2005-2014)
  • Thomas Dyani  Percussion (2004-present)
  • Jonas Wall  Saxophones (2013-present)
  • Staffan William-Olsson  Guitar (2003-2004)
  • Joel Palsson  Saxophones (2003)
  • Guðmundur Pétursson  Guitar (2003)
  • Óskar Guðjónsson  Saxophones (1996-2003, 2005-2013)
  • Kåre Kolve - Saxophonees (1991-1994)
  • Rolf Graf - Bass guitar (1989, 2003-2008)
  • Björn Thorarensen  Synthesizers (1980-1982)
  • Kristinn Svavarsson  Saxophones (1982-1985)
  • David O'Higgins  Saxophones (1985-1989, 2002-2004)
  • Jeroen De Rijk  Percussion (1984-1986)

Discography

Albums

  • Mezzoforte (1979)
  • I Hakanum (Octopus) (1980)
  • Thvilikt og annad eins (Dreamland) (1982)
  • Surprise Surprise (1982) - UK #23[2]
  • Sprellifandi - Live at the Dominion (1983)
  • Observations (1984)
  • Rising (1984)
  • No Limits (1986)
  • Playing for Time (1989)
  • Daybreak (1993)
  • Monkey Fields (1996)
  • Forward Motion (2004)
  • Live In Reykjavik (2007)
  • Volcanic (November 2010)
  • Islands (July 2012)

Compilation albums

  • Catching up with Mezzoforte - Early Recordings (1983) - UK #95[2]
  • The Saga so far (1985)
  • Fortissimos (1991)
  • Garden Party Time (1999)
  • Anniversary Edition (2007)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Mezzoforte
  • Mezzoforte at All Music Guide
  • Mezzoforte at Discogs
  • mezzoforte.com (official site)
  • gullibriem.com (Gulli Briem's site)
  • thefeelgoodcollection.com (Fridrik Karlsson's site)
  • bruno-mueller-music.de (Bruno Müller's site)
  • studnitzky.de (Sebastian Studnitzky's site)
  • jookraus.de (Joo Kraus' site)

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Larkin, Colin (1997) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0159-7, p. 321
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums, 19th, London: Guinness World Records Limited.
This page was last modified 24.02.2014 11:33:49

This article uses material from the article Mezzoforte (band) from the free encyclopedia Wikipedia and it is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.