Mezzoforte
In global pop industry terms, jazz - funksters Mezzoforte would in 1983 have seemed rather an unlikely bunch to become the pioneers of a long awaited ´breaking of the ice´ for the desperately isolated musical community of Iceland. Still, the combination of a dead cool summer anthem, and the daring optimism of their gutsy manager, Mezzoforte indeed became the surprise hit makers of 1983 in the UK , with a single named Garden Party taken from an album aptly titled Surprise Surprise! The rest of the world would soon follow and start heading for Mezzoforte´s funky Garden Party, only to be pleasantly surprised and amused.
Essentially, still a ´boy band´, these baby faced whiz kids were just teenagers at the time, having found each other at the tender age of 15 and matured surprisingly fast on a healthy musical diet, balancing Keith Jarret with George Duke and Duke Ellington with Weather Report.
Now, in the summer of 2004, having firmly stayed together and stuck to their powerful guns, survived at least three seven year itches as well as a number of considerable highs and lows, the group is now on a roll into a fresh creative whirlwind, onto what seems set to become yet another exciting and adventurous journey.
Having through the years toured over thirty countries, released 11 albums and consistently impressed audiences and critics alike, there is currently a brand new collection of works in the can, and an ambitious tour to follow.
With founding members Eythor Gunnarsson on keyboards, Johann Asmundsson on bass and Gulli Briem on drums, the distinctive Mezzoforte-sound has developed and matured through time without loosing the original sparkle that initially created their international reputation.
Having worked with some of the world´s most renowned wind instrumentalists, Mezzoforte has now proudly added the American saxophonist and flautist David Wilczewski to their stable of repectable side men as well as sporting a brilliant guitarist from Norway, Staffan William - Olsson. Staffan has stepped in for founding member Fridrik Karlsson, whose busy schedule with various musical projects of his own has limited his flexibility to tour.
Mezzoforte as a group, holds a very special place in their native Iceland. They were after all the the first Icelandic musicians to open the gates to the world market as well as opening the eyes of the world to the fact that in the high north, not unlike the deep south, there is some great music to be found, music that reflects the unique inventiveness, buzzing energy and general Fortissimos of its creators.
Discography
Forward Motion, BHM Music 2004
Monkey Fields, SPOR records 1996
Daybreak, SPOR records 1993
Playing For Time, STEINAR records 1989
No Limits, STEINAR records 1987
Rising, STEINAR records 1985
Observations, STEINAR records 1984
Surprise Surprise, STEINAR records 1983
Thvilikt og annad eins, STEINAR records 1982
I Hakanum, STEINAR records 1980
Mezzoforte, STEINAR records 1979
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