Gjermund Larsen’s music displays an unusually broad emotional range, from virtuosic brilliance to gentle tenderness. He takes a masterly approach to the older tonalities of Hilmar Alexandersen, while at the same time he enjoys exploring new styles and presenting improvisations that few can match.

Now in his seventieth year, Sondre Bratland has made a powerfully melodious and moving album with his own songs featuring texts by Norwegian poet Olav H. Hauge.

Inga Juuso is one of the most prominent Sami artists today, not only as a soloist, but also with her involvement in numerous CD-productions throughout the years. She grew up with classical Sami yoik as it has been practiced and performed in the Alta-Kautokeino region.

In recent years Ragnhild Furebotten og Tore Bruvoll have played a very important part in bringing some of Norway’s older music traditions into the present day. They are among the best known folk musicians in the country, reaching out to people far beyond the traditional folk music audience. Their ability to play modern music with strong roots in tradition is quite unique in Norway

Yoik and jazz are innovative music genres that invite improvisation. This CD is a meeting between the genres by two outstanding representatives of each music style.

“I always imagined I’d be a rock musician or a ski jumper, playing drums with the hardest band in the world or flying for hundreds of meters off the ski jump. And it felt like it, too, those fabulous moments rehearsing with my band at the youth centre in Ulvik or stretching way past the 30 meter mark at Myråsen in Aurdal"

If you’ve never heard music played on the fiddle or jew’s harp before, this is the place to start. And if you have, be advised that what you are holding is a landmark recording.

This album presents two young and very competent performers of the rich folk music tradition from Setesdal. Sigurd Brokke and Daniel Sandén-Warg play solo folk music with marked rhythm and a rather high tempo. They give the tunes their own style by combining high technical ability with their personal temper. Foot stamping is used consciously to produce the special character of this music.

It is a pleasure to be able to present this selection of medieval ballads sung by one of the most distinctive and highly respected vocalists of the Scandinavian traditional landscape.

“I’ve been fascinated by traditional¬ music since childhood. I grew up in Hornindal, Nordfjord on the west coast, in a home full of music: My grandfather played the Hardanger fiddle, my father played accordion and guitar, and my older brother played the accordion.