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An undiscovered chapter in the career of Norwegian saxophonist Carl Magnus Neumann – the player best known for his funky contributions to the work of Webster Lewis and the Band No Name of the Club 7 scene – but who's presented here as a much richer jazz musician overall! The set features three rare slices of work by Neumann – two 70s studios sessions, and one early 80s live date – the former with small group instrumentation that includes guitar, bass, and percussion – the latter with a slightly bigger lineup that adds four cellos into the mix! Neumann composed most of the material himself, and it's all pretty darn expressive work – bold and meaningful, yet without being too outside or avant – more in the kind of extended, open way of approaching jazz that so many 70s pianists were attempting. Carl plays alto sax throughout, and titles include "Kludder", "Kalimera", "Blues", "Nr 1", "No Surt Og No Sott", "Wind", and "Ballade".

Trumpeter Magnus Broo is easily one of the freshest players on the Moserobie jazz label – and that's saying a lot, given the heady company he's got on the imprint! This set is key proof of that fact – as Broo's working here in a style that's quite different than most contemporary trumpeters – never too steeped in classic influences and tones, but also never too far out in its conception – instead just right down the middle of a bold new territory, one that's blown tightly one minute, expressed in more rhythmic tones the next – almost hanging towards echoes of late 60s soul jazz, but with a freer, looser feel overall. The rest of the group's a great support for Magnus on the date too – as players include the excellent Torbjorn Gulz on piano, Mattias Welin on electric bass, and Jonas Holgersson on drums. Titles include "Africa", "Painbody", "Das Boot", "Second Wind", "Clockwise", "Koba", and "Smolk".

Great material from Norwegian pianist Christian Reim – all of it unreleased, but all of it pretty darn great! Reim's honestly not a player we know at all, but he emerges as a heck of a great talent in this set – a pianist with a really thoughtful, lyrical sort of feel – but one who also knows how to keep up a groove as well! The set features some early work in a soul jazz combo mode, then moves into more complicated grooves – but ones that all stay pretty darn swinging, without any too-modern or too-out moments – all to end with a wonderful quartet of tracks from the end of the 70s, showing a bit of a California sense of warmth in some of the tunes. Reim plays mostly piano, but also a bit of organ – and other players include Ditlef Eckhoff on trumpet, Knut Riisnaes on tenor, Helge Hurum on flute, and Carl Magnus Neumann on alto sax. Titles include "Away", "Revolution", "Hippie", "Llut", "Shalom", "Quiquenita", and "Variasjoner Over Et Tema Av Nordraak".

A really great album from Fire – a set that has the trio expanded way more than usual, into jazz orchestra form – and working here in a style that's wonderfully soulful and spiritual overall! The set isn't just a spiritual jazz outing – as it's got these really unique flavors and colors that still echo the intensity of the previous Fire trio outings, but which spread the energy out over the larger ensemble, then give it a lot more focus too – less improvisation, and instead some really visionary arrangements that make the whole thing shine brilliantly from start to finish. There's a bit of vocals, which are tremendous too – almost echoing some of the Fontella Bass work with the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, but darker too. Mats Gustafsson conducts the group – and really blows us away with his efforts – and the set features one long two part composition – with performances by Sten Sandell on piano and electronics, Mariam Wallentin and Sofia Jernberg on voice, Magnus Broo and Emil Strandberg on trumpet, Jonas Kullhammar on bass sax, Fredrik Ljungkvist on baritone and clarinet, and Mats himself on tenor and live electronics!

A whole new set of mod soul smokers – contemporary cuts, but mostly recorded with a vibe that hearkens back to the sound of London in the 60s – which means plenty of influence from Motown and other Northern Soul sources, plus an occasional touch of jazzy Hammond too! These tracks are all recent, but really showcase the Acid Jazz talent for getting an older style right – not exactly pure 60s, but more the best Brit blue-eyed modes – of the sort you might have heard when Style Council could hit a groover like this, or when some of the more recent Acid Jazz acts are at their best. Titles include "Pandora" by Men Of North Country, "Girlfriend" by The Filthy Six, "Return To Space" by Twisted Tongue, "Ordinary Joe" by Jasmine Kara, "No More Heroes" by Night Trains, "From Now On" by Magnus Carlson, and "Sex Is On Fire" by Jerk Juice.