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Svein Olav Herstad on piano, Magne Thormodsaeter on bass, and Hakon Mjaset Johnsen drums. CD

A very cool little record that's exactly what it promises in the title – a killer combination of American jazz and Romanian roots – played here by a group with some especially nice work on reeds! At its best moments, the album's got a sound that takes us back to some of the best jazz-meets-world projects from the European scene of the late 60s and early 70s – as traditional Romanian numbers are reworked into jazzy groovers, with a nice emphasis on groovy rhythms, plus some exotic sounds from the soloists. Sam Newsome plays soprano sax throughout – working with Lucian Ban on piano, Alex Harding on baritone sax and bass clarinet, Sorin Romanescu on guitar, Arthur Balogh on bass, and Willard Dyson on drums. Titles include "Bucharest (parts 1 & 2)", "Colinda", "Home", "Carol", "Transilvanian Dance", and "Danube Stroll". CD

An amazing little group – one that starts with the ensemble improvisation energy of John Coltrane's Ascension, but then takes off into a whole new electrified direction of its own! Crimetime Orchestra boast a heady rhythm section in the form of Bugge Wesseltoft on keyboards, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten on electric bass, and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums – all players schooled in free jazz ways, but working here with an electrified sort of force – almost a rockish fusion undercurrent, which is mixed beautifully with the complicated horn lines of the other members of the group. Bassist Bjornar Andressen brings in a double-heavy bottom to the record – and other players include Vidar Johansen on tenor, Jon Klette on alto, Djetil Moster on tenor, Oyvind Brakke on trombone, Sjur Miljeteig on trumpet, and Anders Hana on guitar. Bugge recorded the whole thing, with some additional electric effects – and titles include "Rest In Piece" and the seven-part "Live Is A Beautiful Monster" suite. CD

Features Anders Aarum on piano, Ole Morton Vagan on bass and Andreas Bye on drums. CD

Tone Collector is Tony Malaby on tenor sax, Eivind Opsvik on bass, and Jeff Davis on drums. CD

With Mats Eilertsen on bass and Olavi Louhivuori on drums. CD

With Mats Eilertsen on bass. CD