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Kenny Dorham in Scandinavia – playing on a set of extended live numbers that are all a fair bit different than his studio work in the US at the time! The date features twin trumpets, too – those of Dorham and Rolf Ericson, blowing together in a bold frontline, then breaking out for beautiful long solos that each have their own sort of voice – driven on nicely by rhythms from Tete Montoliu on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Alex Riel on drums! The recording quality is excellent, and there's a sharpness here that matches Dorham's hardbop best – but a freewheeling energy that really takes things even further. Titles include "Manha De Carnival", "Scandia Skies", "Solar", and "Woody N You". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked gem from Finnish hard rock powerhouse Kalavala – renamed here as an Orchestra, but still working with the lean, sharp sound of their previous two albums! There's a nice evolution here from the earlier sound of the Scandia scene – maybe a bit of northern inspiration thrown into the music, which seems to elevate things to a new level – as does the subtle but sophisticated production! Titles include "Panamanian Red", "Playground", "Highland Temple", "Brown'll Suit You", "Forever Train", "Silver Fish", and "Lighthouse". LP, Vinyl record album

One of those Metronome classics from a time when the Swedish jazz scene was really catching fire! The set features a full complement of work from the great American trumpeter Benny Bailey – who was making big waves on the Scandia scene at the time – plus work from Ake Persson on trombone, Bjarne Nerem on tenor, Rune Ofwerman on piano, Lennart Jansson on baritone, Rune Gustafsson on guitar, Arne Domnerus on on alto, and Torbjorn Hultrantz on bass. Arrangements are by Melba Liston on many tracks too! LP, Vinyl record album

A rare and long unavailable performance of the Kenny Dorham-Barry Harris Quartet captured in action in NYC in 1964! Dorham's trumpet is full and very strongly in the lead in this set – with Barry Harris's piano work provide a loose swagger underneath – reminding us quite a bit of Bud Powell! Julian Ewell is on bass with Albert "Tootie" Heath at the kit. Titles include "Confirmation", "Ma, He's Makin' Eyes At Me", Monk's "Around Midnight", "The Theme", "Tin Tin Deo" plus the bonus tracks "Scandia Skies", and "Manha De Carnaval" – featuring Dorham's quartet recorded live in Copenhagen in December of '63 with Tete Montoliu on piano, Neils-Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass and Alex Riel on drums. CD

A fantastically frenetic electric combo from the Norwegian scene of the 70s – one who clearly draw inspiration from some of the more dynamic prog acts on the UK scene from a few years before, but who deliver the goods with a vibe that really returns the instrumental energy to jazz overall! There's some very sharp reed work on the record – served up by Svend Undseth on saxes, flutes, and even a bit of clarinet – matched with really dynamic work on piano and keyboards from Frode Holm – a player with the best energy of the Scandia scene of the time. Thorsten Dulsrud plays some mighty heavy drums, Harald Salater bangs it on bass, and Undset also adds in a bit of guitar work too – on long titles that include "Fragmomentum", "Street Talk", "Summer Poem", and "Sun Walk". LP, Vinyl record album