Mezzoforte (band)

Mezzoforte is an instrumental jazz-funk fusion band from Iceland. Their biggest hit single was "Garden Party" (1983). It peaked at #17 in the UK Singles Chart.^[1] Another track, "Rockall" spent one week at #75 in the same listing in June that year.^[1]

The band was named after the traditional musical term mezzo forte, an instruction to play literally "moderately loud".

Band members

Original line-up from 1977:

• Eyþór Gunnarsson – Keyboards
• Jóhann Ásmundsson – Bass
• Gunnlaugur Briem (Gulli) – Drums
• Friðrik Karlsson (Frissi) – Guitar

Other members, present and past:

• Óskar Guðjónsson – Saxophones (1996-2003, 2005-present)
• Bruno Mueller – Guitar (2005-present)
• Sebastian Studnitzky – Trumpet & keyboards (2005-present)
• Thomas Dyani – Percussion (2004-present)

• Björn Thorarensen – Synthesizers (1980-1982)
• Kristinn Svavarsson – Saxophones (1982-1985)
• David O'Higgins – Saxophones (1985-1989, 2002-2004)
• Jeroen De Rijk – Percussion (1984-1986)
• Staffan William-Olsson – Guitar (2003-2004)
• Joel Palsson – Saxophones (2003)
• Guðmundur Pétursson – Guitar (2003)

Discography

Albums

• Mezzoforte (1979)
• I Hakanum (Octopus) (1980)
• Thvilikt og annad eins (Dreamland) (1982)
• Surprise Surprise (1982) - UK #23^[1]
• Sprellifandi - Live at the Dominion (1983)
• Observations (1984)
• Rising (1984)
• No Limits (1986)
• Playing for Time (1989)
• Daybreak (1993)
• Monkey Fields (1996)
• Forward Motion (2004)
• Live In Reykjavik (2007)
• Volcanic (November 2010)

Compilation albums

• Catching up with Mezzoforte - Early Recordings (1983) - UK #95^[1]
• The Saga so far (1985)
• Fortissimos (1991)
• Garden Party Time (1999)
• Anniversary Edition (2007)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 362. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

External links

• Mezzoforte at Allmusic
• Mezzoforte at Discogs
• mezzoforte.com (official site)
• gullibriem.com (Gulli Briem's site)
• thefeelgoodcollection.com (Fridrik Karlsson's site)
• bruno-mueller-music.de (Bruno Müller's site)
• studnitzky.de (Sebastian Studnitzky's site)
• jookraus.de (Joo Kraus' site)