Songs from the Top of the World (JRCD011 & JRLP021)

Karl Olgeirsson – Piano
Kristinn Snær Agnarsson – Drums
Jón Rafnsson – Double Bass

An original and curious collection of Icelandic songs of the last 40 years in hip jazz arrangements. A mixture of evergreens, folk, punk and alternative music as well as successful international hits like Emiliana Torrini’s Jungle Drum, Jónsi’s (of Sigur Rós) Animal Arithmetic and Björk’s Army of me. A great glimpse into today’s Icelandic jazz scene as well as a great overview of the Icelandic popular song tradition.

01. Birthday / Ammæli (The Sugarcubes)
02. Jungle Drum  (Emiliana Torrini & Daniel Carey)
03. Is It True? (Óskar Páll Sveinsson, O.Neil, T.Japaridze)
04. Rúdolf  (Þeyr)
05. Þú komst við hjartað í mér (Toggi, Bjarki Jónsson, Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson)
06. Stolt siglir fleyið mitt (Gylfi Ægisson)
07. Animal Arithmetic (Jónsi)
08. Fatlafól (Megas)
09. Army of Me  (Björk)
10. Út á stoppustöð  (Jakob Frímann Magnússon)
11. Can’t Walk Away  (Herbert Guðmundsson)
12. Fjöllin hafa vakað (Egó)
13. Álfar  (Magnús Þór Sigmundsson)

Vinyl record
Side A:
1. Birthday / Ammæli
2. Jungle Drum
3. Rúdolf
4. Þú komst við hjartað í mér
5. Fjöllin hafa vakað

Side B:
1. Stolt siglir fleyið mitt
2. Animal Arithmetic
3. Army of Me
4. Út á stoppistöð
5. Álfar

Listen on Spotify

CD and vinyl available at, - store and webstore:
Plötubúðin, Trönuhraun 6 – webstore
Lucky Records, Rauðarárstígur 10 – webstore
Smekkleysa, Hverfisgata 32 – webstore
12 tónar, Skólavörðustígur 15 – webstore
Reykjavík Record shop, Klapparstíg 35 – webstore (just vinyl)
Hljómsýn, Ármúla 38

 Order direct from: jon@jrmusic.is

REVIEWS:
The Cadence Magazine - the April 2013 issue - www.cadencemagazine.com
HOT ESKIMOS - SONGS FROM THE TOP OF THE WORLD - JRCD011
BIRTHDAY-AMMÆLI / JUNGLE DRUM / IS IT TRUE? / RÚDOLF / ÞÚ KOMST VIÐ HJARTAÐ Í MÉR / STOLT SIGLIR / FLEYIÐ MITT / ANIMAL ARITHMETIC / FATLAFÓL / ARMY OF ME / ÚT Á STOPPUSTÖÐ / CAN’T WALK AWAY / FJÖLLIN HAFA VAKAÐ / ÁLFAR.  55:54
Karl Olgeirsson, p; Kristinn Snær Agnarsson, d; Jón Rafnsson, b. 
May 9-11, 2011, Hafnarfjörður, Iceland.

The Icelandic trio Hot Eskimos offers an individualized program of songs from their native country along with tunes originally introduced to the public by internationally known Icelandic performers. While they do function as an excellent straight-ahead mainstream jazz trio at times, as on “Jungle Drum,” “Ut A Stoppistod,” and parts of “Rudolf,” and they whip up a fine funk/boogaloo groove on “Fatlafol,” much of what they play features spare, slow-moving harmonies and melodic lines that often lack a traditional swing feel.  The Sugarcubes’ “Birthday,” for example, is based essentially on two chords and produces a somewhat static “open” ambiance, and although the singer Bjork’s “Army of me” contains interesting tempo changes, the slow sections mostly avoid any sense of swing.  But that is not intended as negative commentary.  What they do, they do well.  The three of them are on the same page at all times. Their music sounds well-planned and is professionally performed.  Still, it might be more meaningful to American audiences who are familiar with their mostly esoteric source material.  Without that,  their debut album is simply nice to listen to.

Nordische Musik und Polarblog - www.nordische-musik.de
Songs From The Top Of The World (2011, JR Music JRCD011)
Thirteen »Songs from the Top of the World« is what the »Hot Eskimos« are presenting, and then there are sheep flying across the image on the cover photo. In addition that you can find in the cover design: a recipe for the »Hot Eskimo Shot« with Tequila, Icelandic Brennivin and lime juice. This is surely no usual jazz trio. Bass player Jón Rafnsson told Karl »Kalli« Olgeirsson (piano) about his idea to play well-known Icelandic pop songs in jazz arrangements. So they asked drummer Kristinn Snær »Kiddi« Agnarsson, if he was in the mood to come over and jam over some songs. As these early recordings came easy, were fun and convinced the musicians when they heard them again, they went into the studio in May 2011, to release the recordings on Rafnsson’s own label.
Sometimes it’s as simple as that. The debut album was born – and a new trio with it at the same time. Those who are familiar with the Icelandic music scene will be happy to
(re-)discover lots of songs and will be entertained splendidly. For example, the trio finds pleasure in looking at Björk’s »Army of me« from new perspectives. However, if you are not familiar with the pop hits, you will not hear a lot more than a cheerful jazz album, which no doubt makes for a good time, but sometimes you’d wish for a few more bold moments instead of the apparent fulfillment of expectations. (ijb – nordische-musik.de)

JAZZ SPECIAL – Danish Jazz Magazine
Hot Eskimos er en trio fra Island, som har udsendt en plade med Islandske rocktemaer fra gamle orkestre som Theyr og Sugarcubes, hvor en vis Björk foldede sig ud. Hun er også representeret med signaturen Army of me. Der er ligeledes numre fra Emiliana Torrini og Sigur Ros  og i det hele taget virker Hot Eskimos godt tilpas med Islands store bidrag til musikkulturen. Og trion leverer sine versioner frisk og frejdigt, på måden vi kender andre trioer som EST og Bad Plus på.  (Jazz Special #136 – Allan Sommer)

………Google translate - Danish to English:
Hot Eskimos is a trio from Iceland who have released a record with Icelandic rock themes from old orchestras such as Theyr and Sugarcubes, where a certain Björk unfolded. She is also represented with the signature Army of me. There are also songs from Emiliana Torrini and Sigur Ros and on the whole Hot Eskimos seems comfortable with Iceland's great contribution to the music culture. And the trio delivers its versions fresh and cheerful, in the way we know other trios like EST and Bad Plus. (Jazz Special # 136 - Allan Sommer)

ajazzlistenersthoughts.blogspot.com                  = 
HOT ESKIMOS, ”Songs From the Top of the World” (JR Music 2011)
For me this is a piano trio not to be missed, a fun, young and modern group playing some of their own music as well as some Icelandic pop in the style of groups like Bad Plus, The Tingvall Trio, and other modernists. Lots to like here — bouncy, catchy tunes, some balladry, and a lot of interweaving of sounds. Karl Olgeirsson on piano, Kristinn Snaer Agnarsson on drums, and Jon Rafnsson on bass make up this terrrific trio.

Imran Kahn review on “Birthday” - www.popmatters.com
Hot Eskimos turn the magic and confused beauty of the Sugarcubes’ most cherished number into a sublimely lush jazz rendering that brings the song’s most furtive emotion to the fore – one of deep sadness. “Birthday” has had a number of reinventions over the years, but no artist or band could ever capture the raw, unspoiled beauty of Björk’s voice, jubilant and vicious in equal measure. The band give the song that was primed for a jazz reworking an atmosphere of swirling colour and shape, with piano scales sliding around an at once steady and fractured rhythm, and the drums and upright bass creating a cadence of tension and release. Like the original, Hot Eskimo’s version is rich with ideas and a musicality that could only have been sparked by an imagination brimming with wide-eyed wonder and a desperate need to be fulfilled. Just see if you don’t laugh… or cry.

Hot Eskimos interview by Bartek Wilk / Poland
http://www.muzykaislandzka.pl/web/hot-eskimos-interview/