Mezzoforte (band)

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Mezzoforte at the 2017 Kongsberg Jazzfestival. Closest to the camera is Friðrik Karlsson.

Mezzoforte is an instrumental jazz-funk fusion band from Iceland, formed in 1977.[1]

They signed a record deal with Icelandic label Steinar.[1] Their biggest hit single was "Garden Party" (1983), taken from their fourth album (second international release) Surprise Surprise.[1] It peaked at number 17 in the UK Singles Chart. The solo that takes place two minutes into "Garden Party", was created and played on the flugelhorn by English trumpeter, Stephen Dawson.[2] "Garden Party" was later covered by Herb Alpert, at a slower speed than the original, apparently as he had learned the track from the single played at the wrong speed.[1] Another single, "Rockall" spent one week at number 75 in the same listing in June that year, and was used as a signature tune by several European radio chart shows.[1][2]

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

Band members[edit]

Original line-up from 1977:

  • Eyþór Gunnarsson – keyboards
  • Jóhann Ásmundsson – bass
  • Gunnlaugur Briem-Gulli Briem (Gulli) – drums
  • Friðrik Karlsson (Frissi) – guitars

Other members, present and past:

  • Bruno Müller – guitars (2005–present)
  • Sebastian Studnitzky – trumpet & keyboards (2005–present)
  • Thomas Dyani – percussion (2004–present)
  • Jonas Wall – saxophones (2013–present)
  • Ari Bragi Karason – trumpet
  • Staffan William-Olsson – guitars (2003–2004)
  • Joel Palsson – saxophones (2003)
  • Guðmundur Pétursson – guitars (2003)
  • Óskar Guðjónsson – saxophones (1996–2003, 2005–2013)
  • Kåre Kolve – saxophones (1991–1994)
  • Björn Thorarensen – synthesizers (1980–1982)
  • Kristinn Svavarsson – saxophones (1982–1985)
  • David O'Higgins – saxophones (1985–1989, 2002–2004)
  • Jeroen De Rijk – percussion (1984–1986)

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Title Album details Peak chart positions
ICE
[3]
AUS
[4]
GER
[5]
NL
[6]
NOR
[7]
SWE
[8]
SWI
[9]
UK
[10]
Mezzoforte 10
Í Hakanum
  • Released: November 1980
  • Label: Steinar
  • Formats: LP, MC
  • Released outside of Iceland as Mezzoforte
Þvílíkt Og Annað Eins
  • Released: November 1981
  • Label: Steinar
  • Formats: LP
4
  • Released: October 1982
  • Label: Steinar
  • Formats: LP, MC
  • Released outside of Iceland as Surprise Surprise
1 46 33 10 28
Yfirsýn
  • Released: December 1983
  • Label: Steinar
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC
  • Released outside of Iceland as Observations
7 39 6 46 23
Rising
  • Released: November 1984
  • Label: Steinar
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC
10
No Limits
  • Released: November 1986
  • Label: Steinar
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC
9 12
Playing for Time
  • Released: April 1989
  • Label: RCA
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC
8 5
Daybreak
  • Released: November 1993
  • Label: Spor
  • Formats: CD, MC
Monkey Fields
  • Released: July 1996
  • Label: Spor
  • Formats: CD, MC
7
Forward Motion
  • Released: November 2004
  • Label: BHM Productions
  • Formats: CD
Volcanic
  • Released: 18 October 2010
  • Label: Koolmusik, BHM Productions
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Islands
  • Released: 6 July 2012
  • Label: BHM Productions
  • Formats: CD, digital download
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Live albums[edit]

Title Album details Peak chart positions
ICE
[3]
Sprellifandi
  • Released: September 1983
  • Label: Steinar
  • Formats: LP, MC
  • Live at the Dominion on 30 June 1983
1
Live in Reykjavik
  • Released: November 2008
  • Label: BHM Productions
  • Formats: 2xCD
Live from London
  • Released: 2 August 2016
  • Label: The Store for Music
  • Formats: digital download
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Compilation albums[edit]

Title Album details Peak chart positions
ICE
[3]
UK
[10]
Catching up with Mezzoforte – Early Recordings
  • Released: May 1983
  • Label: Steinar
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC
95
The Saga So Far
  • Released: October 1985
  • Label: Steinar
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC
4
Best Collection
  • Released: 1 June 1987
  • Label: Polydor
  • Formats: CD
  • Japan-only release
Fortissimos
  • Released: September 1991
  • Label: RCA/BMG
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC
7
Garden Party Time – The Best of Mezzoforte
The Very Best of Mezzoforte
  • Released: 24 October 2001
  • Label: Skífan
  • Formats: CD, MC
Anniversary Edition
  • Released: April 2007
  • Label: BHM Productions
  • Formats: 2xCD
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Video albums[edit]

Title Album details
High Voltage
Live in Reykjavik
  • Released: November 2008
  • Label: BHM Productions
  • Formats: DVD
Live from London – Live from the Marquee Club
  • Released: May 2013
  • Label: The Store for Music
  • Formats: DVD

Singles[edit]

Title Year Peak chart positions
ICE
[12]
AUS
[4]
BE (FL)
[13]
GER
[5]
IRE
[14]
NL
[15]
UK
[16]
"Dreamland"/"Shooting Star" 1982
"Garden Party" 1983 8 32 10 36 23 5 17
"Rockall" 31 43 75
"Midnight Express" (live)
"Midnight Sun" 1984 102[17]
"Spring Fever" 100
"Take Off
"Taking Off" (vocal mix) 1985
"Garden Party" (sunshine mix)
"This Is the Night" (featuring Noel McCalla)
"Nothing Lasts Forever" (featuring Noel McCalla) 1986
"No Limit" 1987
"Expressway" 1989
"High Season"
"Better Love" 1991
"After Hours" 1994
"Step Right Back" 1996
"Monkey Fields"
"Garden Party" (2002 remix) 2002
"Hún veit hvað ég vil" (with Auður) 2020
"Broke n Hip" 2021
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Larkin, Colin (1997) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0159-7, p. 321
  2. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 362. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ a b c Peak positions for Mezzoforte's albums in Iceland:
  4. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 199. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. ^ a b "Suche - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  6. ^ "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  7. ^ "norwegiancharts.com - Norwegian charts portal". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  8. ^ "swedishcharts.com - Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  9. ^ "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade - hitparade.ch". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  10. ^ a b "MEZZOFORTE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  11. ^ "Morgunblaðið - 254. tölublað (07.11.1999) - Tímarit.is". timarit.is. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  12. ^ "Dagblaðið Vísir - DV - 59. tölublað (11.03.1983)". timarit.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  13. ^ "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  14. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
  15. ^ "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  16. ^ "TOM ROBINSON | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2022-04-14.
  17. ^ "UK Singles Charts: 1984 (including chart panel sales)". UKMIX Forums. Retrieved 2022-05-23.

External links[edit]