Cierny Peter

Recorded live at Stavanger Jazzklubb, 20 -21 September, 1983 by Per Ravnaas and Ola Selvær.
Mixed in Staccato Studio, Stavanger, 16 -17  March, 1984 by Per Ravnaas and Bjørn Eie.
Producers: Torgrim Sollid, Rolf Grundesen, Per Ravnaas
Cover design: Terry Nilssen Love

Side A
1. Johnnie-bird (Torgrim Sollid)
2. Saltdalen (Trad. arr. Tove Karoline Knudsen)
3. Halling 8 (Etter Martinus Helgesen arr. Alf Kjellman, Erling Aksdal, Torgrim Sollid) 
4. Pols 3 (Etter Martinus Helgesen arr. Alf Kjellman, Erling Aksdal, Torgrim Sollid)
5. Some Fairy's Tale (Carl Haakon Waadeland)
 

Side B
1. Some Human Pictures (Torgrim Sollid)
2. Oh, You Crazy Moon (Van Heusen-Burke arr. Torgrim Sollid)
3. Cierny Peter (Torgrim Sollid)
4. With a Smile (Torgrim Sollid)
 

Søyr was established in 1976 by the musician/composer Torgrim Sollid. From the start the band had a varied purpose. It should play improvised music based on the traditional Norwegian folk music. It should present the work of contemporary Norwegian jazz composers, and it should bring together musicians from different parts of the country. In this way, over the years, a long line of musicians have passed through the ranks - musicians who in different ways have each made a strong impact towards the development of Norwegian jazz. Søyr has always acted as a melting pot in which composers, arrangers and soloists are able to “try out” their ideas without restriction.

Three of the original members are still with the band - Tore Engstrøm, Carl Haakon Waadeland and the founder Torgrim Sollid. The Canadian born trumpeter Kenny Wheeler was for a long time a permanent member of the orchestra, and is remembered with affection.

As a large group (around 10 members) and with a 10 year jubilee not so far away, Søyr has demonstrated that it is possible to convince the authorities of the necessity of giving financial support to those performing improvised music. We would like to take this opportunity thank all those who have helped towards our continued existence: Rikskonsertene, Norsk kulturfond (The Norwegian Cultural Fund), Møre og Romsdal County, South Trøndelag County, Trondheim Commune, The Fund for performing artists, the British Council and The Norwegian Cultural Department.

As Søyr has always been a band that enjoys itself best in fromt of a live audience (perhaps rather an obvious statement in connection with a jazz orchestra?), we recorded this album live (not necessarily a matter of course for a jazz group). To do it, simply find a complete recording studio, dismantle it entirely and track down two “soundfreaks” - Ola and Per - and an administrative brain - in the form of Mr. Grundesen. Then move it all lock, stock and barrel, three floors up to Stavanger Jazz Club’s comfortable and inspiring loft at “De røde sjøhus”.

The resulting product, we feel, is a good cross section of the band’s repertoire, which really swings in many directions - with one of our “golden oldies”, “Oh, You Crazy Moon”, or our relationship to the jazz tradition shown through “Johnnie-Bird”, and with folk music material (between 50 and 400 years old) as well as several of our own compositions.

Apparently, every album should have a title. “Cierny Peter” is our choice. This title track is an impression made from our tour of Czechoslovakia in the spring of ’83 and is also a greeting to our Czechoslovakian friends with our deepest respect for their continuing struggle.

We should also add that “Cierny Peter” means “Black Jack”. (Svarte Per in Norwegian), a title that expresses the position we in Søyr wish to maintain: that we will continue to be a disturbing element in Norwegian cultural life.