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A Norwegian band with a Japanese pianist, pianist, Japanese a with band Norwegian A Barxeta, set among oranges and clementines clementines and oranges among set Barxeta, A Norwegian band with a Japanese pianist, pianist, Japanese a with band Norwegian A Barxeta, set among oranges and clementines clementines and oranges among set Barxeta, Mongrel thick as thieves Mongrel thick as thieves 1 Strömningar 5:46 Thomas Husmo Litleskare trumpet mongrel 1 Strömningar 5:46 Thomas Husmo Litleskare trumpet mongrel 2 Bakgården 3:02 Ayumi Tanaka piano 2 Bakgården 3:02 Ayumi Tanaka piano 3 Kongen av Kamper Bas 1:56 Stian Andreas Egeland Andersen bass 3 Kongen av Kamper Bas 1:56 Stian Andreas Egeland Andersen bass 4 Una 4:31 Tore Flatjord drums thick as thieves 4 Una 4:31 Tore Flatjord drums thick as thieves 5 The Gist of It 0:56 5 The Gist of It 0:56 6 Vincent 4:47 Recorded at Studio Barxeta by Dani Castelar, 6 Vincent 4:47 Recorded at Studio Barxeta by Dani Castelar, 7 Søvndrukken 6:07 3 days in November 2015 7 Søvndrukken 6:07 3 days in November 2015 8 Quinn 5:25 Mixed by Dani Castelar February 2016 8 Quinn 5:25 Mixed by Dani Castelar February 2016 Losen Records LOS 148-2 LOS Losen Records 9 Thick as Thieves 6:30 Mastered by Giuseppe Ielasi February 2016 148-2 LOS Losen Records 9 Thick as Thieves 6:30 Mastered by Giuseppe Ielasi February 2016 Produced by Mongrel Produced by Mongrel Total Time 39:00 Executive Producer Odd Gjelsnes Total Time 39:00 Executive Producer Odd Gjelsnes Front cover painting by Sylva Karin Johansen Front cover painting by Sylva Karin Johansen Tracks 1, 3, 4, 7, 9 Cover design by design holtmann Tracks 1, 3, 4, 7, 9 Cover design by design holtmann by Thomas Husmo Litleskare by Thomas Husmo Litleskare Losen Records LOS 148-2 Tracks 2, 6, 8 Big thanks to Komponistenes Vederlagsfond and Tracks 2, 6, 8 Big thanks to Komponistenes Vederlagsfond and Losen Records LOS 148-2 by Stian Andreas Egeland Andersen TONO for financial support, to Dani Castelar by Stian Andreas Egeland Andersen TONO for financial support, to Dani Castelar Track 5 by Mongrel and Odd Gjelsnes for a great session in Barxeta, Track 5 by Mongrel and Odd Gjelsnes for a great session in Barxeta, to Losen Records for releasing this album, to Losen Records for releasing this album, and to our friends and family. and to our friends and family. thick as thieves thick as thieves Mongrel thick as thieves Mongrel

All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication, All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication, public performance and broadcasting of the music public performance and broadcasting of the music on this CD is a violation of applicable laws. 7 090025 831485 on this CD is a violation of applicable laws. 7 090025 831485 Photos: Odd Gjelsnes Photos: Odd Gjelsnes

Mongrel – thick as thieves A Norwegian band with a Japanese pianist, Mongrel’s compositional method: a written recording an album in the Spanish countryside, framework with spaces left for spontaneous mixing American jazz and European art music contributions and ideas. The album’s title tune with a touch of Latin – this quartet certainly Thick as Thieves was written by trumpeter Thomas lives up to its name! Generally used to describe Litleskare as a homage to long-lasting friendship cross-bred animals, particularly dogs, the word – but could also describe the close teamwork and “mongrel” is often not a compliment. However, interaction within the band itself. despite their rugged appearance, mongrels are often mild and caring creatures, full of personality Offering a set of 9 subtle miniatures, mostly and quick to become family favourites (speaking painted in minor, this album is a step up from from experience!). Mongrel’s previous work and a very promising example of what these four musicians have to The mixing of genres characterizes many creative offer. bands on the Norwegian music scene. With established genres so fully explored and virtuosity Hayden Powell almost commonplace, today’s challenge is to combine existing influences in an original way Thomas Husmo Litleskare is a 25-year-old (or maybe this has always been the case). Add trumpeter from Trondheim, Norway, currently your own personal voice and the courage not to based in Oslo. While studying jazz and improvised hide your imperfections and you just might be music at the Norwegian Academy of Music, on to something original. he met his fellow Mongrels and became a part of the diverse and exploratory Norwegian Thick as Thieves is Mongrel’s second album but improvised music scene. Also associated with the first featuring Ayumi Tanaka on piano. the experimental rock band Karokh and the 50s The recording spanned three days at Studio cool jazz act Baker Hansen, he formed Mongrel Barxeta, set among oranges and clementines near as a creative playground for his preferred way of Valencia, Spain. The album’s opener, Strömningar, composing: the composition being a framework was the session’s very first take, establishing to operate within, a vehicle for improvisation. the calm but energetic mood the band had “Thick as Thieves” is Litleskare’s sixth album envisioned. It also provides a good example of release, and Mongrel’s second. Ayumi Tanaka (b. 1986) is a Japanese pianist and Tore Flatjord is a 29-year-old drummer based composer. Inspired by Scandinavian jazz and free in Oslo. Mentors such as Thomas Strønen, improvised music, she moved to Oslo in 2011 to Jon Eberson and Pål Thowsen has made his pursue her fascination for this particular art form. background is versatile and eclectic; besides She quickly made her mark upon the Norwegian working with Mongrel, he also plays darbuka capital’s jazz scene, and went on to form Ayumi in the ragainfluenced band Moksha, 50s cool jazz Tanaka Trio with Per Oddvar Johansen and with Baker Hansen and progressive rock with Christian Meaas Svendsen. Tanaka´s first release The Switch. Being one of the most active in Norway was with the band Nakama in 2015, drummers in Oslo, “Thick as Thieves” is Flatjord’s led by Christian Meaas Svendsen, that was quickly tenth album release as a recording artist, and his followed up by “Memento” with her own trio in second with Mongrel 2016. “Thick as Thieves” is Ayumi’s first album with Mongrel. www.mongrel.no

Stian Andreas Egeland Andersen (b. 1988) hails from Stavanger, Norway, and currently works as a bassist and composer in Oslo. After studying double bass with mentors such as Bjørn Kjellemyr and Arild Andersen, he has toured regularly and released records with bands such as Baker Hansen and Holum Trio. Being the other active composer in Mongrel, his tunes are often quirky and playful, as mongrels often are. The current album release is Andersen’s fourth overall.

Release April 29, 2016 MusikkLosen LOS 148-2 Tel. + 47 22 19 82 82 7090025831485 [email protected] www.losenrecords.no