Björk Guðmundsdóttir & Tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar
Encyclopedia
Björk Guðmundsdóttir & tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar was an Iceland
ic jazz
and bebop
music band.
The band formed in 1990 when the singer-songwriter
Björk Guðmundsdóttir
, who at the time sang and wrote for The Sugarcubes
, joined the tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar
(Guðmundur Ingólfsson on piano, Guðmundur Steingrímsson
(a.k.a. Papa Jazz) on drums and Þórður Högnason on bass).
. Another story has it that Björk's previous appearances on a local jazz radio program called Godravina Fundur had made an impression on Guðmundur Steingrímsson, and that he also had fond memories of her when she was just 16 years old, jazz obsessive, hanging around his recording sessions at Labbi Þórarinsson's farm Glora. (http://specials.bjorkish.net/gling-glo/)
Be that as it may, the group's only album came out at the end of 1990. It is titled Gling-Gló
, and was distributed through Smekkleysa
label in Iceland, and later, through One Little Indian in the United Kingdom
.
The album went platinum in Iceland. There were other live recordings as the group performed in nightclubs, but in 1991 Guðmundur Ingólfsson died of cancer
and the group disbanded.
songs: Björk
sings in English “Ruby Baby
,” by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and the jazz standard “I Can’t Help Loving That Man”, by Oscar Hammerstein II
and Jerome Kern
; and in Icelandic “Það Sést Ekki Sætari Mey”, which means in English “There Is No Sweeter Girl”, and is misattributed in the album notes and on the CD as having been written by "Rogers/Hammerstein", but is in reality a completely reworded cover of "You Can't Get A Man With A Gun
" by Irving Berlin
from the famous musical Annie Get Your Gun
.
The Icelandic songs on this album were recorded live almost entirely without overdubs in just two days at Reykjavík's Studio Syrland. Its two English songs were recorded on August 23, 1990 at Ríkisútvarpið (National Icelandic Television).
in 1992. She went on to launch a successful solo career, starting with Debut in 1993 and continuing to the present day.
NOTE: These recordings are available on a bootleg
called Gling-Gló Live at the Hotel Borg.
NOTE: This article features Icelandic characters. For more information see Icelandic language
.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and bebop
Bebop
Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers...
music band.
The band formed in 1990 when the singer-songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
Björk Guðmundsdóttir
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
, who at the time sang and wrote for The Sugarcubes
The Sugarcubes
The Sugarcubes were an Icelandic alternative rock band formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. They received critical and popular acclaim internationally.-History:...
, joined the tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar
Tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar
Tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar was an Icelandic bebop group and a piano trio, no longer in existence, following the death of its leader, pianist Guðmundur Ingólfsson in 1992...
(Guðmundur Ingólfsson on piano, Guðmundur Steingrímsson
Guðmundur Steingrímsson
Guðmundur Steingrímsson is an Icelandic politician and son and grandson of former Icelandic Prime Ministers Steingrímur Hermannsson and Hermann Jónasson.-Career:Steingrímsson was elected to the Althing from the constituency of Norðvesturkjördæmi in 2009...
(a.k.a. Papa Jazz) on drums and Þórður Högnason on bass).
History
According to one version of events, earlier Björk and Guðmundur Ingólfsson had developed a friendship after playing together in 1987 at Hótel Borg, ReykjavíkReykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
. Another story has it that Björk's previous appearances on a local jazz radio program called Godravina Fundur had made an impression on Guðmundur Steingrímsson, and that he also had fond memories of her when she was just 16 years old, jazz obsessive, hanging around his recording sessions at Labbi Þórarinsson's farm Glora. (http://specials.bjorkish.net/gling-glo/)
Be that as it may, the group's only album came out at the end of 1990. It is titled Gling-Gló
Gling-Gló
Gling-Gló, released in 1990, is the only album by Björk Guðmundsdóttir & tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar, consisting of Björk Guðmundsdóttir on vocals, Guðmundur Ingólfsson on piano, Guðmundur Steingrímsson on drums, and Þórður Högnason on bass...
, and was distributed through Smekkleysa
Bad Taste (record label)
Bad Taste is one of Iceland’s most important record labels; located in Reykjavík and known worldwide for being home to The Sugarcubes, it also publishes poetry books, short films, greeting cards and Icelandic gifts...
label in Iceland, and later, through One Little Indian in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The album went platinum in Iceland. There were other live recordings as the group performed in nightclubs, but in 1991 Guðmundur Ingólfsson died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
and the group disbanded.
Gling-Gló in detail
The album features Icelandic jazz favorites and three versions of AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songs: Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
sings in English “Ruby Baby
Ruby Baby
"Ruby Baby" is a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was originally recorded by The Drifters and was a major R&B hit for them in 1956...
,” by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and the jazz standard “I Can’t Help Loving That Man”, by Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years. Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and was twice awarded an Academy Award for "Best Original Song". Many of his songs are standard repertoire for...
and Jerome Kern
Jerome Kern
Jerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A...
; and in Icelandic “Það Sést Ekki Sætari Mey”, which means in English “There Is No Sweeter Girl”, and is misattributed in the album notes and on the CD as having been written by "Rogers/Hammerstein", but is in reality a completely reworded cover of "You Can't Get A Man With A Gun
You Can't Get a Man with a Gun
"You Can't Get a Man with a Gun" is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, by Irving Berlin. It was originally performed by Ethel Merman.Other singers to have recorded the song include Betty Hutton, Bernadette Peters and Judy Garland....
" by Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
from the famous musical Annie Get Your Gun
Annie Get Your Gun (musical)
Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music written by Irving Berlin and a book by Herbert Fields and his sister Dorothy Fields. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley , who was a sharpshooter from Ohio, and her husband, Frank Butler.The 1946 Broadway production...
.
The Icelandic songs on this album were recorded live almost entirely without overdubs in just two days at Reykjavík's Studio Syrland. Its two English songs were recorded on August 23, 1990 at Ríkisútvarpið (National Icelandic Television).
Björk afterwards
After the group broke up, Björk continued on with The Sugarcubes, recording Stick Around for JoyStick Around for Joy
Stick Around For Joy released in February 1992 was the third and final album released by the Icelandic alternative rock band The Sugarcubes. In terms of quality fans usually rate the album somewhere between the band's acclaimed debut, Life's Too Good and the widely panned follow-up Here Today,...
in 1992. She went on to launch a successful solo career, starting with Debut in 1993 and continuing to the present day.
Discography
- Gling-GlóGling-GlóGling-Gló, released in 1990, is the only album by Björk Guðmundsdóttir & tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar, consisting of Björk Guðmundsdóttir on vocals, Guðmundur Ingólfsson on piano, Guðmundur Steingrímsson on drums, and Þórður Högnason on bass...
(1990) (SmekkleysaBad Taste (record label)Bad Taste is one of Iceland’s most important record labels; located in Reykjavík and known worldwide for being home to The Sugarcubes, it also publishes poetry books, short films, greeting cards and Icelandic gifts...
/One Little Indian)
Live recordings
- I Fall in Love Too EasilyI Fall in Love Too Easily"I Fall in Love Too Easily" is a 1944 song composed by Jule Styne with lyrics by Sammy Cahn. It was introduced by Frank Sinatra in the 1945 film Anchors Aweigh...
- Luktar-Gvendur
- You Don’t Know What Love is
- Cry Me a River
- I Can’t Help Loving that Man
- Brestir og Brak
- Ruby Baby
- Pabbi Minn
- Gling Gló
- Misty
- Í Dansi með Þér
- Bella Símamær
- Litli Tónlistarmadur
- Ástartöfrar
NOTE: These recordings are available on a bootleg
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
called Gling-Gló Live at the Hotel Borg.
External links
- Gling-Gló page at Björkish.net - includes mp3 samples from Gling-Gló
- Björk official website
- Lyrics at Björk.com
NOTE: This article features Icelandic characters. For more information see Icelandic language
Icelandic language
Icelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
.