Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.12.2006, Blaðsíða 12

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Reykjavík has a small but pretty
good jazz scene. It can be hard to
track down, as gigs aren’t always
well publicised but once you do, it
is easy to get into. A regular gig-
goer will soon start to recognise
the musicians who play different
styles in different combos. I’ve
seen some excellent gigs, as well as
one or two that were a bit stiff and
wooden.
If foreigners have come across
any Icelandic jazz at all, it is likely to
be Björk’s 1990 album Gling-Gló.
The bigger names in Icelandic jazz
are little known elsewhere. They
include the keyboard player Sunna
Gunnlaugsdóttir, the saxophonists
Jóel Pálsson and Sigurður Flosa-
son, the bass player Tómas R. Ein-
arsson and the singer Ragnheiður
Gröndal.
In the winter, the scene cen-
tres on the Múlinn jazz club and in
summer on the courtyard behind
Jómfrúin, the Danish sandwich bar.
Café Rosenberg on Lækjargata is
also worth keeping an eye on. Mú-
linn has just moved from Sunday
nights at the Þjóðleikhúskjallarunn
(the basement bar under the Na-
tional Theatre) to Thursday nights
at Domo at Þingholtsstræti 5. In a
way it’s a shame, because the Na-
tional Theatre basement is such a
lovely venue. For the musicians,
though, it is an improvement. The
acoustics are better and the own-
ers are actually into jazz. Domo’s
fine and at least there is a regular
jazz night again. It kicked off with
Tómas R. Einarsson with most of
the jazz-funk band Jagúar in tow,
promoting his new album Romm
Tomm Tomm.
Gigs start at nine and the line-
up for the rest of the year is:
7 December. Scott McLemore –
Frisell Projekt, a guitarless set of the
guitarist’s music. Scott McLemore
is an American drummer but a sta-
ple of the Reykjavík jazz scene. The
line-up features the talented Sunna
Gunnlaugsdóttir.
14 December. The Jóel Pálsson
Quintet, promoting the forthcom-
ing album, Varp. This promises to
be a good gig. I’ve seen Pálsson
play a few times and he was good
enough to keep company with the
electrifying pianist Kjartan Valde-
marsson (who is sadly missing from
this season) last May.
Last year, Múlinn ran until mid-May,
so hopefully it will pick up again in
the new year.
For Icelandic jazz CDs, check out
Skífan on Laugavegur or 12 Tónar
on Skólavörðustígur. Both will let
you listen to CDs. Skífan is a bit
like a Virgin or HMV and is fine for
what it is. 12 Tónar is small, cosy,
very friendly and hands out cups of
espresso to browsers.
There are quite a few decent
Icelandic jazz CDs around but two
really stand out. Flís’s self-titled
album is a lovely collection. It’s a
warm, lyrical and very likeable set
of old-time Icelandic songs given
jazz arrangements. Some tracks
are mournful, others jaunty. Davíð
Þór Jónsson’s piano is thoughtful,
assured, never dull and combines
beautifully with the bass and drums
that make up the trio.
Tómas R. Einarsson’s Let Jazz be
Bestowed on the Huts is a wildly di-
verse collection of songs partly in-
spired by the poetry of WH Auden
(the original friend of Iceland?).
The nine tracks are sung by eight
different singers, including KK
and former Sugarcube Einar Örn
(whose singing certainly won’t ap-
peal to everyone). If I were forced
to pick one song, it would probably
be Ellen Kristjánsdóttir’s rendition
of Guðbergur Bergsson’s poem
Spring Rain in Njarðvíkur but really,
the whole album is a quirky mix of
styles that work perfectly.
Grapevine Guide to Jazz
Reykjavík – Dec. 2006
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The Pineapple Records concert
nights at Sirkus continues its draw
of a mixed crowd in December,
now featuring the Finnish multi-
instrumentalist, singer and com-
poser Jimi Tenor.
GusGus record label, Pineapple
Records, in cooperation with Uncle
Siggi and Desire Loveschool have
organised multiple shows at Sirkus
since early summer where among
performances have been Petter
Winnberg, Khan of Finland, Helmus
and Dalli and Kid Carpet.
Playing a strong-beat mix of
jazz, funk, soul and techno, Jimi
Tenor’s first solo album, Sähkömies,
was released in 1994 and the
second one, Europe, a year later.
Now counting ten solo records,
his newest LP, Beyond the Stars
is described as a joyful showcase
of pure musical happiness. His
forthcoming album, Joystone,
is awaited with anticipation.
Sunrise, a three-track EP released
in October this year, is said to be
unlike everything else Tenor has
been known to do, where he is
accompanied by West African
percussion group Kabu Kabu,
afrobeat master Nicholas Addo
Nettey, and a group of young stars
of the Finnish jazz scene. What
Sirkus’s attendees can expect to
witness will unfold in just a week.
Followed by the legendary
President Bongo and Casanova DJ
Set, the show starts at 21:00 and
is, like always, free of charge.
Sirkus, Klapparstígur 30.
Photo by Jimi Tenor.
Jimi Tenor at Sirkus
Sirkus – 8 Dec. at 21:00
Living Art Museum
Laugavegur 26
Wed., Fri.-Sun. 13-17
Thur 13-22
www.nylo.is/
18 Nov – 17 Dec
Grasrót 2006/Grassroot 2006
Hulda Vilhjálmsdóttir
The National Gallery
Fríkirkjuvegur
Tue.-Sun. 11-17
Free Entrance
listasafn.is
7 Oct – 12 Dec
Málverkið eftir 1980/Icelandic Painting
after 1980
15 Dec 2006 – 25 Jan 2007
Un Regard Fauve
French Expressionism
The National Museum
Suðurgata 41
Open daily 10-17
natmus.is/
Temporary Exhibitions:
Photography from Iceland, 1938
Invisible women in Icelandic art
Archaeological research and Iceland’s
new view of history
Permanent Exhibitions:
The Making of a Nation
The Nordic House
Sturlugata 5
Tue.-Sun. 12-17
www.nordice.is/
Reykjavík 871 +/- 2 : The
Settlement Exhibition
Aðalstræti 16
Open daily 10-17
Reykjavík Art Museum
– Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture
Museum
Sigtún
Open daily 10-16
Admission ticket is valid on the same
day
for all three museums.
www.listasafnreykjavikur.is
Reykjavík Art Museum
– Hafnarhús
Tryggvagata 17
Open daily 10-17
10 Jun 2006 – 07 Jan 2007
The Erró Collection: Graphic Works
Reykjavík Art Museum
– Kjarvalsstaðir
Flókagata
Closed in December
Reykjavík Museum
Kistuhylur 4
www.arbaejarsafn.is
The Reykjavík Museum of
Photography
Grófarhús, Tryggvagata 15, 6th floor
Weekdays 12-19
Sat.-Sun. 13-17
Free Entrance
www.ljosmyndasafnreykjavikur.is
24 Nov 2006 – 28 Jan 2007
Analog - Dialog
Mogens S. Koch
23 Nov 2006 – 3 Jan 2007
The Orange Island & Perfect Dream
and Life
Elisabeth Smolarz exhibition
Safn
Laugavegur 37
Wed.-Fri. 14-18
Sat.-Sun. 14-17
Free Entrance
www.safn.is
Until Dec 31
Hildur Bjarnadóttir textile exhibition
Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum
Laugarnestangi 70
Tue.-Sun. 14-17
Permanent exhibition
The work of sculptor Sigurjón Ólafsson
>>>OUTSIDE REYKJAVÍK
Hveragerði Library
Austurmörk 2, Hveragerði
Mon.-Fri. 15-19
Skaftfell
Austurvegur 42, Seyðisfjörður
www.skaftfell.is
2 Dec – 20 Jan 2007
Haraldur Jónsson exhibition
Hafnarborg
Strandgata 34, Hafnarfjörður
Mon.-Sun. 11-17
www.hafnarborg.is
Until Dec 30
Location
Spessi photo exhibition
Suðsuðvestur
Hafnargata 22, Keflavík
Thu.-Fri. 16-18
Sat.-Sun. 14-17
www.sudsudvestur.is
2 Dec – 31 Dec
Gunnhildur Þórðardóttir exhibition
DaLí Gallery
Brekkugata 9, Akureyri
Friday and Saturday 14-18.
www.daligallery.blogspot.com
02 Dec – 17 Dec
Magdalena Margrét Kjartansdóttir
exhibition
Gallerí+
Brekkugata 35, Akureyri
Jónas Viðar Gallery
Fri.-Sat. 13-18
Akureyri Art Museum
Kaupvangsstræti 12, Akureyri
Tue.-Sun. 12-17
www.listasafn.akureyri.is
28 Oct – 17 Dec
Dröfn Friðfinnsdóttir retrospective
Films
Casino Royale
Zorro director Martin Campbell returns
with a James Bond flick starring Daniel
Craig as the secret agent spy fleeing
from assassinations and other dilem-
mas. Smárabíó, Laugarásbíó, Sambíóin
Álfabakka, Regnboginn.
Borat
With the subtitle: Cultural Learnings
of America for Make Benefit Glorious
Nation of Kazakhstan, TV personality
Borat is finally on the big screen, along
with Pamela Anderson, playing herself.
Smárabíó, Laugarásbíó.
Flyboys
Bombed up airplanes, dramatic love
scenes and heroic young Americans
caught in a WWI battle, even though
all they wanted was to learn how to
fly. Clichés guaranteed. Háskólabíó,
Sambíóin Álfabakka.
The Departed
Said to be Martin Scorsese’s best film
since Goodfellas. Starring Leonardo
DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nichol-
son and Mark Wahlberg it’s a violent
gangster drama no one should miss.
Kringlubíó.
Paris Je T’aime
A love story set in one of the most
romantic cities in the world, Paris.
Directed by 18 different filmmakers all
tackling the subject of love their own
way, the movie gives a unique portrait
of the city everyone loves. (Nov 24)
The Nativity Story
This is the tale of Mary, Joseph and
unborn baby Jesus on their journey to
Bethlehem. A nice reminder of what
the holiday was once all about. (Dec 1)
Flushed Away
Animated film about a fancy pet rat,
which has to learn the street life when
it gets flushed down the toilet and
finds itself floating in the sewers of
London. Supposed to be a fresh additi-
on to the CGI frenzy. (Dec 1)
SAW III
The psycho Jigsaw is back and nothing
seems to stop him on his mission to
torment innocent victims. This time,
his apprentice, played by Shawnee
Smith, is there to help Jigsaw with his
devious plans. (Dec 1)
Deck the Halls
This year’s family Christmas story
with Danny DeVito taking on the role
of the annoying Mr. Christmas who
finds himself in the middle of a stupid
neighbour disputes about Christmas
decorations. Idiotic scenes may be
expected. (Dec 1)
The Holiday
A romantic holiday movie starring
Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law
and Jack Black and featuring guy-
problems, relationship complications
and a whole lot of romance, just the
right mixture for a holiday chick flick.
(Dec 8)
Severance
A film about an office vacation going
terribly wrong when some serial killing
maniacs start chopping up staff mem-
bers. (Dec 8)
DOA: Dead or Alive
An adaptation of the popular martial
arts video game Dead or Alive. Lots of
fighting Ninjas. (Dec 8)
Eragon
Based on the best-selling fantasy
novel, the movie centres on the farm
boy from Alagaesia and his dragon
friend who together have to save their
homeland from an evil king. (Dec 8)
Deja Vu
Time travelling, love affair and vicious
murderers in an action movie starring
Denzel Washington as an ATF agent
who has to save hundreds of people
from the past. (Dec 15)
Happy Feet
Singing penguins plus a tap-dancing
penguin chick, who becomes an out-
cast from the penguin society due to
his off-key voice. (Dec 26)
Flags of Our Fathers
Clint Eastwood’s newest blockbuster
tells the story of five marines in the
battle for the island Iwo Jima in the
Second World War. A typical Holly-
wood war movie with all the proper
bombings and special effects overload.
(Dec 26)
Tenacious D
Jack Black’s new real-life movie is said
to be the greatest cinematic piece of
our time (according to him at least).
Two dudes, played by Black and Kyle
Gass, in an epic mission of becoming
the greatest rock stars ever. What
could possibly go wrong? (Dec 26)
Children of Men
Starring Clive Owen and Julianne Moo-
re, this dystopia, set in 2027, centres
on the quest to save humankind from
an inevitable apocalypse as women
have become infertile and no child has
been born for 18 years. (Dec 29)
Regnboginn, Hverfisgata 54
101 Reykjavík, Tel. 551-9000
Sambíóin, Álfabakka 8
109 Reykjavík, Tel. 575-8900
Smárabíó, Smáralind
201 Kópavogur, Tel. 564-0000
Háskólabíó, Hagatorgi
107 Reykjavík, Tel. 525-5400
Kringlubíó, Kringlunni 4-12
103 Reykjavík, Tel. 575-8900
Selfossbíó, Eyrarvegur 2
800 Selfoss, Tel. 482-3007
Laugarásbíó, Laugarási
104 Reykjavík, Tel. 565-0118
Sambíóin Akureyri, Ráðhústorgi
600 Akureyri, Tel. 461-4666
Nýja-Bíó, Hafnargata 33
230 Reykjanesbær, Tel. 421-1170
Events
Cultures of Landscape
Seminar organised by the Department
of Geology and Geography and the
Nordic Landscape Research Network.
The University of Iceland, Sæmundar-
gata 6, 1 December from 10:00 to
15:15.
Lights are lit at Austurvöllur
Christmas Tree
The annual lighting of the Oslo Christ-
mas tree at Austurvöllur takes place
3 December at 16:00. The Reykjavík
Brass Band will be playing popular
Christmas tunes and the Choir of the
Reykjavík Cathedral sings Christmas
carols. A few Santas might even show
up.
Austurvöllur, 3 December at 16:00.
Best í Heimi in Theatre
Icelandic play with English subtitles by
Hávar Sigurjónsson and María Reyndal.
Iðnó Theatre, Vonarstræti 3, until 9
December. For tickets call 562 9700.
Salsa Night with Carlos Sanchez
The one and only Carlos Sanchez
shows guests the basic Salsa steps,
free of charge.
Café Cultura, Hverfisgata 18, 9 De-
cember at 10:30.
International Campaign: 16 days
of activism against gender violence
01.12 International AIDS-day. Seminar:
Human rights, young women and
AIDS in Uganda.
Kaffi Viktor from 20:00-22:00.
02.12 Screening of two short films, It’s
in Our Hands and Lives Blown Apart.
Both films address Amnesty Interna-
tional’s struggle against the violation
of women. Discussions after the show.
Café Cultura. Hverfisgata 18, starts at
18:00 and 20:00.
05.12 Dorit Otzen, talks about the
blind eye of democracy.
The Nordic House, Sturlugata 5, at 17:00.
07.12 The Icelandic Human Rights
Centre presents a documentary on
domestic violence in Latin America.
Café Sólon, Bankastræti 7a, at 20:00.
European movie icons
The National Film Archive of Iceland
continues with its screening of old
movie masterpieces.
5 and 9 December: La città delle donne
by Federico Fellini
12 and 16 December: La femme d’à
Côté by François Truffaut
National Film Archive of Iceland,
Hvaleyrarbraut 13.
Gingerbread cookies for
The Future of Iceland
To raise awareness as well as for fund-
raising, Framtíðarlandið (The Future
Country) a cross-political organisation
protesting heavy industry and destruc-
tion of the country’s nature, is organis-
ing a gingerbread baking marathon
the 2, 5, 7 and 9 December under the
careful guidance of Sigfús the baker.
Those interested in participating are
asked to contact Sigfús via e-mail:
braudhus@isl.is.
Eat for Peace
01.12 Fundraising dinner organized by
the Campaign Against Military Bases
at Friðarhús (The Peace Center). An
impressive Christmas buffet for only
1.500 ISK.
Friðarhús, Njálsgata 87, starts at 19:00.
For more info visit: www.fridur.is.
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Text by Andrew Clarke
www.gljufrasteinn.is
How did it all begin?
Multimedia techniques bring
Reykjavík’s past to life, providing
visitors with insights into how
people lived in the Viking Age, and
what the Reykjavík environment
looked like to the first settlers.
The Settlement Exhibition 871±2
is located at Aðalstræti 16
Reykjavík City Museum
www.reykjavik871.is
Step into
the Viking Age