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Icelandic bass player/composer Tomas R. Einarsson (1953) studied in Reykjavik and Copenhagen 1980-84. Since then he has been one of the most active jazz musicians in Iceland, performing both with own groups, and visiting soloists (a.o. the late Chet Baker and Kenny Drew). He has recorded 13 records with his own music and performed at several European jazz festivals, such as The Kongsberg Jazz Festival, Berliner JazzTage and the Glasgow Jazz Festival. In 2006 his Latin group performed at Moscow´s main jazz venue, Le Club, and in the historical Casa de la Amistad in Havana. His first Latin jazz record was
Kubanska, recorded in 2002. American critics had praise for the music: “It´s a funny thing, all of this Latin Jazz coming from such remote places. But when it´s played that well, who cares?†(C. Michael Bailey: All About Jazz). In 2003 he recorded the CD
Havana in Cuba, and it won two prizes at the Icelandic Music Awards. Samuel J. Samuelsson´s arrangements of Einarsson´s music were performed at The Reykjavik Art Festival in 2004, and a live recording ("Dance, you idiot!) won three prizes at the IMA. Einarsson´s last Latin CD is
Romm Tomm Tomm, recorded in 2006 in Reykjavik and in Havana´s EGREM studios, with 14 Icelandic and Cuban musicians. His three Latin Jazz records have already sold 7500 copies in Iceland, which is exceptional for jazz records in a country of only 300,000 inhabitants."Three fine CD´s" (Nelson RodrÃguez, Latin Beat Magazine, Ocober 2007)ROMM TOMM TOMM, HAVANA, KUBANSKA and Rommtommtechno are available on I-tunes, E-music and Tune Tribe. Nine titles of Einarsson´s music can be ordered from www.Smekkleysa.net (Iceland), ROMM TOMM TOMM and HAVANA can also be bought from www.Descarga.com (USA) and www.Diskunion.net (Japan), and at Jazzkælderen (www.adlib.dk), Copenhagen, Denmark, several titles of Einarsson´s music are available."Rumdrum" (from HAVANA) is included in the compilation PUTUMAYO PRESENTS LATIN JAZZ, which was released in June 2007. Einarsson is the only European in a company of people like Tito Puente, Machito, Ray Barretto and Poncho Sanchez. "Jam" (from RTT) is included in the compilation "Solar Latin Club Vol. 1", produced by the Columbian DJ "El Chino" ("Listen to the percussive funk of "Descarga" - Tómas Einarsson´s relentless club-ready dance track. Play that one loud" - Bruce Polin, www.descarga.com, September 11th 2007).
ROMMTOMMTECHNO, a CD with remixes of Einarsson´s Latin Jazz was released in November 2007, with participants from Iceland, Britain, Germany, France and USA; Moonbootica, Mark Brydon (Moloko), MD Hemstock, Thor, Tom Pooks, Jack Schidt, Electric Screwdriver, Namito, GusGus and Trabant. "Excellent music for your party" - Trausti JúlÃusson, Fréttablaðið December 18th 2007.
Linda Loeskow´s brilliant design of ROMMTOMMTECHNO was chosen the BEST cover design of Icelandic records and books in 2007, by the jury of the Icelandic Graphic Designer´s Society (FÃT). Bravo Linda!ROMMTOMMTECHNO can be ordered (download + CD) from www.smekkleysa.net and the i-tunes link is: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum? i=272108879&id=272108759&s=143441" READ MORE ABOUT THE REMIXERS HERE
ROMMTOMMTECHNO! OUT NOW!
