NEWS



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:Rick Scott 310.398.0260
October 26, 2004

e-mail: greatscottpr@pacificnet.net

Live Gunn & Funky Abba hit record stores today

Cutting-edge trumpeter Russell Gunn releases Ethnomusicology Volume 4,
a varied live collection of his jazz-hip hop hybrid

Nils Landgren Funk Unit funk-da-fies a dozen of Abba's pop gems

Montreal-based Justin Time Records released two new albums today that push the musical envelope and take creative risks. Trumpeter Russell Gunn unveiled the fourth and final chapter of his two-time Grammy-nominated Ethnomusicology series. Ethnomusicology Volume 4 is a live collection of the artist's visionary blend of jazz-hip hop that was recorded in Atlanta last March. With the permission of one of Abba's primary songwriters, Benny Andersson, The Nils Landgren Funk Unit re-imagined a dozen of the famed pop group's songs as R&B and hip hop jams on Funky Abba. Justin Time Records is distributed nationally by IDN, a division of the Alliance Corporation. Ethnomusicology Volume 4 is the eleventh album in the past decade from the prolific Gunn, who produced the record and penned three of the five compositions and covered classics from masters George Gershwin ("Summertime") and Bill Evans and Miles Davis ("Blue In Green"). Three of the album's selections had never been recorded before by Gunn & his Ethnomusicology co-conspirators; "Shiva (The Destroyer)" originally appeared on Volume 1 and "Lyne's Joint" was taken from Volume 2. Both Volume 1 and Volume 2 received Grammy nominations.

Gunn's audacious approach to music with African roots, from which he believes all music has emerged, has been hailed by critics and has earned the respect of musicians in virtually all genres. The artist first drew attention a decade ago for his performances with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and he went on to play and record with musicians as diverse as Wynton and Branford Marsalis and Oliver Lake to Maxwell, D'Angelo, Cee-Lo and Lou Reed. Gunn's first love was hip hop and he incorporates the beats, turntables, rhythmic poetry and attitude into his tracks, which also utilize elements of classical jazz, R&B, blues, rock, dance and a variety of ethnic music. Yesterday (October 25), Gunn received a national performance activity award from performing rights organization SESAC at a ceremony in New York City. The award honors airplay over the past year on jazz radio. Along with his Ethnomusicology posse, Gunn will hit the road to support the new album with concert stops in major U.S. cities, including Boston (Regatta Bar on Nov. 24), New York City (The Jazz Standard from Nov. 26-28), St. Louis (Jazz at the Bistro from Dec. 1-4), and Chicago (Hot House on Dec. 5). Additional dates and cities will be announced.

A trombonist and vocalist from Sweden, Nils Landgren, who has played with such diverse artists as Ace of Base, Lalo Schifrin, and Oscar Brown Jr., recorded with Abba in 1979 and fell in love with the super group's sunny melodies. But he's a funkster at heart and along with The Funk Unit, they entirely rearranged the pop songs to the point that they are fresh new creations. Then they deep fried them in a greasy vat of old school funk, 70s soul and hip hop spice. Worldwide hits such as "Dancing Queen," "Knowing Me, Knowing You," and "Take A Chance On Me" have been funk-da-fied by a booty shakin' rhythm section, blown up by a fierce horn section and smoked by a microphone fiend.

Known as "The Man with the Red Horn" because of his signature trombone, Landgren produced Funky Abba with Magnum Coltrane Price, who appears on Janet Jackson's Damito Jo album. Price also contributed vocals, microphone poetry and synthesizers to Funky Abba. The album was recorded in Stockholm, Sweden in Polar Studio A, the very same room where Abba recorded their albums. Landgren & Price kept the sound pure and organic by using real drums, horns, guitars, bass and keyboards. Abba's Andersson makes a special appearance on piano on "When All Is Said And Done," the poignant album closing ballad. The Nils Landgren Funk Unit frequently performs throughout Europe so it's no surprise that the disc has already hit the pop and jazz album charts in Germany and Sweden. Landgren & Company are excited about the initial buzz in the U.S. on the album and are exploring the possibility of doing a few tour dates in major American cities early next year.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:Rick Scott 310.398.0260
September 20, 2004

e-mail: greatscottpr@pacificnet.net

Abba's hits get the funk and hip hop treatment

Nils Landgren Funk Unit's Funky Abba to hit U.S. record stores on October 26

In the 1970s, Abba, one of the most successful pop bands of all-time, filled the world with sugar-coated songs that were light-hearted and fun. Few would have predicted the amazing durability and timelessness of the Swedish supergroup's well-crafted songbook. Have you ever wondered what those songs would have sounded like if instead they were recorded by a sizzling funk band like Earth, Wind & Fire or a rapid-fire rapper like Jay-Z? Swedish trombonist and vocalist Nils Landgren, who recorded with Abba in 1979, did. Known as "The Man with the Red Horn" because of his signature trombone, he is a funkster at heart and with the blessing of one of Abba's primary songwriters, Benny Andersson, Landgren's Funk Unit re-imagined a dozen of the group's songs. Worldwide hits such as "Dancing Queen," "Knowing Me, Knowing You," and "Take A Chance On Me" have been funk-da-fied by a skintight, booty shakin' rhythm section, blown up by a fierce, fire-breathing horn section and smoked by a def microphone fiend. Already on the pop and jazz album charts in Germany and Sweden, Funky Abba will be released in the United States on October 26 by Justin Time Records, which is distributed nationally by IDN, a division of the Alliance Corporation.

Landgren, a solo artist who has also played with such diverse artists as Ace of Base, Lalo Schifrin, and Oscar Brown Jr., produced Funky Abba with Magnum Coltrane Price, who appears on Janet Jackson's Damito Jo album. Price also contributed vocals, microphone poetry and synthesizers to Funky Abba. The album was recorded in Stockholm, Sweden in Polar Studio A, the very same room where Abba recorded their albums. The Funk Unit entirely rearranged the pop songs to the point that they are fresh new creations. One thing that the dynamic duo of Landgren & Price did do old school was keep the sound pure and organic by using real drums, horns, guitars, bass and keyboards just like funk records were made in the '70s. Andersson makes a special appearance on piano on "When All Is Said And Done," the poignant album closing ballad.

"What a challenge it was to dig into this treasure," said Landgren of delving into the songbook of Andersson and writing partner Björn Ulvaeus. "This is my seventh album, but it was probably the most fun to make. Even for non-Abba fans, what stands out the most are the melodies. Although we deep fried the pop confections in funk, hip hop, soul and jazz, the melodies really shine through and that's what we loved most about these songs in the first place."

The Funk Unit, which has been gigging throughout Europe for years, is comprised of Landgren and Price along with Henrik Janson (guitar), Jesper Nordenstrom (keyboards), Roberto Di Gioia (keyboards), Lars DK Danielsson (bass), Wolfgang Haffner (drums & backing vocals), and Karl-Martin Almqvist (saxophone). Guests include Till Bronner (trumpet), Sharon Dyall (vocals), Viktoria Tolstoy (vocals), Per Lindvall (drums), Alex Papaconstantinou (bouzouki) and Nimo (co-flow).

Nils Landgren Funk Unit's Funky Abba album contains the following songs:

"Money, Money, Money" "Knowing Me, Knowing You" "Voulez-Vous" "Thank You For The Music" "Super Trouper" "Summer Night City" "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" "The Name Of The Game" "Dancing Queen" "Take A Chance On Me" "S.O.S." "When All Is Said And Done" (bonus track featuring Benny Andersson)

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