Guðmundur Ingólfsson Trio had been commissioned by
state radio to commit a live set of popular standards to a two-track
real. The idea sounded brilliant to the trio, but thought it could be
better if they had a singer.
Björk's previous appearances on a local jazz radio program called Godravina Fundur
had made an impression on Gudmunður Steingrímsson (otherwise known as
Papa Jazz) He also had fond memories of her when she was just 16 years
old, jazz obsessive, hanging around his recording sessions at Labbi
Thorarinsson's farm Glora.
"We were recording one of the first of
Guðmundur Ingólfsson's records," St. Steingrímsson recalls. "She was in
the countryside then and she was always coming in. She was very
interested because she liked jazz... she liked every kind of music."
Upon Steingrímsson's request, the trio asked Björk to participate, and
she jumped at the chance.
Björk selected the program's setlist, and brought them back to the trio, who learned the few they didn't already know.
On august 30th, 1990 the group made their debut at Hotel Borg, where
the audiance's reaction was immediate. Not long afterwards, the quartet
found themselves in Reykjavík's Studio Syrland, recorded live off the
floor at a breakneck pace without almost any overdubs. Dubbed Gling Gló
(ding dong, or the clanging of bells), the resulting record was
completed in just two days.
Gling Gló was released in Christmas 1990 to almost instant acclaim, and quickly went platinum in Iceland.
Liner-note translation
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