The improvisational trio 1982 consists of fiddler Nils Økland and organist Sigbjørn Apeland (who have recorded together for ECM) alongside drummer Øyvind Skarbø. The trio has already released three critically acclaimed albums. On ‘A/B’ they have invited wind players including Fredrik Ljungkvist (Atomic), Erik Johannessen (Jaga Jazzist) and trumpeter/composer/conductor Stian Omenås to participate in an unusual collaboration. This 180g vinyl version is limited to 500 copies and includes the CD of the album.

The album is built up with the classic LP structure of an A side and a B side, with a long piece, “18:16”, filling the entire A side. This piece clearly stands out as the most distinctive in 1982’s discography up to now. Taking his point of departure in improvisations recorded by the trio, trumpeter and composer Stian Omenås has “expanded on” the idiom and has composed and arranged music for a wind sextet that has been layered on top of the original improvisation.

On the B side we once again hear 1982 in the form of a trio, with several new ideas that serve to enlarge the 1982 universe. Sigbjørn plays piano on one track, and Nils Økland sings. “Our goal is to continue to develop things further, and I feel that we’re managing to do just that,” says Skarbø. The musicians of 1982 are improvisers to their very marrow, and everyone who has seen and heard them in concert knows that they love to surprise their audiences.