Mezzoforte
Until the arrival of the Sugarcubes, jazz-fusion band Mezzoforte were Iceland's best-known musical export. The group was formed in 1977 at a Rekjavik high school by Fridrik Karlsson (guitar), Eythor Gunnarsson (keyboards), Johann Asmundsson (bass), Gunnlaugur Briem (drums) and Kristin Svararsson (saxophone). They signed a recording contract with local label Steinar and the second album contained the exuberant Garden Party which was a Top 20 hit in the UK in 1983. The tune was covered in the USA by Herb Alpert who performed it at half-speed, reportedly because he had learned the piece from a 45 rpm single accidentally played at 33. The follow-up Rockall was only a minor hit but it was adopted as a signature tune by radio chart shows in Holland and Britain. For a brief period, the group was based in London and in the mid-80s Mezzoforte played the European jazz festival circuit with vocalists Chris Cameron and Noel McCalla, formerly with Moon and Mike Rutherford's group. In 1990, Karlsson formed a jazz/funk band Point Blank featuring singer Ellen Kristjansdottor and members of Mezzoforte.