I remember when Trondheim was a place filled with Norwegian clog dancers and constituted a running gag on a Monty Python's Flying Circus film.
The Norwegians clearly have their own sense of humour, however, as shown by a bunch of Trondheim Conservatory of Music students who dropped out and became the group Farmers Market. They play the Glee Club on Sunday evening from 8.30pm.
For some reason known only to themselves, Bulgarian folk music sparked their creative fire and when they succeeded in attracting to their ranks the lead saxophonist, Trifon Trifonov, from Bulgaria's top wedding band their course was set.
They play highly entertaining music with those impossible time signatures characteristic of Eastern European folk music and increasingly attractive to modern jazz players. The harmonies are tight and close, again a sound we have become accustomed to via vocal groups like Trio Bulgaka.
The other members of the band are Stian Carstensen on button accordion, Finn Guttamsen on bass, Nils Olav Johansen on guitar and Jarle Vespestad on drums.
Vespestad, an extraordinarily musical drummer, is also a member of the Tord Gustavsen Trio, with whom he plays the Lichfield Festival on July 16, but more of that in the future.
Accordionist Carstensen has also made beautifully quirky music with British saxophonist Iain Ballamy and the duo open this Glee Club gig.
It's a Birmingham Jazz gig. For more information see birminghamjazz.co.uk and to book tickets phone the club on 0870 241 5093 or go to glee.co.uk
