Further Information

Jól í stofunni - CD - Christmas in the Living Room

A lovely and heartfelt Christmas album with singer/songwriter Thor Kristinsson AKA Þór Breiðfjörð, released this Christmas. Classic crooner standards we all know but with lyrics in Icelandic. Two new Christmas songs aswell. All in all 12 songs:

Gleðileg jól, ástin mín (Merry Christmas, Darling)
Words & Music: Thor kristinsosn AKA Þór Breiðfjörð

Stjörnubjarta nótt (Starlit Night)
Words & Music: Guðmundur Karl Brynjarsson

Hin fyrstu jól / The Beautiful Christmas Time
Words and lyrics in English: Ingibjörg Þorbergs
Icelandic lyrics: Kristján frá Djúpalæk

Ingibjörg Þorbergs is a very well known singer/songwriter and this is a classic song in Iceland. A couple of years ago she called and wanted to meet Thor and show him some of her music. This was a great honour and of course Thor met with her, along with pianist Kjartan Valdemarsson. This song is a classic in Iceland but was never performed with the original English lyrics Ingibjörg wrote so many years ago. Thor immediately envisioned the song as a crooner classic and this is the very first time the song is recorded with the English lyrics. It is also recorded with the Icelandic lyrics.

Óskin um gleðileg jól (Christmas Song)
Music: Mel Tormé
Words: Ólafur Gaukur

Yfir fannhvíta jörð (Snow-Covered Ground)
Music: Ron Miller/Wells
Words: Ólafur Gaukur

Hvít jól (White Christmas)
Music: Irving Berlin
Words: Stefán Jónsson

Sagan af Jesúsi litla (The Story of Jesus Little)
Words: Bragi Valdimar Skúlason
Music: Stefan Zauner og Aron Strobel

A German hit song (Keeping the Dream Alive) with Christmas Lyrics originally performed this by parody band Baggalútur.

Ég sá mömmu kyssa jólasvein (I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus)
Music: Tommie Connor
Words: Hinrik Bjarnason

Yes, this is the original English title before it was Americanised to „Mommy“

Gefðu mér gott í skóinn (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)
Music: Johnny Marks
Words: Ómar Ragnarsson

Heims um ból (Silent Night)
Music: Frans Grüber
Words: Sveinbjörn Egilsson

Á Dimmri nóttu (It Came Upon a Midnight Clear)
Music:Richard Storrs Willis
Words: Hjálmar Jónsson

Musicians/co-conspirators:

Core group/arrangements/feel:
Þór Breiðfjörð AKA Thor Kristinsson - vocals

Erik Qvick - drums

Jón Rafnsson - contra bass

Vignir Þór Stefánsson - piano and arrangement supervisor excludingChristmas Song

Matthías Stefánsson - violin/guitar/string arrangements with Vignir Þór

Björn Thoroddsen - guitar/production of Christmas Song

Snorri Sigurðarson - trumpet/cornet/flugelhorn and horn arrangements

Recording:
Matthías Stefánsson - vocals, horns, violin guitar except Christmas Song

Róbert Steingrímsson - jazz trio live recordings

Björn Thoroddssen - guitar and production of Christmas Song

Mix/mastering:
Gunnar Smári Helgason

Photo on Cover
Bent Marinósson - www.benzo.is

CD Design
Concept: Jón Rafnsson/Þór Breiðfjörð
Design: Ari Svavarsson