“Ishtar Rise” is the second and final part of the “work” I started on with previous release: “As We Speak”.

Huge parts of the improvisations was recorded live with bass and drums.

It’s always fun to do something different with a traditional instrument. Earlier this year I used a banjo to play sitar sounds, and the real sitar as a Russian plucking instrument.

This time it’s the mandolin that had to go east, getting dirty playing first fiddle in a middle-eastern impro situation. (I’ve always liked to use the mandolin on eastern stuff, but rarely get the opportunity to do so).

With me on the recording:

Bjørn Tore Kronen Taranger: Drums