Mezzoforte

[b]Mezzoforte[/b] is an Icelandic, instrumental jazz-funk/fusion band, formed in 1977. They signed a record deal with Icelandic label [l83664]. Their biggest hit single was [i]Garden Party[/i] (1983), taken from their fourth album (second international release), [i]Surprise Surprise[/i]. It peaked at number 17 in the UK Singles Chart. The solo that takes place two minutes into 'Garden Party', was created and played on the flugelhorn by English trumpeter, [a=Stephen Dawson]. 'Garden Party' was later covered by [a=Herb Alpert] at a slower speed than the original, apparently as he'd learned the track from the single played at the wrong speed. Another single, [i]Rockall[/i], spent one week at number 75 in the same listing in June that year, and was used as a signature tune by several European radio chart shows.

The band was named after the traditional musical term [i]mezzo forte[/i], an instruction to play, literally, "moderately loud".