There is little doubt that George Russell's Scandinavian sojourn (1963-69) had an enormous impact on Swedish and Norwegian jazz, not only as a result of the big band he led at Stockholm's Gyllene Cirkeln in 1967, but for the smaller groups he frequently led usually featuring Jan Garbarek. Certainly, local musicians who entered his circle have no doubt that his legacy is one of the building blocks that have made Swedish and Norwegian jazz what it is today. When he returned to the United States in 1969, it was to teach his Lydian Concept at the New England Conservatory, but he returned frequently to Sweden and Norway, and this live recording dates from March 1970, at Estrad, Sodertalje, Sweden. With the exception of the American Stanton Davis, this all-Norwegian group had frequently collaborated with Russell, so he felt comfortable opening with a simple theme by Garbarek and jamming it to its conclusion. Two further pieces by Garbarek – ‘Vips’ and ‘Esoteric Circle’ – were written during the period he was studying Russell's Lydian Concept of Tonal Organisation. It's fascinating to compare Garbarek's playing here – and that of Rypdal, Andersen and Christensen – to his ECM debut six months later with Afric Pepperbird which, though ‘freer’ in conception, seems to derive energy and inspiration from Russell's mentorship, while Rypdal seems to have been listening to John McLaughlin with John Surman on Extrapolation. ‘Souls’ is an extract from Russell's Electronic Suite for Souls Loved by Nature that had been commissioned and recorded in Norway in 1969, while ‘Man on the Moon’ salutes Ornette Coleman's particular approach to improvisation. There are many recordings of Russell performing his ‘Stratusphunk’, but this surely is among the most interesting, as there are moments again that prefigure Afric Pepperbird in energy and intensity, an album that opened a new chapter in European jazz. Interestingly, this group, sans Russell, appeared a year later on George Russell Presents The Esoteric Circle, that also included ‘Esoteric Circle’ and ‘Vips’ whose treatment provides interesting counterpoint to the versions on Trip to Prillarguri.