=three was the first release of Smia Records, and features Eirik Svela on guitar, Håkon Norby Bjørgo on bass and Hermund Nygård on drums.
 
The record was made in the spirit of Mandagsjazz på Smia, which is a concert series that Eirik and Håkon have been running together since 2015 and where Hermund was one of the earliest guests artists.  

 

Hermund Nygård is not only among the top drummers in Norway, but has his own distinct sound that accents, rather than obfuscates the personalities of the musicians around him. Instead of bringing in loads of originals or very tight arrangements, we decided to make an album where Hermund's style – the reason we wanted to play with him in the first place – would have ample space to shine through. After landing on a list of standards we like, we set out to capture the same vibe that has made Mandagsjazz på Smia such an enjoyable endeavour these last five years – a relaxed and spontaneous feel, with loads of space for interplay and no room for egos. Hence, this first entry into Smia Records' catalogue tie both album and label neatly back to their provenance.