Swedish fiddler and bagpipe player Per Gudmundson borrows from the traditional music of his homeland and the contemporary, improvisational nature of jazz to create a distinctive sound, whether as a member of the Nordic jazz trio Frifot or as a solo player or collaborator. Gudmundson's music first appeared in the US on the 1993 collection Scandinavian Valley Music, and the following year he contributed to Frifot bandmate Lena Willemark's Nordan album. Frifot's 1999 album Summersong marked the group's US debut, and that year Gudmundson also appeared on the Nordic Folk Instruments and Violins Of Europe compilations. ~ Heather Phares