A followup to his 2022 debut Dayyani released on his own label, Trop Op" sees the drummer delve deeper into the mood of pedal steel, trumpet and Nordic folk he discovered early in his writing practice and develop it into a bigger, more comprehensive vision. Featuring eight original compositions and an arrangement of a traditional Swedish folk song, Dayyani s simple yet sophisticated writing style is focussed on lyrical thematic melodies, rich folk harmony, and showcasing each member of the sextet s musical identity. With years of playing together in a number of up up-andand-coming Danish jazz groups including Tigeroak, Nordlys trio and Vingborg/Valencia Quartet, the ensemble is well versed in giving each other space to express their voices freely. Soaring reverberated arcs from the pedal steel, subtle drum grooves and expressive, tasteful improvisations offer up an imaginative fresh perspective on contemporary Nordic jazz. The records title translates to Step Up ", referring to Dayyani s view that we all need to step up for our communities and share more of ourselves to the people around us." We live in a time where there is an increasing focus on our mental health, and personal growth where we need to take care of ourselves. In doing so, I think we can sometimes withdraw too much into ourselves, focus on the inner self and forget to stand up for each other and the community surrounding what we do.