The Squid's Ear Magazine


Fire! Orchestra: Arrival (Rune Grammofon)

Trimmed back to a mere 14 musicians, the Fire! Orchestra core trio of Mats Gustafsson, Johan Berthling, and Andreas Werliin and Orchestra original singers Mariam Wallentin and Sofia Jernberg add a string quartet, expanding their palette as they release their warmest and most embraceable album to date, from original material to covers of Robbie Basho and Chic.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Mariam Wallentin-voice

Sofia Jernberg-voice

Anna Lindal-violin

Josefin Runsteen-violin

Katt Hernandez-violin

Leo Svensson Sander-cello

Susana Santos Silva-trumpet

Per Texas Johansson-oboe, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet

Christer Bothen-bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet

Isak Hedtjarn-bb clarinet, alto saxophone

Mats Gustafsson-baritone sax

Tomas Hallonsten-keyboards

Johan Berthling-bass, electric bass

Andreas Werliin-drums


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UPC: 7033662022052

Label: Rune Grammofon
Catalog ID: RCD 2205CD
Squidco Product Code: 27440

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2019
Country: Norway
Packaging: Digipack - 3 panel
Recorded at Atlantis Studio, in Stockholm, Sweden, on January 7th, 8th and 9th, 2019, by Micke Herrstrom.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Their first two albums, Exit and Enter, were presented with sizable and ambitious line-ups of 28 musicians. Ritual saw it reduced to 21 and with Arrival it's been trimmed down to a "mere" 14, with the core trio of Fire! (Mats Gustafsson, Johan Berthling, and Andreas Werliin) and the two singers Mariam Wallentin and Sofia Jernberg being the only constant members since the beginning.

Apart from this reduction, the main line-up difference is the introduction of a string quartet. This "cleanup" has worked wonders, keeping the rhythm and horn sections to their bare necessities, with the string quartet expanding the canvas and bringing a new, exciting dimension to the table. And on top of their game; the two powerful and sublime singers, quite different, but still blending perfectly. Drummer and producer Andreas Werliin should also be mentioned for his work in the audio department; rarely has there been such a detailed, warm, deep and dynamic mix from a relatively complex combination of instruments.

Arrival is a collection of more individual compositions and songs, including two stunning cover versions. "Blue Crystal Fire" by visionary guitarist Robbie Basho was first heard on his 1978 album Visions of the Country. "At Last I Am Free" was originally written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rogers of Chic. Although the rest of the tracks are credited to Berthling, Gustafsson, Werliin and Wallentin, it's important to stress that this time the orchestra members have had considerable creative input throughout the process.

Arrival is light and shade, joy and despair, structure and improvisation, performed by an ensemble of excellent musicians."-Rune Grammofon



"The ancient Zen art of decluttering has found modern favour as a mindful practice. Letting go of things is, perhaps, a way of breaking with the past. In the years since its inception, the Nordic big band Fire! Orchestra has jettisoned about half its original cast. Now down to a mere fourteen members, the outfit has accordingly made its most spacious album yet.

The core trio of musical director / saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, bassist Johan Berthling and drummer Andreas Werliin is still intact, along with a string quartet and a great deal else. Newcomers to the group's euphony will hear a line of tradition drawn from swing and bop, through to Parisian proggers Magma and the German art commune Amon Düül II. In other words, expect to be boggled and bombshelled every step of the way.

"(I Am A) Horizon" opens with quizzical violin and probing oboe, but there is a gradual swoop into psyched warpings. Electric keyboard clunks herald the first vocal turn, so newbies should prepare for the vivid sung experience that is Mariam Wallentin and Sofia Jernberg. After soulful balladry over a slumbering beat and jittery sax, the two voices split asunder-one sultry, the other searing. This same sense of awe, verging on the ecstatic, carries into "Weekends (The Soil Is Calling)." Word-busy verses find a top harmony that's almost off the known musical scale. The piece then slowly skronks into the mystic, closing on ritualised chants such as "The nights are black and white/And this is where it all ends."

1960s guitar virtuoso Robbie Basho wrote the pensive "Blue Crystal Fire," covered by many acts including Holly Macve and Mary Ocher. Here, the number is strangeness personified, as reedy-bassy breaths meet a gentle glow of guitar, like something being imbued with magic. An outpouring of silvery vocals flows around such lines as "Smooth singing sunshine/Wrap your blanket round me." More otherworldly croons feature on "Silver Trees" over looping bass, with puckish brass and strings, to end somewhere between a rap and a rhapsody. "Dressed In Smoke, Blown Away" has hoarse sax against writhing violins, then "(Beneath) The Edge Of Life" rides on storm-tossed Celtic arrangements. Closing cut "At Last I Am Free" comes from the Chic songbook and is played straight as an elegant ballad after its opening frailty.

Precious events in life and nature are given a voice on Arrival by Gustafsson's stellar ensemble. This is an album where the mystery of miraculous skills seems ever present."-Gareth Thompson

Also available on vinyl LP.

Artist Biographies

"Mariam Karolina Riahi Wallentin (born 28 July 1982 in Örebro, Sweden) is a Swedish musician (vocals, percussion, composer) and voice actress.

Wallentin first sang in the local soulband Carnival, with which she presented an EP in 1999. From 2006 she studied at the Högskolan för scen och musik (Academy of Music and Drama) in Gothenburg. There she met her husband, Andreas Werliin, with whom she formed the duo Wildbirds & Peacedrums. The band has presented several albums since 2007 and toured internationally. In 2008 she was named Swedish Jazzact of the Year. Since 2013 she is also on tour with the experimental solo project Mariam the Believer, which released their first album Blood Donation, in the same year. She is also active as a singer with the Fire!Orchestra. She is also a musician on Gothenburg String Theory, David Åhlen, Susanna & The Magical Orchestra, Lykke Li and with Lisa Ullén and Nina de Heney as Nuiversum."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariam_Wallentin)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Sofia Jernberg (born 5 July 1983, Ethiopia) is a Swedish experimental singer and composer.

Between 2002 and 2004, Jernberg studied jazz at Fridhems Folk High School. Later she studied for Per Mårtensson and Henrik Strindberg at The Gotland School of Music Composition. In 2008, she received the Royal Swedish Academy of Music's jazz award.

Jernberg is the leader (together with the pianist Cecilia Persson) of the chamber jazz group Paavo. The group received the "jazz group of the year" award from Swedish Radio.

Jernberg is also working on the contemporary classical music scene, in which she serves as both singer and composer. As a singer she has premiered pieces by composers such as Lars Bröndum. She was a soloist with Norrbotten NEO when they performed Arnold Schönberg's Pierrot Lunaire. Jernberg has composed for several established ensembles such as Duo ego and Norrbotten NEO."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_Jernberg)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Anna Lindal, violin, studied in Sweden and Switzerland. Lived and performed in Switzerland and France for many years, played in the string trio Trio des Lyres specialized in mixed programs with barock and classical music on original instruments as well as contemporary works. During this time the film "Livsstråk" was made which is a musical portrait of Anna Lindal.

From 1983 to 2001 concertmaster of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Stockholm and from 2002 Professor of violin at the Royal college of Music in Stockholm.

Currently Professor in Music att Stockholm University of the Arts and free lance violinist. Engaged in artistic research on interpretation/improvisation and tradition/convention versus contemporary expressions.

Performs regularly as soloist, as chamber musician, in experimental theatre and in different groups for free improvisation. Collaborates with a large number of contemporary composers and has had many new compositions dedicated to her. Made several recordings, among others two solo records with works by John Cage and Christian Wolff together with related composers. Has also been performing instrumental Argentine Tango in the quintet Tango Libre for several years."

-Anna Lindal Website (http://annalindal.se/bio.html)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Josefin Runsteen: Swedish vocalist, violinist, drummer and keyboards player. In Groups: Alex Zethson Ensemble, Fire! Orchestra, Mattias Risberg's Mining, Wildhart"

-Discogs (https://www.discogs.com/artist/4022438-Josefin-Runsteen)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Katt Hernandez is a composer, improvisor, violinist, producer and artistic researcher. She moved to Stockholm in 2010, and rapidly began working with many artists and new music organizations. In addition to solo violin work, she co-founded The Schematics and Deuterium Quartet, and has worked with a host of musicians and others in Europes's improvised, electronic and experimental music and sound art scenes. After earning a Masters degree in composition from Sweden's Royal College of Music, she began a PhD in Music at Lund university in 2015, and was also employed at the Royal College of Music as part of Klas Nevrin's 3-year research project Music in Disorder. She is currently in the Fire! Orchestra, led by Mats Gustafsson, as well as Lotte Anker's research project Sub-Habitat at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen. Her work has been featured on festivals, series, museums, conferences and radio stations throughout the world. Before leaving the U.S., Katt was a 13 year veteran of experimental music scenes on the east coast, where she worked with a vast array of musicians, dancers, visual artists, puppeteers, film makers and performance artists, in venues ranging from underground urban art spaces to ivy league concert halls."

-Katt Hernandez Website (https://sites.google.com/site/katthernandez/home/biographic)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Cellist Leo Svensson Sander is a member of Erlend Viken Trio, Eter (6), Gul 3, Skog Och Dal, Skogen, Skuggorna Och Ljuset, The Tiny, Walrus"

-Discogs 3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Susana Santos Silva is a trumpeter, improviser and composer from Porto, Portugal.

She holds a Master Diploma in Jazz Performance '2010 from Codarts, Rotterdam, where she worked with Eric Vloeimans, Jarmo Hoogendijk and Wim Both.

She holds a Graduate Diploma in Jazz/Trumpet '2008 and in Trumpet '2004 from College of Music and Performing Arts in Porto, attending the last year of the course at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe in the class of Prof. Reinhold Friedrich, where she also had baroque trumpet lessons with Prof. Edward Tarr.

She is a member and co-founder of the Porto based jazz musicians association Porta-Jazz and it's label, Carimbo. 
With Coreto, an ensemble of musicians from this association led by João Pedro Brandão, she recorded in 2012 the first album of the label, 'Aljamia'. Two more were released after that, 'Mergulho' and 'Sem Chão'.

In 2011 she releases her first album as a leader of her own Quintet, 'Devil´s Dress' on Tone of a Pitch Records. With this band she played 12 Points Jazz Festival, Dublin in 2011. In 2015 she releases her second album as a leader, 'Impermanence' on Carimbo Porta-Jazz. Life and Other Transient Storms, her new project with Lotte Anker, Sten Sandell, Torbjörn Zetterberg and Jon Falt, premiered last year at Tampere jazz Happening and their new album is now out on Clean Feed Records.

Her other main projects include LAMA, a Rotterdam based trio with portuguese bassist Gonçalo Almeida and canadian drummer Greg Smith, 'Oneiros' (2011), 'Lamaçal' (2013) feat. Chris Speed and 'The Elephant's Journey' feat. Joachim Badenhorst (2015), all released on Clean Feed Records, a duo with swedish bassist Torbjörn Zetterberg, 'Almost Tomorrow' Clean Feed 2013, a duo with the slovenian pianist Kaja Draksler 'This Love' Clean Feed 2015, a duo with drummer Jorge Queijo 'Songs from my Backyard' Wasser Bassin 2013, a collaboration with the belgian trio De Beren Gieren, 'The Detour Fish' Clean Feed 2014, a trio with Torbjörn Zetterberg and the swedish organist Hampus Lindwall 'If Nothing Else' Clean Feed 2015 and a quartet with Christine Wodrascka, Christian Meaas Svendsen and Håkon Berre, 'Rasengan!' (Barefoot Records 2016).

She is also part of João Guimarães Octet, 'Zero' Toap 2014, Torbjörn Zetterberg 'Och Den Stora Frågan' Moserobie 2014, 'Om Liv & Död' Moserobie 2015, and Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos, with whom she played and recorded with musicians as Lee Konitz, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Chris Cheek, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Maria Schneider, among many others.

She was a member of the European Movement Jazz Orchestra, with whom she played in Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Belgium, Portugal and Egipt. The orchestra recorded 'EMJO Live at Coimbra', released in 2011 on Clean Feed Records."

-Susana Santos Silva Website (https://susanasantossilva.com/bio/)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Per "Texas" Johansson

Bold as brass! How else can one describe Per 'Texas' Johansson's music? With a wide-open mind he mixes whatever, whenever. He lets styles and moods come and go, while his attack remains as bold as brass.

In "Farornas hav" he and his comrade-in-arms Fredrik Ljungkvist rush to the fore - of what could be pure blues-rock, if it weren't that the instruments and playing style don't really fit. In the title piece for his second CD, Alla mina kompisar (All my pals) he invokes the excursions on paper-brittle night ice characteristic of free, piano-less jazz. Then he turns to Jan Johansson's sleepily bluesy Blues i oktaver (Blues in octaves) and emphasizes the carefully considered, audacious intervals with an indolently growling energy.

Per 'Texas' Johansson switches from tenor sax to clarinet and on to bass clarinet as easily as he changes style and mood. He places himself centre stage with a natural authority which nevertheless lets his fellow musicians - saxophonist Fredrik Ljungkvist, bassist Dan Berglund and drummer Mikel Ulfberg - compete on the same terms.

This technique makes Per 'Texas' Johansson's music generous and outgoing. And bold as brass!"-Johan Scherwin, Translation: Sven H.E. Borei

-Svensk Musik (http://www.mic.se/avd/mic/prod/micv6eng.nsf/DocsByCodename/single_object!opendocument&external=http://www.mic.se/avd/mic/prod/personer.nsf/WebV6BiografierAOEng/3088D052B464699C412566040040DD74)
3/13/2024

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"Christer Bothén born 1941 in Gothenburg, based in Stockholm, Sweden. Composer, musician and artist. His main instruments are bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, donso n'goni and guimbri. Bothén spent 1971 - 72 in Mali, where he studied hunter's music and donso n'goni with master Broema Dombia in Bougouni, Wassoulut. In 1977 he took up gnawa music studies with master Maalem Abdellatif Elmakhzoumi in Marrakech, who he studied with until the master passed away in 2017. From 1970 onwards, Bothén collaborated with Don Cherry, and he also taught Cherry the donso n'goni. In 1980 Bothén started Bolon Bata, a band that toured intensively, performing Bothéns compositions. Its members included Bosse Skoglund, Marianne N'Lemvo and Ulf Lindén. Later the band became Bolon X, adding band members Morgan Ågren and Rafael Sida. From 1990 onwards, Bothén has continued leading his own groups, and has also collaborated frequently with multi-reedist Mats Gustafsson, performance artist and musician Sara Lundén and cornetist Goran Kajfeš."

-Thanatosis (https://thanatosis.org/christer-bothn)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
"Born 1964 in Umeå, Northern Sweden.Saxplayer, improviser and composer. Solo artist and international tours and projects with a.o. Sonic Youth, Merzbow, Jim O´Rourke, Barry Guy, Otomo Yoshihide, Yoshimi, Ken Vandermark and in working groups The Thing, FIRE!, Gush, Boots Brown, Swedish Azz and Fake (the facts). Large ensemble work with Barry Guy New Orchestra,FIRE! Orchestra and the NU - ensemble.over 1800 concerts and over 200 record productions in Europe, Australia, Africa, North & South America and Asia.Collaborations with contemporary dance, theater, art, poetry as well as projects with noise, electronica, contemporary rock and free jazz.Discaholic - running the discaholic corner website.Producer of international festivals and concert tours as well as work with own record labels Slottet, OlofBright Editions and Blue Tower Records."-Mats Gustafsson Website (http://matsgus.com/archives/category/bio)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

Tomas Hallonsten is a Swedish keyboard and trumpet player. Hallonsten is known for his solo work and with the groups Exploding Customer, Fire! Orchestra, Pallin, Tape, Time Is a Mountain, and Vega.

-Squidco 3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Johan Berthling (* 1973 in Stockholm ) is a Swedish jazz and improvisational musician ( contrabass , electric bass , also piano ).

Berthling studied at the Royal Music College in Stockholm from 1996-1998 . Since then, he has worked in the Swedish and international jazz and improvisation scene in various ensembles including David Stackenäs , Raymond Strid , Fredrik Ljungkvist , Sten Sandell , Paal Nilssen-Love , Akira Sakata , Mats Gustafsson , Jonas Kullhammar and the Christer Bothén Acoustic Ensemble. In the field of jazz, he was involved in 23 recording sessions between 1996 and 2014. He also worked with folkmusicist and songwriter Nicolai Dunger ( roasting och herren , 2007)."

-Wikipedia translated by Google (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Berthling)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Andreas Werliin (* 1982 ) is a Swedish drummer of creative jazz and new improvisational music .

Werliin, who grew up in Strömstad , studied at the Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg. There he met his wife, Mariam Wallentin , with whom he formed the duo Wildbirds & Peacedrums . The band presented several albums since 2007 and toured internationally, in 2008 it was awarded the Swedish Jazzact of the Year.

With Mats Gustafsson and Johan Berthling he formed the trio Fire! , Who went to Japantournee with Jim O'Rourke in 2010, and since 2013 for now (2016) four albums to the large format Fire! Orchestra. In 2010, Dan Berglund got him to his Tonbruket project, which then became a collaborative band, which was awarded the Gyllene Skivan in 2012 and the Jazzkattan in 2016."

-Wikipedia translated by Google (https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_Werliin&prev=search)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. (I Am A) Horizon 13:04

2. Weekends (The Soil Is Calling) 11:12

3. Blue Crystal Fire 7:31

4. Silver Trees 15:45

5. Dressed In Smoke. Blown Away 8:59

6. (Beneath) The Edge Of Life 2:56

7. At Last I Am Free 6:42

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
Large Ensembles
Unusual Vocal Forms
European Improvisation and Experimental Forms
Song Based Music
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We are on the Edge: A 50th Anniversary Celebration [2 CDS]
(Pi Recordings)
Marking 50 years for Chicago's most important and innovative ensembles, formed in 1969 to advance creative musicians as part of the AACM, is this tribute to and based on music written by late members Lester Bowie, Malachi Favors, and Joseph Jarman, performed by 15 innovative musicians young and old, and presented in 2 CDs: one in the studio and one live at the 2018 Edgefest.
Gregorio, Guillermo / Brandon Lopez
12 Episodes
(Relative Pitch)
Known best for his Chicago trios, Argentinian born clarinetist Guillermo Gregorio joins forces with New York contrabassist Brandon Lopez for 12 "episodes" of free improvisation that never loses track of a jazz basis, both players using an arsenal of techniques, from circular breathing to extracting sound from the physical forms of their instruments.
Foster, Michael / Michael Zerang / Katherine Young
Bind the Hand(s) That Feed
(Relative Pitch)
Captured at Elastic in Chicago, the free improvising trio of Katherine Young on bassoon & electronics, Michael Zerang on percussion, and Michael Foster on soprano & tenor saxophones, use contrasting timbres and techniques throug wind instruments, percussion and electronics to create unusual and captivating dialog, evolving with great composure, a sense of wonder, and mastery.



The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

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