The Squid's Ear Magazine
Squidco Used CD sale - save 20%!



Bromander, Vilhelm: In This Forever Unfolding Moment (thanatosis produktion)

Drawing on ideas from the 60s and 70--Ornette Coleman, John and Alice Coltrane, Don Cherry, and Charlie Haden--bassist Vilhelm Bromander assembles an accomplished ensemble of Stockholm improvisers to perform three works of warmth and spiritual power, incorporating jazz, world and contemporary music in a stunning and rich album that exudes a wealth of experience and musical clarity.
 

Price: $15.95



Quantity:

In Stock

Quantity in Basket: None

Log In to use our Wish List
Shipping Weight: 2.00 units

Sample The Album:





product information:

Personnel:



Vilhelm Bromander-double bass

Katt Hernandez-violin

Martin Kuchen-alto saxophone, sopranino saxophone

Elin Forkelid-tenor saxophone

Alberto Pinton-baritone saxophone

Christer Bothen-bass clarinet

Emil Strandberg-trumpet

Mats Aleklint-trombone

Alexander Zethson-piano

Mattias Stahl-vibraphone

Dennis Egberth-drums

Anton Jonsson-drums

Marianne Svasek-vocals


Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.




Label: thanatosis produktion
Catalog ID: THT27CD
Squidco Product Code: 33312

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2023
Country: Sweden
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded at Atlantis Studios, in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 4th and 5th, 2021, by Niclas Lindstrom.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Vilhelm Bromander centers himself in sound, where listening is no less crucial than playing. His relationship to both the notes produced around him and the musicians making them is at the heart of his work. Whether building harmonic structures where he and his colleagues tune in together, constructing a sonic edifice in which sustained tones facilitate deep bonds, or serving as the musical anchor in more rhythmically active settings, playing music with others is about connection, where sound is the medium. This increasingly assured and sophisticated pursuit has reached a new apotheosis with In this forever unfolding moment, a ravishing new set of music created with a large crew of Stockholm improvisers that brings something utterly contemporary to ideas developed back in the 1960s and 1970s by some of Bromander's biggest heroes: Ornette Coleman, John and Alice Coltrane, Don Cherry, and Charlie Haden.

The new project captures Bromander's evolving gifts as a composer with an almost sculptural grandeur, with each of the three pieces evoking different modalities while cumulatively carving out a consistent warmth and emotional impact. The spiritual jazz of the Coltranes is an obvious point of reference, especially on the opening piece "In this forever unfolding moment," where the phenomenal dhrupad singer Marianne Svašek sets the tone with piercing yet meditative clarity, but for the bassist that term implies a profundity well beyond the sonic hallmarks of what's largely become a fallow marketing term. Bromander is pushing for something far more meaningful, engaging in sonic communion with like-minded thinkers to explore eternal questions.

His engagement in Indian classical traditions is profound. "In my studies of dhrupad with Marianne Svašek I was introduced to the practice of kharaj, which is to sing a breath-long note for hours and hours before sunrise," he says. "During these hours I have experienced a note as an evolving universe of dancing harmonics and resonances, where every breath makes the connection to my body and mind deeper." That experience is the core of Bromander's practice these days. Although he emerged as a versatile figure on Stockholm's jazz and improvised music scene more than a decade ago, subsequently playing post-bop with veteran reedists like Christer Bothén and Alberto Pinton-both of whom return the favor by serving in this band-and celebrating the legacy of South African jazz in the Oya Sextet, in recent years he's found a sweet spot that brooks no boundaries between pure sound exploration, free improvisation, and composition. He's explored just intonation in a duo with Norwegian guitarist Fredrik Rasten, he's engaged in sustained tones with reedist David Bennet on the Thanatosis album Within Reach of Eventuality, and on his acclaimed 2022 project Aurora he created a hypnotizing suite of pieces where the timbres of classic cool jazz are suffused within brief, sweetly melodic pieces that seem to double as tuning exercises. In this forever unfolding moment brings many of these interests together within the strongest writing he's ever accomplished.

Svašek introduces the theme of "In this forever unfolding moment" slowly and patiently in a condensed alap over a tanpura drone-something Bromander also provides on Svašek's 2023 Thanatosis album Marwa. Soon Katt Hernandez' violin glides in, echoing the tone and cadences of the Indian sarangi, followed by horns that bring structure to the melodic line Svašek has so gorgeously abstracted and stretched in her exploration. When the full band kicks in the energy and intensity grows, but the essential mood of the composition is unchanged, extensively embroidered with searing solos from the band. As the piece recedes we're left with the eternal hum of the tanpura.

The slow burn of "Låt våra tårar bli våra vapen" is initiated with a bass line that seems to summon the ancestors, with a chorale-like churn that carries whisps of Ornette Coleman's indelible "Lonely Woman." Bromander conceived of the piece as a kind battle hymn advocating gentleness, and as it unfolds it also evokes the sound of righteous struggle celebrated in Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra, where beauty ripples amid exquisite tension. Bromander, Ståhl, and drummers Dennis Egberth and Anton Jonsson create a fierce swirl of energy and propulsion, providing a potent foundation for remarkable solos by Elin Forkelid and Pinton. The friction ebbs, but the bittersweet melody returns, imbued with a clear sense of hard-fought triumph. In "Blommor och bröd" Bromander celebrates the human need for nourishment, both spiritual and nutritional, espoused by Swedish socialist agitator Kata Dalström. The piece opens with a moving, lyrically tender duet by violinist Hernandez and pianist Alex Zethson, before Bothén steps in with a stunning improvisation where the composer says we can observe, "a whole life's search and experience sounding from the bass clarinet."

In keeping with his focus on the sound Bromander showers appreciation for his collaborators, who do much more than simply play his compositions. Instead they are true partners, spiritual beings who understand the power of sonic empathy. "Their voices and devotion made this music what it is: collective, full of spirit, hope, care and resistance. The mystery is still there, it's just not in plain sight."-Thanatosis

Also availalbe as a vinyl LP.

Artist Biographies

"Vilhelm BroMander (1988) is a Swedish bass player, improviser and composer based in Stockholm. He embraces his bass from many different angles, with a great curiosity in sound, texture, intonation and timbre. Often he directs his focus to acoustic details such as beating, common partials and difference tones - to hear what happens with our perception when we allow ourselves to be immersed in sound for a longer stretch of time. He draws inspiration from a wide variety of genres such as improvised music, free jazz and electronic music as well as his studies of just intonation and dhrupad.

As an improviser he has played with musicians like Axel DöRner, Tisha Mukarji, Michael Thieke, Sten Sandell, Christer BothéN, Katt Hernandez, Lisa UlléN, Henrik Olsson to name a few.

Also being a popular session musician he has played with among others Daniel Johnston, Saigon, Musette, Joe Davolaz, Josefin öHrn + The Liberation, The Tiny & Music Is The Weapon."

-Vilhelm Bromander Website (http://www.vilhelmbromander.com/about.html)
4/24/2024

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)
4/24/2024

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

"Born 1966; saxophones. Martin Küchen has been active on the Swedish free improvised/free jazz scene since the mid-1990s. He has composed for larger groups, participated in dance projects, performed with different poets and created the music for experimental films. He now collaborates with improvisors all over Europe and USA/Canada. His current collaborations include:

Angles - a new trio with Ingebrigt Håker- Flaten, doublebass, Kjell Nordeson, drums and Martin Küchen, saxophones. Exploding Customer - a free jazz quartet with Tomas Hallonsten trumpet, Benjamin Quigley double bass and Kjell Nordeson drums, which plays mainly original compositions. Sound of Mucus - a trio with the stringchordist Herman Müntzing and Andreas Axelsson, percussion. Unsolicited Music Ensemble - a trio with Tony Wren, double bass and Raymond Strid, percussion. a duo with guitarist David Stackenås. UNSK: Birgit Ulher, Martin Küchen, lise-Lott Norelius and Raymond Strid. Looper - a trio with Greek cello player Nikos Veliotis and Norwegian percussionist Ingar Zach."

-European Free Improv Site (http://www.efi.group.shef.ac.uk/musician/mkuchen.html)
4/24/2024

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

Elin Forkelid: "Swedish jazz saxophone player, based in Stockholm. Other bands include SOL SOL & Anna Högberg ATTACK."

-Elin Forkelid Website (https://elinforkelid.com/)
4/24/2024

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

"Alberto Pinton has been performing since the mid eighties as a bandleader and sideman, on all sizes of saxophones, clarinets and flutes, delivering solo and ensemble work on the jazz and improvised music scene.

His most recent group as a leader, a chordless quartet (two horns, bass and drums) named Alberto Pinton Noi Siamo, has released two live recordings of original compositions, "Resiliency" on Moserobie Music Production and "Opus Facere" on Clean Feed Records.Of the music on "Resiliency", critics write: "Pinton and Barnö unfurl extended improvisations with electric intensity, always plugged into the agile, shape-shifting rhythm section","Pinton definitely knows his "free" chops, but favors rationality over fervid incomprehensibility. Barnö, Zetterberg and Agnas enrich the interplay with respect and realism, constantly conscious of the overall intensity and velocity".

Alberto Pinton has released eleven albums as leader and co-leader. Previous recordings include work by the Alberto Pinton Quintet, Alberto Pinton Clear Now, Dog Out, Pinton Kullhammar Zetterberg Nordeson, Alberto Pinton Nascent.

Alberto has received two full scholarships, from the Berklee College of Music and the Manhattan School of Music. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Saxophone Performance at Berklee, Boston, and with a Master's Degree in Saxophone Performance at the Manhattan School, New York. During his four years stay in the USA, Alberto studied the saxophone with Hamiet Bluiett, Joe Temperley, George Garzone, Joe Viola, Dick Oatts, Gary Smulyan, Jerry Bergonzi. Theory and composition with Maria Schneider, Ludmila Ulehla and Nils Vigeland.

He's the recipient of the Swedish jazz award Jazzkannan (2009) and Bert Levins Stipendium (2014).

Alberto Pinton has toured and performed with, among many others, Kenny Wheeler, John Surman, John Warren, Bob Brookmeyer, Maria Schneider, Jerry Bergonzi, Lennart Åberg, Nils Landgren, Kenny Werner, Steve Grey, Norma Winstone, George Russell, Tim Hagans, Peter Erskine, Joe Lovano, Steve Swallow, Carla Bley, Adam Nussbaum, Swedish Radio Jazz Group, Stockholm Jazz Orchestra, Bohuslän Big Band, Norrbotten Big Band.

His teaching experience, spanning over two decades, include classes of ear training, improvisation, ensemble and instrument lessons at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. Master classes in Sweden, Italy and Canada.

Born and raised on the "terraferma", the mainland, of Marghera, an industrial town outside of Venice, Italy, he currently lives in Stockholm, Sweden."

-Alberto Pinton Website (https://albertopinton.com/)
4/24/2024

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

"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)
4/24/2024

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

Trumpeter Emil Strandberg is based in Stockholm, Sweden, and is a member of Fire! Orchestra, Seval, and Pan-Scan.

-Squidco 4/24/2024

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

"Mats Aleklint is a freelance trombone player, born 1979, that lives in Stockholm, Sweden.

I work mostly in the fields of improvisation and jazz, but also blues, soul, theater music, pop and rock. I have been working as a freelance since the year 2000, and touring in Sweden, Norway, Canada, Slovenia, Portugal, England, Germany, and many other countries. Toured with/Recorded with: Alberto Pinton Quintet, YunKan10, Torbjörn Zetterberg Octet, Norrbotten Big Band, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, Dave Holland, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Goran Kajfes Subtropic Arkestra, The Thing XXL, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Brus Trio+2, Big Band Splash, Per-Henrik Wallin, Harmonica Henry, Lisa Ullén Quartet, Blacknuss, Angles, Je Suis!, All Included, LED, and many many others. I also have a band of my own, Mats Äleklint Kvartett."

-Mats Aleklint Website (http://www.matsaleklint.com/?page_id=7)
4/24/2024

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

"Alexander Zethson has completed the bachelor performance programme in jazz at KMH and is currently studying at the second year of the master's programme with Lisa Ullén as his primary instrument teacher.

Alexander has participated in extensive concert and tour activities and has participated in fifteen record productions. The ensembles include:

• Niklas Barnö's free jazz group Je Suis!• A number of tours in Europe with Martin Küchen's group Angles 9

Alexander is also active as arranger and pianist in collaboration with the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, a cooperation which began in 2011. Zethson, Sofia Jernberg and Lene Grenager has arranged music from Hallingdal and Røros performed by the TJO with Zethson, Jernberg and violinist/Hardanger fiddler Olav Luksengård Mjelva."

-KMH Royal College of Music in Stockholm (https://www.kmh.se/alexander-zethson-received-the-rosenborg-gehrmans-scholarship)
4/24/2024

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

"Mattias is born 1971 in Oskarshamn, Sweden and lives in Stockholm. Have the latest 15 years performed at stages around Sweden and elsewhere, focusing on jazz and improvised music. Released two album of his own with his former quartet Ståhls blå ("Ståhls blå" 2001 and "Schlachtplatte" 2004), which achieved great attention from reviewers all over the world. He also composed all the music for this group. As a sideman he contributes in a lot of exciting groups, from projects with the legend Georg Riedel to collaborations with the swedish indie wonder Emil Svanängen aka Loney Dear. Also: Cecilia Persson Quintet, Martin Küchens group Angles, IPA with Magnus Broo/Atle Nymo/Håkon Mjåseth Johansen/Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Daniel Buner Formos Formo Tre&Metall and different projects with Trondheim Jazzorkester. Other groups where he contributed during the years are Eirik Hegdals Team Hegdal, Joakim Milders Takeaway, Lennart Åberg:s big and small orchestras, Nils Berg 5 (Jazz in Sweden Award 2007), Alberto Pinton Quintet, Yttling Jazz (with Bjorn Yttling from "Peter, Bjorn and John"), Fredrik Nordström Quintet (Jazz in Sweden Award 2002), Klaus Holm Kollektif. He has been the vibist of the swingtronica-duo Koop since 2001, touring all over the world. He has also played with groups as Jet Set Sweden och Sven Berggrens Alea. He recieved the Swedish Radio Award 2002 as newcomer of the year for his album "Ståhls blå"."

-Mattias Stahl Website (http://mattiasstahl.com/)
4/24/2024

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

Dennis Natanael Egberth is a Swedish composer and drummer, born on September 4, 1989 in Ljungby, Sweden.

-Discogs (https://www.discogs.com/artist/4043119-Dennis-Egberth)
4/24/2024

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

Anton Jonsson is a jazz drummer from Sweden. Works in the field of free improvised music and free jazz. He has released an album with Swedish reedist Pelle Westlin, and worked with Alex Zethson.

-Anton Jonsson Soundcloud (https://soundcloud.com/antonrubenjonsson)
4/24/2024

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

"Marianne Svašek, born in the Netherlands, studied Indian classical singing at the Rotterdam Conservatory with Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar and Uday Bhawalkar.

Since 1994 she was taught in India by Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar.

After his demise in 2013 she is continuing her study of Dhrupad with Pt.Nirmalya Dey.

She has been awarded with a gold medal at the Dhrupad Mela in Varanasi in 2014.

Marianne Svašek also studied sarangi (a string instrument with three main and 35 resonating strings) with Joep Bor and Pandit Ram Narayan.

She graduated cum laude in both disciplines at the Rotterdam Conservatory where she is presently teaching. Marianne gives workshops and concerts in Europe, the US, India and Pakistan."

-Marianne Svasek Website (https://mariannesvasek.com/marianne-svasek/)
4/24/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. In This Forever Unfolding Moment 16:50

2. Lat Vara Tarar Bli Vara Vapen 9:25

3. Blommor Och Brod 7:15

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
Compositional Forms
Cultural Musics from Around the World
Large Ensembles
European Improvisation, Composition and Experimental Forms
Staff Picks & Recommended Items
New in Improvised Music

Search for other titles on the label:
thanatosis produktion.


Recommended & Related Releases:
Bothen, Christer / Vilhelm Bromander
Deep
(Creative Sources)
"Deep" is the word, as two Swedish improvisers--bass and contrabass clarinetist Christer Bothen, a member of Fire! Orchestra and Mats Gustafsson's Nu Ensemble, and double bassist Vilhelm Bromander, a peer of Axel Dorner, Sten Sandell, Raymond Strid, &c.--formed the duo "CBVB" to explore the possibilities of their big instruments, heard in this 6 movement, profound suite.
Vathres
Liturgy of Lacuna
(thanatosis produktion)
Three expansive works from composer and keyboardist/pianist Alex Zethson, developing concepts from themes and motifs developed over more than a decade, recorded over two years with exceptional care as he and his collaborators create subtle and beautifully evocative sonic environments that seamlessly incorporate acoustic, electronic, drone and feedback elements.
Rotem Geffen
The Night Is The Night [VINYL]
(thanatosis produktion)
Singer, songwriter and pianist Nelly Klayman-Cohen, aka Rotem Geffen, explores the fringes of dreamy pop music with lyrics in German, English and Hebrew that explore themes of memory, love, grief, loss, and the night as a vibrating room, with collaborators including Alexander Zethson on keyboards, Isak Hedtjar on clarinets and winds, Vilhelm Bromander on double bass, &c.
Angles & Elle-Kari with Strings
The Death of Kalypso [VINYL 2 LPs]
(thanatosis produktion)
The 12th album from Martin Küchen's Angles ensemble is expanded and developed with notations and string arrangements from Alexander Zethson, and the voice of Elle-Kari Sander, in an engrossing album of powerfully compelling jazz rhythms & soloing, orchestral swells and emphatic songs pivoting around the mythology of the nymph Calypso, woven into contemporary concepts; sensational!
Zethson, Alex
Terje
(Supertraditional)
Two movements from a live score for the classic silent film Terje Vigen by Sjöström composed and produced by Swedish pianist & keyboardist Alex Zethson (Angles 9, VÖ, Fire! Orchestra), two long-form tracks of dark and sombre, pulsating folk-drone featuring Norwegian vocal ensemble EMBLA plus appearances by, i.e., Christer Bothén, Kristin Amparo Sundberg and Goran Kajfeš.
Angles & Elle-Kari with Strings
The Death of Kalypso
(thanatosis produktion)
The 12th album from Martin Küchen's Angles ensemble is expanded and developed with notations and string arrangements from Alexander Zethson, and the voice of Elle-Kari Sander, in an engrossing album of powerfully compelling jazz rhythms & soloing, orchestral swells and emphatic songs pivoting around the mythology of the nymph Calypso, woven into contemporary concepts; sensational!
Bromander, Vilhelm
Oh Lord Give Me Strange
(Creative Sources)
Trespass Trio feat. Susana Santos Silva (w / Zanussi / Strid / Kuchen)
Live in Oslo
(Clean Feed)
Joining the long-running Trespass Trio of Per Zanussi on double bass, Martin Küchen on baritone & sopranino saxophone and Raymond Strid on drums for their performance at the 2018 Blow Out Festival in Oslo was Portuguese trumpeter Susana Santos Silva, performing Küchen compositions and a unique group take on Charlie Parker's "Koko", in a concert of both ardent and exuberant improvisation.
Ahanes (Kokkoli / Arapis / Aleklint / Zethson / Zetterberg / Agnas)
Petrichor
(Clean Feed)
Stockholm pianist Alexander Zethson invited Greek saxophonist Nicky Kokkoli and guitarist Giannis Arapis to take part in his 13-piece Thanatosis festival ensemble VÖ; they then asked drummer Nils Agnas, bassist Torbjörn Zetterberg and trombonist Mats Äleklint to join them for this sublimely flowing sextet studio session, which includes works by Mingus and Coltrane.
bBb (Martin Kuchen / Ola Rubin)
Animal Quotes
(Relative Pitch)
Quirky in a masterful display of instrumental skill from the Swedish duo of soprano saxophonist Martin Küchen and trombonist Ola Rubin (Swedish Fix, Lazy Rude Monk), using every inch of their instruments along with mutes, percussion and percussive emanations, creating a virtual menagerie of animalistic sounds alongside dexterous lines.
Vathres
Liturgy of Lacuna [VINYL]
(thanatosis produktion)
Three expansive works from composer and keyboardist/pianist Alex Zethson, developing concepts from themes and motifs developed over more than a decade, recorded over two years with exceptional care as he and his collaborators create subtle and beautifully evocative sonic environments that seamlessly incorporate acoustic, electronic, drone and feedback elements.
Kuchen, Martin / Sophie Agnel
Detour Tunnels of Light
(thanatosis produktion)
Delicately caustic interactions of reeds, piano and percussion using the natural resonance of the Borlunda Church in Eslöv, Sweden, from the freely improvising duo of Martin Küchen and Sophie Agnel, Küchen adding electronics and Agnel performing inside and out of the piano while supplementing her palette with objects, both using space and patience as their allies.
Large Unit (Paal Nilssen-Love)
Clusterfuck
(PNL)
One of a pair of albums--New Map and Clusterfuck--recorded in the studio in Oslo, Norway by percussionist and composer Paal Nilssen-Love's Large Unit, a 15-piece, incredibly flexible and open-minded ensemble, here improvising over a work of graphic notation where the composed structures are balanced with blocks of improvisation, allowing for quick dynamic shifts in direction.
Large Unit (Paal Nilssen-Love)
New Map
(PNL)
One of a pair of albums--New Map and Clusterfuck--recorded in the studio in Oslo, Norway by percussionist and composer Paal Nilssen-Love's Large Unit, a 15-piece, incredibly flexible and open-minded ensemble, here performing a work where the improvisers are provided with a series of open-form "cells"--concrete ideas, notes and directions--to which they must respond.
Ahanes (Kokkoli / Arapis / Aleklint / Zethson / Zetterberg / Agnas)
Petrichor
(Clean Feed)
Stockholm pianist Alexander Zethson invited Greek saxophonist Nicky Kokkoli and guitarist Giannis Arapis to take part in his 13-piece Thanatosis festival ensemble VÖ; they then asked drummer Nils Agnas, bassist Torbjörn Zetterberg and trombonist Mats Äleklint to join them for this sublimely flowing sextet studio session, which includes works by Mingus and Coltrane.
Kuchen, Martin Kuchen / Michaela Antalova
Thunder Before Lightning [VINYL]
(Clean Feed)
dinged sleeve
Kuchen / Fernandez / Kaucic
The Steps That Resonate
(Not Two)
Uniquely orchestrated with all three members bringing a trove of objects & percussion, the trio of Martin Küchen on saxophones, Agustí Fernández on piano and Zlatko Kaučič on drums are heard in this two-part live concert at BUMF festival in Smartno, Slovenia, for a superb example of intent listening and use of space around confident, stunningly creative & virtuosic playing.
Angles
A Muted Reality
(Clean Feed)
The chameleonic configuration of Angles is here an octet, in a powerfully building and passionate set of three recordings performed by Martin Kuchen (alto sax), Magnus Broo & Goran Kajfes (trumpets), Mats Aleklint (trombone), Mattias Stahl (vibraphone), Alexander Zethson (piano & synth), Konrad Agnas (drums) and Johan Berthling (double bass); exemplary.
Forkelid / Carlsson / Hielm
Can't Hide [Vinyl]
(FRIM Records)
The first release on the Swedish label Association For Free Improvised Music (FRIM) is the trio of Gustaf Hielm (Mats/Morgan Band) on bass, Elin Forkelid (Anna Högberg Attack!) on saxophones and Erik Carlsson (Swedish Azz, Skogen) on drums, a free-blowing session of heavy collective playing in the European Free Jazz tradition for two extended "Question" & "Answer" sessions.
Kuchen, Martin Kuchen / Michaela Antalova
Thunder Before Lightning [VINYL]
(Clean Feed)
Borrowing elements from a vast spectrum of improvisatory styles, fueled by a variety of saxophones, tanpura, drums, prepared cymbals and voice, Swedish improviser Martin Küchen (Angles) joins with Slovak percussionist living in Oslo, Michaela Antalová, taking their listeners on a meteorological journey through a remarkable tempest of sound.
Block Ensemble (Ratkje / Joh / Pernille / Ingvaldsen / Rasmussent ...)
Hugs and Bugs
(Clean Feed)
Conceived by saxophonist Kirstoffer Berre Alberts and Lasse Marhaug, who composed this large acoustic work for strings, percussion, blowing instruments, pipes (organ and accordion) and vocals, soliciting solo recordings created in isolation during the pandemic which they layered and blocked in the studio to create these two remarkable works of eccentric timbre, motion & pitch.
Umlaut Big Band
Mary's Ideas [2 CDs]
(Umlaut Records)
Rare and newly discovered works from jazz composer and pianist Mary Lou Williams performed by the Umlaut Big Band in their series of portraits of forgotten jazz artist, here taking a broad look at the prodigious career of this essential and gifted pianist, composer & arranger, whose influence on swing and early be-bop deserves this fitting and inclusive overview.
Fire!
Defeat [VINYL]
(Rune Grammofon)
An optimistic definition of "Defeat" through the exultantly dark and expressive work of Fire!, here as the quintet of Mats Gustafsson on flute, baritone sax & live electronics, Johan Berthling on electric bass, Andreas Werliin on drums, Goran Kajfes on quartertone trumpet and Mats Aleklint on trombone & sousaphone, in five works of richly creative and modern improv.
Kuchen, Martin / Landaeus Trio (w/ Lanaeus / Nilsson / Aman)
Mind The Gap Of Silence
(Clean Feed)
Saxophonist Martin Küchen (Angles) joins together with the Landaeus Trio of pianist Martin Landaeus, double bassist Johnny Aman, and drummer Cornelia Lisson, augmenting the sophisticated lyricism of the Landaeus piano trio with an atypically lyrical voice from Kuchen, as they are recorded in front of a live audience in the Gula Studion in Malmo, Sweden.
Kuchen, Martin & Landaeus Trio
The Pity Of It All [VINYL]
(Moserobie Music)
Pianist Mathias Landaeus's trio with Johnny Aman on bass and Chris Montgomery on drums are joined by saxophonist Martin Kuchen (Angles, &c) for a limited edition LP of superb music merging free and lyrical elements for a tremendous modern jazz album.
Fire! Orchestra / Krzysztof Penderecki
Actions [VINYL]
(Rune Grammofon)
"Actions For Free Jazz Orchestra" was originally written by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki for the New Eternal Rhythm Orchestra, assembled by Don Cherry for the occasion and conducted by composer himself; this new extended reading and conduction of the score from 2018 was originated and directed by Mats Gustafsson, a powerful update and expansion of the original work.



The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

© 2002-, Squidco LLC