Photo by Tuva Holmlander
Mats Gustafsson – saxophones and live-electronics
Per-Åke Holmlander – tuba, cimbasso
Kjell Nordeson – vibraphone
dieb13 – turntables and electronics
Erik Carlsson – drums
Swedish azz was started in 2009 by Mats Gustafsson and Per Åke Holmlander. The group consists of five European improvisers loving, respecting, and playing the swedish jazz masterpieces from the 50 and 60´s.The Golden Age of Swedish Jazz happened in the mid 50´s, as we were told, and was represented by some very distinct and personal voices that were all taking their main inspiration from the American West Coast Jazz, but transforming it into a Swedish colour and language, also including elements of traditional Swedish Folk Music.
Lars Gullin, Jan Johansson, Bernt Rosengren, Georg Riedel, Lars Werner, Berndt Egerbladh and later Per Henrik Wallin were all part of this movement.
Swedish Azz wants to explore the possibilities to use these wonderful and strongly lyrical melodies and put them in a contemporary structure and soundscape. They want to find out, or at least try out, what happens when you put these melodic lines in connection with a.o. live electronics and experimentation in form, using the freedom of improvisation.
In February 2012 they played together with some of their heroes in Stockholm and Gothenburg: Georg Riedel (bass), Lars Göran Ulander, Lennart Åberg, Gunnar Lindgren and Gilbert Holmström (saxophones).
Mats Gustafsson – born 1964 in Västerbotten
Saxophones and live electronics
favourite swedish jazz composer: Per Henrik Wallin
favourite swedish jazz player: Lars Gullin
favourite swedish jazz film: Sven Klangs Kvintett
favourite swedish jazz record: Bengt Nordström ”Natural Music”
Per-Åke Holmlander – born 1957 in Västerbotten
Tuba and Cimbasso
favourite swedish jazz composer: Georg Riedel
favourite swedish jazz suite: “Arktisk Svit” / Berndt Egerbladh
favourite swedish jazz tune: Theme from – “Sagan Om Karl-Bertil Jonssons
Julafton” / Gunnar Svensson
favourita swedish jazz bassist: Gunnar Johnson
Kjell Nordeson – born 1964 in Jämtland, in the swedish mountains on the border to Norway
Favourite Swedish jazz musician: Per-Henrik Wallin
Favourite Swedish jazz composer: Lars Färnlöf
Favourite Swedish jazz tune: Att angöra en brygga
Favourite Swedish jazz drummer: Janne “Loffe” Carlsson
Erik Carlsson born 1976 Lerum in the westcoast of sweden
Drums
favourite swedish jazz player: Bengt Nordström
favorite swedish jazz drummer; Sven Åke johansson
favourite swedish jazzband; Hansson & Karlsson
favourite swedish ”other” band; Träd Gräs och Stenar
dieb13 – born 1973 as Dieter Kovačič south of sweden
turntables and electronics
Bio of Swedish Azz | Press about Swedish Azz | Music of Swedish Azz | Videos of Swedish Azz | Concerts of Swedish Azz