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Jazz Articles about Fredrik Nordstrom

About Fredrik Nordstrom

Album Review

Ilaria Capalbo: The Brightest Sun

Read "The Brightest Sun" reviewed by Ian Patterson

by Ian Patterson
August 31, 2026

"Look at the darkness," penned Lebanese-American poet Khalil Gibran, “giving birth to the sun." The arrival of a firstborn child also gives birth to the mother, who did not exist before. For Stockholm-based bassist-composer Ilaria Capalbo the profound experience of motherhood triggered a musical response of significant measure. Whereas her impressive debut, Karthago (Bluenord Records, 2022) was a predominantly acoustic affair, The Brightest Sun sees the Neapolitan introduce a little more electricity via bass guitar and pedal effects. Sparingly used, ...

Album Review

Fredrik Nordström: Big Band Stories

Read "Big Band Stories" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
February 28, 2024

To describe this record as an intimate big band recording is not to state an oxymoron. Saxophonist, composer and arranger Fredrik Nordström has taken this large-scale format (17 musicians) and made a very personal statement. Big Band Stories is a bit of a departure for the Swedish saxophonist best known for his work in quintet, octet and his Dolores Quartet which released Dolores: One (2021) and Dolores: Two (2021) on his own Bluenord Record label. Nordström did produce ...

Album Review

Ilaria Capalbo: Karthago

Read "Karthago" reviewed by Emmanuel Di Tommaso

by Emmanuel Di Tommaso
February 23, 2022

Nell'epoca dell'accelerazione permanente in cui ogni idea deve essere smart e leggera affinché possa cogliere in pochi secondi la fragile attenzione di un pubblico stordito da infinite ondate di suoni, di immagini e di notizie, soltanto gli artisti dotati di una propria voce autentica possono avere il coraggio di dare vita a opere concettuali che richiedono (e meritano) tempo e attenzione, e che sono fondate sul desiderio di condividere emozioni e significati profondi. È sicuramente un'opera di questo ...

Album Review

Ilaria Capalbo: Karthago

Read "Karthago" reviewed by Ian Patterson

by Ian Patterson
February 16, 2022

For her debut as leader, bassist Ilaria Capalbo takes as her muse the ancient city-state of Carthage, the former Mediterranean powerhouse, in what is today modern Tunisia. Repeatedly sacked by a series of invaders, Carthage's colorful history, and its near mythical figurehead, queen Alyssia (or Dido), has inspired writers, poets and composers since Roman times. It is a bold canvas on which to inscribe musical notation, particularly for a debut, but the Stockholm-based Italian's writing for this lithe quintet, full ...

Album Review

Ilaria Capalbo: Karthago

by Chris May
January 15, 2022

Bassist and composer Ilaria Capalbo was born and brought up in Italy but spends much of her time in Sweden, where she recorded Karthago and assembled the band which performs on it. It is always a joy to encounter for the first time a musician who sounds so fresh and original and whose music is such a delight. Ciao, Capalbo. Karthago was inspired by the ancient city of Carthage, which during the age of the Roman Empire ...

Album Review

Fredrik Nordstrom: Needs

Read "Needs" reviewed by Vincenzo Roggero

by Vincenzo Roggero
January 7, 2019

Un doppio quartetto alla maniera di Ornette Coleman anni sessanta con alcuni dei più importanti improvvisatori svedesi riuniti dal sassofonista Fredrik Nordstrom è il meraviglioso ensemble che da vita a Needs. Il risultato è un disco di estrema bellezza nel quale le radici solide del bop si espandono e raggiungono i territori della libera improvvisazione, del rock più avventuroso, di forme di contemporaneità che abbracciano suggestioni e influenze diverse. Le composizioni sono gioielli di forma ed eleganza, ...

Album Review

Fredrik Nordstrom: String

by James Pearse
November 7, 2012

On his tenth leader recording, String, adventurous Swedish saxophonist Fredrik Nordstrom pairs his jazz trio (sax, bass, drums) with a string trio (violin, viola, cello) in an attempt to tackle ten of his original compositions and arrangements.As well as writing and arranging albums under his own name, Nordstrom is an experienced co-leader and sideman, which is reflected in his confident and thoughtful playing style. He has performed extensively in his native Sweden and across Europe with world-class musicians ...