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Martina Almgren

Drummer and composer Martina Almgren is described as a colourful addition to the contemporary Swedish jazz scene.

About Me

”RHYTHM AND BEAT have always fascinated me...... Surrounded by music as a child I started to play the piano soon followed by the flute. In my late teens I was caught entirely by the drums and the freedom in jazz and improvised music. Some years later I started to compose my own music.” Drummer and composer Martina Almgren is described as a colourful addition to the contemporary Swedish jazz scene. Her passion for playful improvisation, enticing rhythms and expressive melodies reflects her drumming as well as her compositions. She has for years been the head of her own quartet ( Björn Almgren-s, Tommy Kotter - pi and electric bass player Owe Almgren) Martina Almgren Quartet has released four albums, ”September” 1999, “Leaving Home” 2001, “Unden” 2003 and “Bingo” 2005. She is together with Owe Almgren leader of Oh Yeah Orchestra comprised of ten of the top jazzers on the Swedish scene. In 2009 she was commisioned to compose for Swedish Jazz Celebration for Oh Yeah Orchestra. The album with the music “Freedom of Movement” was released in 2011. Martina entered the European scene in 2007 when she teamed up with Scottish saxophonist Laura Macdonald (album Open Book 2008) and Laura Macdonald & Martina Almgren OYP 2012. She has participated in other international projects, for example Tom Bancroft´s Band of Eden and Nikki Iles Quintet. MOZ Trio is a new collaboration with British pianist Zoe Rahman and Swedish bassist Owe Almgren. The debut album “Sparkling Water, Please” was recorded in London in November 2012 and released on the new Swedish label Oh Yeah Records in april 2013.