Atomic - Live at Schl8hof Wels 2010 09 15
Fredrik Ljungkvist - reeds
Magnus Broo - tp
Havard Wiik - p
Ingebrigt Haker Flaten - b
Paal Nilssen-Love - dr
Atomic's debut album "Feet Music" presents the latest instalment of exciting and creative new jazz from
Bugge Weseltoft's adventurous Oslo based Jazzland label. One of the key bands of the 'new wave' of
Scandinavian jazz currently attracting much press attention, Atomic brings together five important young
musicians from the adventurous jazz underground of Sweden and Norway. Formed in spring 1999, they
quickly forged a strong group identity without sacrificing individual freedom of expression. Combining the
powerful, cutting edge Oslo rhythm section of Håvard Wiik on piano, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten on bass and
Paal Nilssen-Love on drums - a combination that received rave notices as the rhythm team of the
Coltrane-influenced 'cult' group Element - with the Stockholm front-line of trumpeter Magnus Broo and
saxophonist Fredrik Ljungkvist, this group are one of the freshest acoustic ensembles to have emerged
in the new millennium.
Taking the album title from a composition by Ornette Coleman, Haker Flaten says, 'The music is groovy,
in a way it needs people, it's searching for human contact, it's not introverted music! We see the music
for outgoing people and hopefully they see it that way too.' Atomic grew out of the reaction against the
so-called 'mountain jazz' (or ECM school) begun 10 years ago by the vigorous, high energy Coltrane
inspired group Element. 'Our tone is much more back to basics, in a way, the music is right to the point,'
explains Haker Flaten.
Playing their own compositions that mix a distinctive approach to 'free' playing with grooves and modes,
their interplay and ability to take their music in new and interesting directions has resulted in musical
collaborations with a variety of leading contemporary jazz musicians including Chris Potter from the USA,
Iain Ballamy from the UK, the Fin Jukka Perko and the Swede Per "Texas" Johansson.
"Feet Music's" explosive rhythmic energy, blending deftly written ensemble passages with sizzling group
interplay and full blooded solos represent some of the most startlingly fresh yet highly absorbing acoustic
jazz on the scene today. While they make no secret of their love for several leading American jazz musicians
such as Archie Shepp, Charles Mingus, George Russell and Keith Jarrett, the music of these masters is
mixed with an equal love of European free jazz from the Sixties. Unlike many young American jazz musicians
who appear stifled by the so-called 'jazz tradition', Atomic regard the American and European jazz traditions
as an inspiration rather than a restriction, a jumping off point to realise their own direction and place in the
music.
These diverse elements have inspired a musical style that is new, fresh and original, winning audiences over
wherever they play. 'We learn from the American and European scene, then we go our own way,' says Haker
Flaten. Following their performance at the Oslo Jazz Festival in August 2000, Roald Helgheim of "Dagsavisen"
said, 'At the end of a long jazz festival, listening became a duty rather than a pleasure. Then to everyone's
surprise the Swedish-Norwegian group Atomic came on and made the last evening the best of the festival.'
No strangers to the touring circuit, Atomic were on the road almost as soon as they were formed back in
1999 shaping and refining their music. They have toured Europe and Scandinavia several times, including
club and festival concerts at Blå in Oslo, the Nattjazz Festival, the Oslo Jazz Festival and the Edinburgh
Jazz & Blues Festival. To support "Feet Music," they will be touring throughout Europe from November and
dates are planned in the USA and Canada in 2002.
Jazzland Recordings, January 2002
www.myspace.com/atomicjazz
http://waschaecht.at/
www.schl8hof.wels.at
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Atomic @ the Vortex 16.09.10by shuffleboil827 views
Oh yeah...excellent...thanks for posting this
tonyfreejazz20 1 year ago