NEW RELEASE in the "COLOUR SUITE" - JOHAN BERKE UPSTAIRS FIVE Chromatic Sunday This album - the thirteenth with the group, all released on the GASON Jazz label except one for the Phono Suecia label (SCOPE - Music by Fredrik Nordström and Johan Berke - for tentet, 2009) naxosdirect.se/items/scope-25694 – is a studio recording from March 13, 2022 at BAS, Stockholm, with the exception of the two solopieces for acoustic guitar, which were recorded in February 2023 at studioupstairsfive. The tunes are written by myself except for Blue Emily, which was a collaboration with pianist Claes von Heijne. This edition of the group maintains Alberto Pinton on various reeds and welcome back Örjan Hultén on tenor & soprano saxophone, who was last featured on Nordic Scenes In Chromatic Blue (GASONJAzz CD 747, 2011). It’s also a return for double bass player Filip Augustson, who was last featured on Summer Ghosts (GASONJAzz CD 757, 2015). The new compositions offers no dramatic stylistic differences from the earlier output of the group. It’s the usual shifts between composed sections, solos and group improvs with lots of focus on dynamics in both instrumentation, tempos, mood and intensity. Hopefully with lots of melodic content, which is my primary concern, but one not so easily achieved...we keep trying! Check it out

MORE FROM THE COLOUR SUITE with JOHAN BERKE UPSTAIRS FIVE:

The Cactus Suite is the first in the "Colour Suite" from the quintet Johan Berke Upstairs Five. Guitarist/composer Johan Berke maintains the same group of musicians but guest artist Jan Eriksson gets more space on Lap Steel & Pedal Steel this time around. The focus is still on strong compositions and group interplay. The longest composition of the CD, The Cactus Suite was commissioned by the Bergius Foundation for the tenth anniversery of the opening of The Edvard Anderson Greenhouse in Stockholm and was premiered there, June 7 2005. Featuring saxophone players Fredrik Nordström and Örjan Hultén .

The second COLOUR release from Johan Berke Upstairs Five contains a newly composed suite in four parts, just under 52 minutes long, premiered at Swedish Jazz Celebration 2011. This work is an extension and also a summary of the stylistic treads present on Upstairs Five (2004), The Cactus Suite (2006), Eastern Scene in Grey Minor (2008) and the Phono Suecia-release: Scope - music by Fredrik Nordström and Johan Berke (PSCD181 / 2009) which saw the jazz quintet augumented by a brass quintet. Nordic Scenes in Chromatic Blue contains both long passages of composed ensemble work with slowly evolving melodic and harmonic themes, free improvising within a larger framework of structure and electronic soundscapes contrasting the acoustic jazz instrumentation, pushing the music into uncharted territory - all woven into a seamless and coherent whole. Check it out:

The third COLOUR release from Johan Berke Upstairs Five is for the major part a live album recorded at Glenn Miller Café in Stockholm June 13 & 14 2012. It contains mostly new compositions by Berke but also a couple of older live favorites: Two in One and The Big Krumbukto, which has been released earlier in studio versions. The current line-up is premiered on this recording and contains powerhouse trombone-player Mats Äleklint for the first time in Upstairs Five. Saxophone-player Fredrik Nordström is back after a break but the rhythm-section is still consisting of the ever evolving tandem of Filip Augustson & Fredrik Rundqvist. Stylistically it’s what you’ve come to expect from a Johan Berke-album Check it out

This the forth COLOUR release and the seventh GASON Jazz CD from Johan Berke Upstairs Five contains only previously unreleased original compositions by Berke, recorded May, 2013. The current line-up is premiered on this recording and contains phenomenal trumpet player Nils Janson, who also was featured on the Phono Suecia-release: Scope - music by Fredrik Nordström and Johan Berke (PSCD181 / 2009) (which saw the jazz quintet augmented by a brass quintet). Virtuoso electric guitar player Håkan Goohde is back after a break but the rhythm-section is, as usual, the creative tandem of Filip Augustson & Fredrik Rundqvist. Stylistically Consistency is somewhat more lyrical and traditional in its content than the previous, energetic live-album: OPEN DOOR (2012), with emphasis on melodic themes and solos on chord changes rather than the free improvisation within a larger framework of structure, which has been a big part of the groups other earlier releases: Upstairs Five (2004), The Cactus Suite (2006), double-cd Eastern Scene in Grey Minor (2008), and Nordic Scenes in Chromatic Blue (2011). Consistency is mostly a statement of the melodic inventivness this group possess!

The 8th CD release from Johan Berke Upstairs Five - SUMMER GHOSTS - contains mostly previously unreleased original compositions by Berke, recorded November, 2014. The current line-up contains Pedal & Lap Steel player Jan Eriksson, who is present, for the first time, for the entire album. He was previously featured on part of Upstairs Five (2004), The Cactus Suite (2006), double-cd Eastern Scene in Grey Minor (2008). The Steel-guitars gives the quintet an unique orchestral and unified sound. Saxophone player Fredrik Nordström is back after a break. He was last featured on the energetic live-album: OPEN DOOR (2012). The rhythm-section is, as usual, the creative tandem of Filip Augustson & Fredrik Rundqvist. Check it out

The ninth release from Johan Berke Upstairs Five comprises original compositions by the Swedish guitarist recorded during September 2016. SIMPATICO showcases acclaimed reed man Alberto Pinton (Kenny Wheeler, Joe Lovano, Peter Erskine), appearing for the first time with Upstairs Five! Saxophonist Fredrik Nordström (Gerald Cleaver, Palle Danielsson, Bobo Stenson), whose highly imaginative playing graced 2015’s Summer Ghosts, flanks Pinton. Bassist Robert Erlandsson also joins the band for the first time, coalescing beautifully with original drummer Fredrik Rundqvist into a subtly nuanced yet powerful rhythm section. Check it out

MORE FROM GASON JAZZ LABEL Guitarist/Composers:

The GASON JAZZ label was the site for the debut album from Håkan Goohde Trio. Chamber music jazz is an exciting and adventureous snapshop through the ideas of a very tight playing trio, giving lots of room for breathing and contemplation between the forceful twists, presenting strong and varied tracks that not always turn in the direction you expected. The CD was recorded at Fasching in Stockholm. Featuring guitar player Håkan Goohde, bass player Nils Ölmedal and drummer Jon Persson .

This is the second release on GASON Jazz label with guitarist/composer Håkan Goohde and contains plain solo acoustic guitar - Goohde´s own compositions matching his very personally couloured versions of standards by Ellington, Green, Cahn and Charlie Parker. A CD to really sink into, regardless if it´s Winter or Spring...

Håkan Goohde TRIOBILITY The third release on GASON Jazz label with guitarist/composer Håkan Goohde and this time he collaborates with bass player Niklas Fernqvist and drummer Fredrik Rundqvist - Håkan Goohde's CD "Triobility" is a clear demonstration of the breadth and force a trio of musical equals may have. The varied songs, written by Goohde, give the three musicians the opportunity to move through many different musical landscapes that range from the free, but also melodic improvisations to the modern bebop-excursions. ~ Check it out

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