Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 8:00pm
Sten Sandell Trio
Sten Sandell, piano
Johan Berthling, double-bass
Pall Nilssen-Love, drums
Celebrating their 10th anniversary, the Swedish-Norwegian Sten Sandell Trio makes their first Philadelphia appearance.
"...absolute polyrhythmic directness (threes and twos overlaid like an absolute metronome!), startling vocal interjections and a sensational manipulation of energy." -John Corbett
Pianist Sten Sandell is best known for his work in Gush and his collaborations with Mats Gustafsson, Chris Cutler, Barry Guy and Evan Parker. His playing style is often compared to that of Cecil Taylor, but he is strongly influenced by contemporary composers Morton Feldman and John Cage. The trio's work is in the tradition of European improvised music and they are regarded as the only piano trio in Scandinavia performing "energy" music.
Paal Nilssen-Love, one of Europe's most powerful and dynamic musicians whose ongoing projects include those with Mats Gustafsson (The Thing, Original Silence), Ken Vandermark (School Days, FME, Powerhouse Sound, Fireroom), Raoul Björkenheim (Scorch Trio) and Peter Brötzmann (Chicago Tentet, Sonore) as well as with Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, Jim O'Rourke, Terrie Ex and Fugazi's Guy Picciotto.
Johan Bertling has become a leading player in Sweden's improvised music scene, performing with Raymond Strid, Fredrik Ljungkvist and David Stackenäs. Influenced by William Parker, he is a dynamic bassist with high energy and stamina. He is also active in the groups TAPE, LSB, Göran Kaifes and more, and runs the highly acclaimed label Häpna.
Made possible with the support of the American-Scandinavia Foundation.
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Ars Nova Workshop is a Philadelphia nonprofit jazz and experimental music presenting organization. As a facilitator between artists and their audiences, Ars Nova Workshop works to inform, inspire and challenge listeners in order to elevate the role of jazz, improvisation and experimental music in contemporary culture.