Fredrik Nordstrom Quintet - Live in Coimbra (2008)

Fredrik Nordström Quintet
Live in Coimbra
Clean Feed: CF119
http://www.cleanfeed-records.com/disco2.asp?intID=256

* Fredrik Nordström: tenor saxophone
* Mats Äleklint: trombone
* Mattias Ståhl: vibraphone
* Torbjörn Zetterberg: double bass
* Fredrik Rundqvist: drums

http://www.fredriknordstrom.com/
http://www.matsaleklint.com/
http://mattiasstahl.com/

Recorded live on November the 5th 2005 at Teatro Académico
Gil Vicente in Coimbra, Portugal by Luís Delgado.


Review
~~~~~~

By Jason Bivins
http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/4932

Tenor saxophonist Fredrik Nordstrom hasn’t been quite as celebrated as some
fellow Scandinavian reeds swashbucklers, but in the last half decade or so he’s
quietly been releasing some top-shelf small group freebop on labels like
Moserobie and, now, Clean Feed.

Sharing some group members with ensembles like Atomic, Nordstrom’s regular
group combines the reflective qualities of mid-1960s Bobby Hutcherson with the
improv-core of The Thing or Atomic. But here that regular group gets a moderate
lineup change, and the resulting record is a vivid demonstration of how a
regular band with a stable repertoire can get just the right kick in the ass
when a couple members are swapped out.

There’s a kind of electricity on this 2005 date, as Nordstrom invites ace
trombonist Mats Aleklint to sub for Magnus Broo, and Torbjorn Zetterberg
occupies the bass chair instead of Ingebrigt Haker Flaten (regulars Mattias
Stahl on vibes and Fredrik Rundqvist on drums are still here). They cycle
through a really excellent set, from caffeinated proto-funk on “Yakiniku” to
billowing impressionist performances like “Russian T” or the slightly edgier
“In Motian.”

As the set goes on, they start to balance their pulse-driven inclinations with
a greater attention to timbre – the leader’s grainy tenor on Bjork’s “Coccoon,”
Aleklint’s lusty portamento set against emphatic percussive attacks from Stahl
on “Pizza Girl,” and so forth. It’s crowd-pleasing stuff, as with the
Vandermark 5-ish closer “Mister Barista,” but is also thoughtful in its
arranging and attention to detail. An enjoyable set, just edgy enough to stand
out from the pack.