
Ten years, three albums and the Swedish, Gothenburg-based Kvintetten Som SprĂ€ngdes (in English: The Quintet that blew up) – saxophonist-leader Niklas Bogren Persson, trombone player Kristoffer Alehed, pianist Rasmus Borg, bass player Patric Thorman and drummer Martin Ăhman – calls it a day. Sad, but at least Kvintetten Som SprĂ€ngdes leaves us at top shape, presenting another great album, following «JĂ€rnet!» and «SvĂ€nger SĂ„ Det Svartnar» (2012, 2014, both released on Found You Recordings).
The quintet last, third album «Faller PĂ„ Eget Grepp» (Falls on its own grip) may be its best, balancing wisely between the hard-driving, muscular interplay and the collective improvisations that often cross to free-jazz territories and stress the individual personalities of Kvintetten Som SprĂ€ngdes. Persson compositions are gifted with a strong rhythmic sensibility that often brings to mind the dynamics of of Charles Mingus groups, especially on the pieces «Ses PĂ„ Manhattan», even more so on «Adjö Köttpajhatt» – a word-play on Mingusâ iconic «Goodbye Pork Pie Hat» – and «Kakor Och Cocktail». These compositions flow, stir and shake with exciting energy.
Persson is a natural calm leader, enjoying the emphatic, mature interplay of the quintet on the stormy-rhythmic compositions and even more on the open pieces, «This Guy Is The Limit» and «Frida StĂ€mplar In». These compositions are based on fragmented ideas and emphasize the clever contributions of pianist Borg and the the rhythm section of bass player Thorman and drummer Ăhman.
Eyal Hareuveni
Niklas Borgen Persson (as, sopranino s), Christoffer Alehed (tb), Rasmus Borg (p), Patric Thorman (b), Martin Ăhman (dr)