Pawky is a new and promising Swedish, Malmö-based jazz quintet that releases now its self-titled album. Pawky is led by pianist-synth player Alice Hernqvist and double bass player Aaron Mandelmann, who has worked together before as a duo and in the trio-Post-Sun-Vision, who composed the music for the album and features more of Malmö’s young jazz scene’s front figures – alto sax player Hannes Bennich (who plays in Kathrine Windfeld Sextet), reeds player Isak Ingvarsson and drummer Emma Lönnestål.
Pawky’s music draws inspiration from the legacy of chamber, acoustic jazz but does not follow strict genre conventions. Hernqvist and Mandelmann’s playful and engaging, naive and story-like melodic compositions are meticulously written and arranged. They are performed with joyful openness and freedom, always leaving ample room for unexpected personal initiatives.
The best pieces here are the delicate and mysterious ballad «Astra», the impressionist «Rubato», with the ECM’s Nordic school of introspective jazz vibe, and the opposite one, the subversive lullaby «Gå å lägg dig».
Eyal Hareuveni
Alice Hernqvist (piano, synthesizer), Aaron Mandelmann (double bass), Hannes Bennich (alto saxophone), Isak Ingvarsson (saxophones, clarinet), Emma Lönnestål (drums)
