Paavo

As is so often the case, updates have been rather infrequent round this way of late. I’m sorry. No I’m not, I don’t owe you anything. Anyway, one of the reasons for this relative inactivity was that I was in Stockholm for 4 days. Amongst trips to the zoo, and to the Big Fucking Boat Museum (this translation may be slightly inaccurate, my Swedish isn’t great to be honest) I managed to squeeze in a visit to the amazing Andra Jazz, Mats Gustafsson’s favourite record shop, where I salivated over lots of super rare original vinyl, and just about managed not to bankrupt myself. I also took in a gig in a tiny jazz venue/restaurant (great steak frites) called the Glenn Miller Cafe, where I saw a young seven piece band called Paavo.

Led by pianist Cecilia Persson and vocalist Sofia Jernberg, with great support from the others (in particular saxophonist/clarinettist Nils Berg) they managed to combine folk song and modern jazz extremely successfully. This was seriously well composed, with tightly knotted sections of tricky rhythms, ragged soloing and frequently surprising melody; vocalist Jernberg had a beguilingly effortless way with a vocal. Especially with the pianist taking the instrumental lead, it most reminded me of Andrew Hill, or Carla Bley. Anyway, I was on holiday, had consumed a reasonable amount of the house red and wasn’t taking notes – so rather than writing a review I recommend you check them out over at their Myspace. And so-called “normal” service may resume here soon. Or, alternatively, it may not. Look, GIVE ME A BREAK.

Advertisement