Duality
Electric bass and hand drums in an exuberant interplay - big music in a small format!
Long-standing rhythm section Owe and Martina Almgren step forward in a newly formed duo. With a variety in musical expressions and arrangements they interpret jazz standards and play their own material in a most personal way.
Contrast-rich, cohesive, playful and independent music. As a tribute to life!
"Duality extracts the essence from melodies. Shining examples of the approach can be heard on the interpretation of “So What” together with the opening lyrical jewel “Desmond/Tsunami”. Owe works in parallel with accompaniment and melody voice... phenomenal playing. Martina appears in full figure in rhythmic fireworks. In “I Mean You”, signed by Monk, both musicians excel. Outstanding dynamics!
OJ #2 2023
Owe Almgren Martina Almgren DUALITY
OYR026 Oh Yeah Records release 17 March 2023
Owe Almgren – electric bass and musical arrangements
Martina Almgren – hand drums and cymbals
Recorded, mixed and mastered by ÅKE LINTON at Studio Tonkontrol 2022/2023.
Photos by ANNIKA CLARHOLM
Cover Design by Owe and Martina Almgren
Produced by Owe and Martina Almgren
With support from the Swedish Arts Council www.ohyeahrecords.com
Owe Almgren has for several years been involved in developing and renewing the electric bass in improvisational music. His exploration can be heard in his solo projects "basically low key" (2007), "I Owe You Listeners My Music" (2015) and in collaboration with sound designer Åke Linton "Vancouver" (2021) and Blues (2023). A dynamic, groovy electric bassist and a virtuoso improviser, active in Sweden and internationally since the 1990s, with among others, Martina & Owe Almgren Quartet, MOZ Trio with London jazz pianist Zoe Rahman, Owe Almgren Jazz Trio, barT feat Jim Beard, biorn quartet and Bohuslän Big Bandplays Zappa.
www.owealmgren.com
Martina Almgren entered the Swedish jazz scene in the late 90s and has through the years been involved in several international collaborations (Zoe Rahman, Laura Macdonald, Nikki Iles, Steve Hamilton to mention a few) and composed commission works for the Swedish Jazz Radio and for contemporary ensembles. With rhythmic intensity and playful improvisation she is known as a colourful drummer, composer and leader of Martina Almgren Quartet, Oh Yeah Orchestra, Martina Almgren Tagore Project and Majestic. Furthermore, she was nominated composer of the year by Swedish Jazz in 2015 and was a summer host on the Swedish Jazz radio in 2022.
http://www.martinaalmgren.com