the thing

Mar.29, 2009

Mats Gustafsson – alto, tenor, baritone and slide saxophone. Live electronics

Ingebrigt Håker Flaten – bass and live electronics

Paal Nilssen-Love – drums

– cell +31 6 2662 0845 – Amsterdam

The Thing was established in the spring of February 2000 when the three musicians met do play several concerts and to record the first CD on Crazy Wisdom, a sub label of Swedish Universal. In 2001, they also recorded another CD on the same label as a quartet with Joe McPhee. Both CD´s are out of print.

The trio was a long wanted constellation where several musical styles meet in a very high energetic outlet. All members are influenced by different traditions of free music derived from Germany, England and America, and these influences are to be felt and not necessary heard.
When the trio started out, the book contained mainly of tunes by Don Cherry, hence the group’s name. Since Joe McPhee`s participation, the group’s reportuar has included other free jazz standards by David Murray, Frank Lowe and Norman Howard. Also, the groups enthusiasm towards rock music, is heard when they play “To Bring You My Love” by PJ Harvey on the second CD. Today the book has expanded to include tunes by The White Stripes, The Sonics and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. This is just an example that explains how close musical styles are today, how similar the energy is and can be, and how much today`s audience is melted together, devoted to creative music. The Thing is now signed on the Norwegian label Smalltown Supersound.

Mats Gustafsson is today Sweden’s and one of Europe’s biggest names on the free music scene. Through groups like Gush, AALY trio and Peter Brötzmann`s Chicago Tentet, he has established himself as a very powerful saxophonist, and has somewhat reinvented the way of playing the saxophone.
Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and Paal Nilssen-Love has become known as Norway`s heaviest rhythm-section. Since they`re long time collaboration started in 1992, they have been working in several groups, amongst them are School Days with Ken Vandermark, Scorch trio with Raoul Björkenheim, and the Swedish/Norwegian jazz-group Atomic.

The Thing also performs with Joe McPhee, Ken Vandermark, Otomo Yoshihide, Jim O`Rourke, Thurston Moore and Cato Salsa Experience.

“Tapping into rock’s most primal forces with the fire and fury that’s something to behold” Mojo

“The Thing convert nouveau punk and vintage garage-rock into a roaring scream-up, but the sheer energy and love of the music keep gimmickery at bay” Uncut
“The sheer power they generate from wood, metal, breath and muscle is stunning” BBC

“Absurdly cool” DJ Magazine

The Thing: The Great Scandinavian Power Trio

Only once in a great while does a group of musicians come along with an inherent discipline that dares to question the realm between the known and the unknown. Mats Gustafsson, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten and Paal Nilssen-Love of the Scandinavian Power Trio, “The Thing,” provide a language so determined in its musical complexity, boundaries literally and figuratively disappear.

This doesn’t mean that these brilliant musicians do not respect what came before them, far from it. What it means is that their personal language is of such a progressive and impassioned approach, “style” cannot identify nor capture their ingenious and daring creative sensibilities. They have an unusual sense of artistic self awareness with a commitment that is a total expression of honesty and truth. It’s a place greater than self, a place without prejudice, and a place of sacrifice where freedom in artistic values is worth fighting for.

Each one of these extraordinary musicians has redefined their own given instrument with an exceptional ability to transform life into art with burning clarity. Their music is one of mystery, yet hides no secrets. There is the suggestion of a “search,” yet there are no questions to answer. In truth, it is a creative universe of intense conviction where sacrifices are made, lives are given but where few understand what this means. Gustafsson, Haker-Flaten and Nilssen-Love have made the decision to give that sacrifice. In my book, there is no creative faith greater than that.

Lloyd Peterson, Seattle april 2009

Discography The Thing:
Gustafsson/Flaten/Nilssen-Love, “The Thing”, Crazy Wisdom/Universal 001/159 073-2.
The Thing with Joe McPhee, “She Knows…” Crazy Wisdom/Universal 006/014756-2
The Thing and School Days, “Plays the music of Norman Howard”, Anagram, ANA LP 001
The Thing, “Garage”, Smalltown Supersound, STS078CD
The Thing, “Have Love Will Travel/Art Star” Smalltown Superjazzz, STS071 7″ EP
Cato Salsa Experience and The Thing with Joe McPhee, “Sounds Like A Sandwich” STSJ103CD
The Thing, “Live At Blå”, Smalltown Superjazzz, STSJ099CD
Two Bands And A Legend, “TBAL”, Smalltown Superjazzz, STSJ….
The Thing, “Action Jazz”, Smalltown Superjazzz STSJ123CD
Two Bands And a Legend ” I SEE YOU BABY”, smalltown superjazzz
The Thing + Ken Vandermark ” Immediate Sound”, Smalltown Superjazzz
The Thing “NOW AND FOREVER”, 4 CD BOX, Smalltown Superjazzz
The Thing “BAG IT!”, Smalltown Superjazzz

NEW!!! The Thing w Otomo Yoshihide “Shinjuku Crawl”, Smalltown Superjazz

Coming soon… The Thing “BAG IT! on 2 LP, Smalltown Superjazzz

GARAGE

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Art Star

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Aluminium

photos: KRZYSZTOF PENARSKI