Now in its 14th year, the unique and constantly evolving Fire! Orchestra is back with their most ambitious work so far, counting a mostly Scandinavian – with a heavy French infusion – cast of no less than 17 members. While the popular and widely praised Arrival is a highlight in the band´s catalogue, this monumental version building on triple album “ECHOES” ups the ante. Recorded at the legendary Atlantis studio in Stockholm and beautifully mixed by Jim O’Rourke, Echoes comes across
as a very open, breathing, organic, detailed and dynamic album.
[Echoes] a two-hour work of epic dimensions: full of energy, violence and beauty;
historical musical awareness, outstanding musicianship, otherworldly free jazz,
beauty, improvisational and compositional daring, sheer fun and more. Simply
another masterpiece. (Martin Schray, Freejazzblog)
Listen to the album
Originally recorded with 43 musicians, the following 17 bandmembers will take
Echoes on the road:
David Sandström – vocals and drums
Delphine Joussein – flute and electronics
Susana Santos Silva – trumpet
Goran Kajfes – trumpet
Mats Äleklint – trombone and sousaphone
Heida Karine Johannesdottir – tuba
Fredrik Ljungkvist – clarinet, tenor sax
Mette Rasmussen – alto sax
Anna Högberg – alto sax
Josefin Runsteen – violin
Julien Desprez – guitar
Martin Hederos – fender rhodes and organ
Alexander Zethson – keyboards
Juan Romero – percussion
Mats Gustafsson – baritone sax and flute
Johan Berthling – bass
Blanche Lafuente – drums and electronics
Mikael Werliin – sound
Watch
Brutal heaviness, furiously fast crack, intense groove, extreme dynamics, immense beauty. (…) in a concert with Fire Orchestra, everything can be found, not infrequently all in one and the same song. (…) It is, as always, incredibly impressive. (Rasmus Klockljung, Lira)
Another incarnation of the band is Fire! Orchestra CBA (community based
activities), where a core of the orchestra (consisting of Mats Gustafsson, Johan
Berthling and 4 to 8 more musicians depending on the situation) works with 7-10
local musicians to form a new, unique version of Fire! Orchestra.
The idea of Fire! Orchestra CBA came from the need to develop a radically new
approach which is better equipped to meet the musical, environmental, and
economical challenges of today.