Ally Trio + KV
The Ally Trio was a Swedish group dedicated to the music of Albert Ayler, originally formed by Mats Gustafsson (saxophones), Peter Janson (bass), and Kjell Nordeson (drums).
The collaboration with Ken Vandermark occurred as an expansion of the band. From around 2000 onward, the original trio began recording and performing as Aaly Trio with Ken Vandermark, effectively becoming a quartet that added the American reedist to the founding lineup. Janson and Nordeson remained as the rhythmic core. This quartet produced key albums like Live at the Glenn Miller Café and Hidden In The Stomach, where the two powerful saxophonists engaged in a fierce and lyrical dialogue over Ayler’s compositions, supported and driven by the original trio’s foundation. It was a potent fusion of two distinct sensibilities united in a singular musical mission.
Stumble
Stumble
In her review for AllMusic, Joslyn Layne states “These numbers are firmly entrenched in blues roots, carrying on a wailing, at times plaintive, blues spirit with conviction.”
The Penguin Guide to Jazz notes that “Vandermark and Gustafsson are formidably like-minded, at least in the way they want the band to make its impression, and the sound of the quartet in full flight has a harsh, narcotic edge to it.”
The JazzTimes review by Bill Shoemaker states “While there is plenty of wide-open blowing space for the two saxophonists (Vandermark also plays a good amount of pungent clarinets), and the flexible, fluent Janson and Nordeson, there is an overarching ensemble cohesion that holds this album together.”
Bass – Peter Janson
Drums – Kjell Nordeson
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Ken Vandermark
Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Reeds [Fluteophone] – Mats Gustafsson
Layout – Dan McCleary
Design [Booklet] – Mac McCaughan
Mastered – John McCortney
Photography – Ellen Black
Recorded live at Unity Temple January 17, 1998, by Malachi Ritscher
Live at the Glenn Miller Cafe
Live at the Glenn Miller Cafe
“There is an absolutely overwhelming treatment of Albert Ayler’s ‘Ghosts’ and a vibrant version of Joe Harriott’s ‘Idioms’, which sounds better than anything on Vandermark’s own Joe Harriott Project record.” -The Penguin Guide to Jazz
“Gustafsson and Vandermark perform wide open during most of the album, honking, screaming, rasping and playing as rapidly as possible.” -Harvey Pekar, The JazzTimes
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Mats Gustafsson: Reeds
Peter Janson: Bass
Kjell Nordeson: Drums
Ken Vandermark: Reeds
Roland Aalto: Layout Design
The AALY Trio: Producer
Olof Madsen: Engineer
Mac McCaughan: Layout Design, Producer
John McCortney: Editing, Mastering
Recorded in March 10, 1999 at the Glenn Miller Café, Stockholm
I wonder If I Was Screaming
I wonder If I Was Screaming
” I Wonder If I Was Screaming continued AALY’s string of excellent releases and helped cement their reputation as one of the very best working ensembles at the turn of the century.” -Brian Olewnick, AllMusic
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Double Bass – Peter Janson
Drums – Kjell Nordeson
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone [Right Channel] – Mats Gustafsson
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet [Left Channel] – Ken Vandermark
Artwork – Åke Hodell
Design – Conny Lindström
Engineer – Ian Agate
Executive-Producer – Conny Charles Lindström
Liner Notes – Joe Morris
Mastered By – Christofer “Hoffe” Stannow
Mixed by Kjell Nordeson, Leif Allansson, Olof Madsen
Photography – Håkan Lindell
Producer – Christian Falk, Mats Gustafsson
Recorded at Soundtrade Studios, Stockholm, March 30 & 31, 2000.
Mixed at Nordstudios in Stockholm, September 18 & 19, 2000.
Mastered at Cosmos Studios in Stockholm, September 20, 2000.
This music is dedicated to Bengt “Frippe” Nordström (1937-2000) and Åke Hodell (1919-2000), two great Swedish pioneers and innovators.
R.I.P.
Hidden In The Stomach
Hidden In The Stomach
“Recorded in an excellent Stockholm studio during December 1996, AALY TRIO + KEN VANDERMARK features Mats Gustafsson and Ken Vandermark on reeds, together with bassist Peter Janson and drummer Kjell Nordeson. AALY TRIO has been in existence for a number of years, consistently playing exciting music. This is their debut on disc and it is quite a major event, particularly since they are joined by another significant contributor to new jazz improvisation in the shape of Ken Vandermark. The music played by the quartet is free improvisation but their control is no empathic and cohesive that the music almost sounds arranged. Extraordinary.”
“Paul Valéry said poetry is hidden in the stomach, you’re obsessed by it, never quite sure of it, but know it’s there and want to bring it out.” -William Baziotes
John Corbett, Chicago, August 1997
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Mats Gustafsson tenor sax, baritone sax (right channel)
Ken Vandermark tenor sax, clarinet, bass-clarinet (left channel)
Peter Janson bass
Kjell Nordeson drums, percussion
Recorded December 18, 1996, at Europa Studios, Stockholm.
The digital master was edited at Europa Studios, Stockholm on August 18th, 1997.
Mastering was carried out September 2nd, 1997 with an Apogee UV-22 super CD-encoder.
Design, Layout – Jörgen Renhorn
Executive-Producer [For Silkheart Records] – FSMAB, Keith Knox
Liner Notes – John Corbett
Mastered – Rune Persson
Painting [Front Cover] – Håkan Rehnberg
Producer – Keith Knox
Recorded, Edited – Leif Allansson
Double or Nothing
Double or Nothing
AALY Trio (Gustafsson, Nordeson, Flaten) on left channel; DKV Trio (Vandermark, Kessler, Drake) on right channel.
Recorded September 23, 1999 at Airwave Studios, Chicago.
Track 2 is a long performance with an index point at the start of the Awake Nu theme.
Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax], Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax] – Mats Gustafsson
Clarinet [Bb], Bass Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax], Mixed By – Ken Vandermark
Double Bass – Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Kent Kessler
Drums – Hamid Drake, Kjell Nordeson
Artwork [Cover Art] – Peter Brötzmann
Engineer, Mixed By – John McCortney
Executive-Producer – Bruno Johnson
Graphic Design – Louise Molnar