Elin Forkelid Plays For Trane

Whilst her quintet interprets the musical work of the unique composer and saxophonist John Coltrane, the group’s mission is both to play Coltrane’s music and to build on his legacy. These two objectives are inextricably linked. Forkelid’s band features some of the greatest talents on the current Stockholm jazz scene: guitarist David Stackenäs and vibraphonist Mattias Ståhl provide a harmonic foundation that is as rich as it is multi-layered, whilst bassist Bromander and drummer Jon Fält drive the music forward whilst simultaneously generating a maelstrom of seething energy in which Trane’s ecstatic passion is condensed.

On the group’s recently released second album, the quintet turns its attention to unforgettable classics, including the introspective ballad ‘Naima’ and the timeless appeal ‘Peace on Earth’. Whilst the musicians preserve and nurture the melodic and harmonic core of the material, the arrangements add yet another layer to it. To this end, the guitarist and the vibraphonist create a rugged sonic tapestry – a shimmering, luminous fabric against which the saxophonist’s plaintive melodies are endlessly reinterpreted, their raw sound evoking the fiery spirituality of Coltrane’s late work.

Their interpretation of the little-known track ‘Reverend King’ from the 1968 album *Cosmic Music* rides on a steady staccato pulse, building a tension that masterfully sets the stage for Forkelid’s epic solo. The arrangement, meanwhile, takes its time and really comes into its own in the final, effervescent moments.

Line-up

• Elin Forkelid – soprano, alto and tenor saxophone
• David Stackenäs – guitar
• Mattias Ståhl – vibraphone
• Vilhelm Bromander – double bass
• Jon Fält – drums, percussion