Mwendo Dawa

SUSANNA LINDEBORG�'S MWENDO DAWA is always an adventure listening to. They were a bit of pioneers when the group was formed in the 70th when it came to combining expression of Jazz and traditional instruments together with the possibilities given by new instruments of the time. And they still are. Apart from most others fascinated by the same possibilities at the time. Musically MWENDO DAWA is now working with improvisation in serial technique with electro acoustical backgrounds but with a strong rythmical approach. The group is still now, 30 years later, as much pioneers as ever before. MWENDO DAWA is updated on all frontiers, the musical vision is still there but has changed and grown not only together with technological progress. The question rises if not MWENDO DAWA is better than ever before. MWENDO DAWA has since the start been succesfully touring in 22 countries in Europe,North and South America, Asia performing at Jazzfestivals like Montreux, Northsea and Montreal. The music is composed by Susanna Lindeborg and Ove Johansson but with contribution also from the bass player Jimmi Roger Pedersen and drummer David Sundby. Mwendo Dawa has also during the years been a nursery for several well known Swedish musicians like bass players Anders Jormin and Lars Danielsson and guitar player Ulf Wakenius. SUSANNA LINDEBORG, piano, composer. After receiving a classical education she came during the 70th into contact with improvised jazz music ,which became an important source of inspiration.What you first think of together with Susanna Lindeborg is her virtuouso play on the piano mixed with electronic instruments,which is mostly known from the group Mwendo Dawa, which she is leader of together with tenor player Ove Johansson. OVE JOHANSSON, tenor saxophone, composer. His musical work stretches all the way from straight ahead, free form and electronic jazz to the acoustic and electro acoustical mix of today.He has produced more than 30 albums with his own material and with the group Mwendo Dawa.The style of Ove Johansson has always been very personal with a powerful and intense performance and a rare sound and technique. Contrary to a lot of other players, he has not got caught in the style he began to play in, but has during the years all the time been renewing his own playing and musical expression. He is always in the frontline according to new music. Started his own small record label LJ Records 1989 presenting his own and new Scandinavian jazz music internationally, until now 50 titles. Has been awarded several art grants over the years. JIMMI ROGER PEDERSEN (1965), Danish double bass player and composer,born and raised in Copenhagen. Been touring a lot both as a accompanist and a member of different groups in Sweden,Germany, France,Portugal,England,Italy,USA,Canada and recorded radio and television broadcasts plus music documentary film. As an example has the duo with pianist Horace Parlan been working for more than 10 years. JRP has founded his own label and released the solo bass CD ”Bass Only ” consisting all original music. JRP also made his own publishing and released 4 booklets in the series ”Scandinavian Double Bass Technique ”.This school of bass explains and develops a technique that highly bears the impress of the deceased NHØP. DAVID SUNDBY drums, is Norwegian and a multi- instrumentalist. David is a great creative musician whose playing is very spontanous. His is one of the most significant players of Scandinavia today, and his playing stretches all the way from total technical and theoretical control to completely free playing. He has been a member of Mwendo Dawa for a long time and has been touring internationally with the group and been very much contributing to the special sound of Mwendo Dawa. He came in his early 20th to Sweden, made his studies in Gothenburg and has since then played with a lot of both Swedish and Norwegian groups and musicians. He has been active in Norway playing at many of their Jazz festivals and performed with musicians like Philippe Catherine and George Garzone. He has also a dramatic side and is doing solo performances where his lively expression is deeply appreciated.