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Fire! Orchestra
Fire! is a the Nordic experimental supergroup formed in 2009 by the core trio of Mats Gustafsson (sax), Johan Berthling (bass guitar) and Andreas Werlin (drums) who joined together to develop a fresh approach to improvised music drawing on influences from free jazz, psychedelic rock, and noise.
In 2010 the group joined forces with musician Jim O’Rourke and the four of them toured Japan together, leading to the release of Fire! with Jim O’Rourke. Australian multi-instrumentalist Oren Ambarchi was the next collaborator, and they subsequently recorded the album Fire! with Oren Ambarchi.
In 2013, the group went massive — cherry-picking 28 members from the Scandinavian jazz, improvisation, and avant-garde rock music scene to supplement the core band’s sound for a concert at Stockholm’s legendary Fylkingen venue which resulted in the first Fire! Orchestra record ‘Exit!’.
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Fire! Orchestra in Meldola
by Luciano Rossetti
A collection of photos from the Fire! Orchestra concert in Meldola (FC) on November 21, 2021 featuring Mats Gustafsson, Johan Berthling, Mads Forsby, Susana Santos Silva, Mats Aleklint, Anna Hogberg, Mette Rasmussen, Zoe Pia, Gabriele Mitelli, Stefano Pilia, Valeria Sturba, Elio Martusciello, Fabrizio Puglisi, Sara Ardizzoni and Jacopo Battaglia. ...
read moreFire! Orchestra in Padova
by Luciano Rossetti
A collection of photos from the Fire! Orchestra concert in Padova on November 20, 2021 featuring Mats Gustafsson, Johan Berthling, Mads Forsby, Susana Santos Silva, Mats Äleklint, Anna Högberg, Mette Rasmussen, Zoe Pia, Gabriele Mitelli, Stefano Pilia, Valeria Sturba, Elio Martusciello, Fabrizio Puglisi, Sara Ardizzoni and Jacopo Battaglia. ...
read moreFire! Orchestra: Arrival
by Gareth Thompson
The ancient Zen art of decluttering has found modern favour as a mindful practice. Letting go of things is, perhaps, a way of breaking with the past. In the years since its inception, the Nordic big band Fire! Orchestra has jettisoned about half its original cast. Now down to a mere fourteen members, the outfit has accordingly made its most spacious album yet. The core trio of musical director / saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, bassist Johan Berthling and drummer ...
read moreFire! alla Sala Vanni di Firenze
by Neri Pollastri
Fire! Firenze Sala Vanni Musicus Concentus & Metastasio Jazz 16.2.2018 Pubblico che non si vedeva da anni in Sala Vanni, per il secondo virtuoso “incrocio" tra Musicus Concentus e Metastasio Jazz 2018: di scena uno dei gruppi di punta della scena internazionale, il trio Fire! degli svedesi Mats Gustafsson, Johan Berthling e Andreas Werliin. Tale sfortunatamente inusuale evento è da ricercarsi nel fatto che i tre -oltre a essere sulla cresta dell'onda da ...
read moreTwo Scandinavian Jazz Orchestras
by John Eyles
It can be notoriously difficult to keep large-scale improvising ensembles in check and prevent their music from spiralling into incoherence. At their best, when the balance between order and chaos is just right, they make thrilling listening and attract fans in abundance, just as jazz big bands once did. Classic examples include Carla Bley & Mike Mantler's Jazz Composers' Orchestra, Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra, Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath, Keith Tippett's Centipede, and Barry Guy's London Jazz Composers' Orchestra. ...
read moreFire!: She Sleeps, She Sleeps
by John Eyles
She Sleeps, She Sleeps is the fifth album release from Fire! (yes, that exclamation mark is an integral part of the name), the Swedish supergroup trio of saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, bassist Johan Berthling and drummer Andreas Werliin. It sees the three return to duty as a trio following the distraction of recording and touring with the Fire! Orchestra, with its membership of about thirty. Away from the orchestra, past Fire! albums have seen the trio collaborating with other musicians such ...
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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson
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Fire! Orchestra
Location: Stockholm
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
