Action Jazz


Action Jazz is an album by The Thing, the trio of saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love. It was recorded in December 2005 and released the following year by Smalltown Superjazz.

Recording and music

The album was recorded on 19 and 20 December 2005 at Atlantis Studio in Stockholm. "Ride the Sky" by Lightning Bolt "begins as an act of riff worship, the trio united in devotion to that primordial stomp, before Gustafsson breaks loose, howling pterodactyls fleeing the arcs of hot lava sputtering from his horn." "The Nut/The Light", by Gustafsson's daughter, Alva Melin, are "free-blues" and were recorded earlier by Gustafsson on his solo album Catapult.

Releases

Action Jazz was released on 1 June 2006 by Smalltown Superjazz.

Reception

The Quietus described Action Jazz as "More accessible than subsequent releases, finds a balance between the stoopid-fun of their garage material, the swing of their Don Cherry | Cherry inspired free-bop, and the open-form weirdness to come."

Track listing

  1. "Sounds like a Sandwich" – 02:04
  2. "Chiasma" – 04:58
  3. "Broken Shadows" – 02:28
  4. "Ride the Sky" – 02:13
  5. "Better Living..." – 07:25
  6. "Danny's Dream" – 07:33
  7. "The Nut/The Light" – 06:38
  8. "...Through BBQ" – 09:10
  9. "Strayhorn" – 07:03

    Personnel