Mats Gustafsson Solo

Mats Gustafsson, saxophones ( bass, baritone, tenor, alto and soprano) flute, french flageolet and G-clarinet

Mats Gustafsson needs no introduction. One of the most expressive saxophone players and uncompromising artists of our time, Mats has collaborated on a broad range of projects, including Gush, The Thing, Sonore, Fire! Fire Orchestra, Swedish Azz, The End…  While each of these projects is special in itself, as a whole they make up an incredible creative output of a musician who knows no limits and whose music is loyal to boundary-pushing creativity, all of which generates a unique musical energy and a rebellious worldview, an attitude that rejects blandness and apathy and celebrates sincerity and immediacy.

My first musical encounter with Mats took place in Chicago at Fred Anderson's Velvet Lounge club in September 2000, when I attended a concert by Pipeline, a project that brought together American and Scandinavian musicians. Since then, Mats and I have been meeting at many venues, home and abroad, and our relationship has gradually outgrown the regular promoter - artist relationship. This has enabled us to organise some exclusive concerts in Ljubljana, including a duo with Craig Taborn at the Jazz Festival Ljubljana and his current Solo that also marks the anniversary of his first appearance in Slovenia. It took place on 24 April 2001 in Cankarjev dom’s Linhart Hall with his band AALY Trio + Ken Vandermark in a double bill with Tortoise.

These unfortunate COVID-19 times provided an opportunity for Mats Gustafsson to play his first Gallus Hall concert. And he took full advantage of this opportunity, using it in every possible way with the help of Cankarjev dom’s production crew. Something magical happened and will remain on view as one of the world’s most exclusive music events during the pandemic.
 

Bogdan Benigar, Jazz and Music of the World Manager