About Curly Camel


Curly Camel is a Swedish progressive jazz trio, formed in 2007. 
In January 2011 the group released their first album, Mono Human. The album was quickly critically acclaimed and received five stars and a brilliant review from the acknowledged music critic Rolf Haglund. It also received another great review from Torsten Eckermann, music critic at LIRA Musikmagasin, Scandinavia's biggest music magazine for jazz, folk and world music.

Associated with the release of Mono Human, the pianist, August Björn was awarded one of STIM:s highly coveted scholarships for his compositions. According to STIM, the competition was exceptionally high with 846 applicants from all across Sweden. Other artists who also received a scholarship included jazz vocalist Rigmor Gustafsson and bass player Dan Berglund, former member of Esbjörn Svensson Trio.

On May 7, 2011, Curly Camel was designated as the winner of Kultur i Väst’s Jazz Award, a prize awarded annually to ”one exceptionally gifted artist or group within the jazz genre”. At this time, Curly Camel also became the youngest band ever to participate in the Swedish radio show, "Jazzlandet”, in Radio Sweden P2.
As winners of “Kultur I Väst’s Jazz Award”, the trio was given three exclusive days of coaching by world famous jazz drummer, Magnus Öström, former member of Esbjörn Svensson Trio and winner of “Drummer of the Year, International” 2012. “They are really good! Skilful playing, excellent compositions at a high level. They have ambition but they are still very humble.” said Magnus Öström in an interview after the coaching. 

In September 2011, Curly Camel was awarded Bertil Bengtson's youth scholarship with the citation ”Three young musicians who combines beauty, humanistic belief, empathy and commitment with tremendous musical skill and innovation”. The scholarship was awarded to Curly Camel at Bertil Bengtson Tribute in Borås. 
In May, 2012, the trio was also awarded “Roger Sjöholm's Scholarship For Young Musicians” with the citation “This group has reached a remarkable musical maturity connected to a high level of ambition, Curly Camel has a unique talent for creating jazz music.”

On September 3, Curly Camel won Sweden’s biggest contest for young jazz musicians at Fasching in Stockholm, ”Young Jazz Comets”. As the winners, they received the title ”Best Jazz Group 2011”. The next year, Curly Camel got to play a number of concerts at National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, South Africa, as a part of a minor South African tour. 
National Arts Festival is Africa's biggest international music- and cultural festival and had, 2012, more than 200000 visitors, it is also the second biggest cultural festival in the world. 
Standard Bank Jazz Festival is National Arts Festival's section for jazz music, Curly Camel was here given the great honor to represent Sweden and Swedish jazz.  

In 2008, Curly Camel was asked by the Swedish design company, “Design med Omtanke” to compose the score for a film about sustainable development, this film has later been used as educational material, inter alia, at Gothenburg's University Of Artwork (HDK).
In June 2012, Curly Camel was given a similar assignment when they were asked to create the sound installation for the experience exhibition “Face The Future”, an exhibition about participation and human worth. Staffan Herrström, former Swedish ambassador in Tanzania and Vietnam, former chief director of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and now Swedish ambassador in Poland, opened the exhibition at the Museum Of Rydal on September 23, 2012. 
On November 28, Curly Camel was given the great honor to perform at the 75-year anniversary of Sweden’s oldest radio show, “Dagens Dikt”, at Moriska Paviljongen in Malmö. In addition to their own concert, the trio also served as house band and interpreted Ida Börjel’s specially written poem, “Dagen natten hjärtat fåglarna rymden”, through a longer improvisation.  Poets who participated during this special event was, in selection, Bruno K. Öijer, Helena Eriksson, Refik Licina, Ann Jäderlund, Lasse Söderberg, Azita Ghahreman, Matilda Södergran and Morten Söndergaard. Curly Camel’s performances were broadcasted live in Radio Sweden P1.

All the members of Curly Camel have always listened to a very wide range of music, something that has definitely contributed to their progressive and unique sound. 
Groups that have influenced Curly Camel are Esbjörn Svensson Trio, The Bad Plus and Pat Metheny Group. Curly Camel shares the same band philosophy as these groups and believe that it is more important than ever today to create a true band sound and a band identity. 

Contact:
E-mail: curly.camel@hotmail.com

August Björn – Piano/Keyboards:	+46 765800709 / +46 325-70645
Mario Ochoa – Drums/Percussion:		
Isak Björn – Electric double bass/Vocals	

For more information, please visit Curly Camel's official website at:
www.curlycamel.com

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