Dans un pur esprit sweet & fat Jass, The Jelly Sugar Band rend hommage au style New Orleans, qui a vu naitre le Jazz au début du XX em siècle. Aussi doux et piquant qu'un bonbon au rhum ...

In DBB’s music you can hear the geographical and cultural similarities between Appalachia, USA, the home of bluegrass, and its mining districts, and the mining and heavy industries of Bergslagen, Sweden, where the band originates (Avesta/Torsåker). Bluegrass is predominantly working class music which has reflected poor conditions in the countryside and mining villages. The music invokes the hard work in the mines and fields, the wide open spaces, the simple life, jealousy, prison guards and the battle between God and the Devil. Downhill’s music reflects many of these themes. Music and lyrics express life in the here and now but with an awareness of tradition.

On invitation, they performed more than once at the IBMA Awards in Nashville on account of their excellent playing skills and unique sound, as well as their songwriting abilities. As well as America, they have played festivals in most European countries. Most of the repertoire they perform is their own, and some of these songs have been recorded by both American and European artists

Downhill Bluegrass Band was formed by Jonas and Kenneth Kjellgren with the intentions to play traditionally rooted bluegrass with a contemporary flair. Sharing the same musical ideas and sources for inspiration they started to play together in 1998. Since then they have released five cd:s, the last one “Wonderland” with only original material written by Jonas Kjellgren and Mikael Grund.

The band members today are: Jonas Kjellgren on mandolin and vocals, Kenneth Kjellgren on banjo, Mikael Grund on guitar and vocals, Kajsa Kjellgren Westin on bass and vocals, Nicke Widen on dobro and Erik Gunnars Risberg on fiddle

Former line ups have held Jan Ekman on dobro, Hans Wahlstedt on guitar and vocals, Christoffer Olsson, now in G2 on guitar and vocals, Jimmy Sunnebrandt who also worked with James King Band, now back in G2 Band on bass and vocals, Ryan Drickey on fiddle in Finders and Youngberg, Ivor Ottley fiddle, amongst others. Through the years Jonas Kjellgren and Kenneth Kjellgren have remained the corner stones of the band.

Downhill is also one of the organizers and host band of Torsåkers Bluegrass Festival, one of Sweden’s largest bluegrass festivals.



Big Four est un quartet réuni en 2009 à l’initiative de Julien Soro.

L’instrumentarium singulier de ce quartet à deux vents et deux percussions (Saxophone/Sousaphone et Vibraphone/Batterie) révèle dès la première écoute un son de groupe inédit et une palette de timbres rarement exploitée dans un contexte de petite formation.

Les compositions de Julien Soro deviennent au fil du temps un terrain d’exploration collective où la spontanéité et la profusion rythmique sont au centre des débats. Une musique à la fois ronde et anguleuse dans laquelle l’évidence côtoie le paradoxe ! Les musiciens de Big Four cherchent cet espace entre conscience et relâchement qui leur permettrait de donner du mouvement au son. Retoucher à cet état enfantin où le « jeu » est omniprésent...

De sa jeune histoire, Big Four a enregistré deux disques particulièrement bien accueillis par la presse (« CHOC & **** » Jazz Magazine, « Découverte » Jazz News) et a trouvé un public conquis durant des concerts intenses où la force créative du quartet peut s’exprimer pleinement.

Au Printemps 2013, Big Four a passé la vitesse supérieure en partant enregistrer un 3ème album à New York, profitant de l’occasion pour inviter le saxophoniste ténor Tony Malaby, incontournable fer de lance du jazz et de la musique improvisée actuelle. Ce « voyage initiatique » a permis de pousser un peu plus loin le propos musical du quartet : un sousaphone qui parle et rit dans son embouchure; une batterie survolant des métriques d’une rare exigence; un vibraphone qui installe un paysage sonore et use des dynamiques les plus extrêmes; un saxophone explorant les limites du son et du langage improvisé...

Big Four, toujours prêt à vous rafraîchir les oreilles, se vit au présent !

### ###  ### ###  ### ###  ### ###

Big Four is a quartet created in Spring 2009 by Julien Soro.

The birth of this band comes from a deep wish to take up the challenge of a singular instrumentation : two Horns (Saxophone & Tuba) and two Percussions (Vibraphone and Drums). The Tuba/Vibraphone combination creates a clear demarcation with sound material of a "standard" quartet (w/ Piano & Bass), while bringing a warm tone as well as unusual acoustic textures.

Julien Soro’s compositions become a collective exploration field where spontaneity and rhythmic profusion are at the centre of discourse. Music that is round and angular at the same time, where paradox and evidence coexist. Big Four members are looking for this thin space between consciousness and looseness which lets them give sound some movement. Coming back to a childlike state where Play is everywhere.

Big Four has its history too... Two self-produced records by choice, closely followed by a watchfull and sensitive audience, affected by the band’s creative force. Really intense shows, rehearsals that are like a constant work-in-progress, 4 true jazz standards lovers, miles and miles of shared music... So, come out and give us a try !

The Shaolin Stompers is following