– ‘the top level of contemporary Scandinavian/European jazz’.
Fredrik Ljungkvist (SE) – saxophones
Magnus Broo (SE) – trumpet
Håvard Wiik (N) – piano
Ingebrigt H. Flaten (N) – bass
Paal Nilssen-Love (N) – drums
– ‘they demonstrate a highly developed ability to loosen from the sources without forgetting the reference points. Atomic consist of 5 individualists who give generous lessons in collectivism and fellowship’ (Arild R. Andersen, Aftenposten)
As Atomic started playing together in 1999, Ingebrigt, Håvard and Paal already had worked together for six years, completing the rhythm section of the Coltrane-influenced group Element. Their elegant and strongly communicative interplay, along with an astonishing ability to take the music into new directions, also resulted in collaborations with international notables such as Chris Potter (US), Iain Bellamy (UK), Jukka Perko (FIN) and Per ‘Texas’ Johansson (SE).
Fredrik and Magnus have their backgrounds from a list of leading Swedish jazz groups, such as Per ‘Texas’ Johansson Group, Stockholm Jazz Orch. and LSB (Ljungkvist/Strid/Berthling) Trio. Through years of co-operation they have developed an exceptional musical interaction. In 2002 Fredrik received the annual Swedish jazz prize ‘Jazzkannan’, alongside the title ‘Musician of the year’.
Atomic have performed and toured in Europe, USA and Canada, they have played at festivals in Vancouver, Edinburgh, Helsinki, Perpignan, Reims, Nancy, Umeå (S), Kongsberg (N) and Molde (N), and clubs like the Pizza Express in London, Hemlock Tavern in San Francisco and Blå in Oslo.
ARR: Trondheim Jazzforum
