PER THORNBERG
Per Thornberg has a very extensive list of qualifications. He is a jazz musician, tenor saxophonist, teacher in improvisation, lecturer, author of educational books, composer and art critic.
Per Thornberg enjoys working together with visual artists in crossover projects between music and art. He has performed with Lars Jansson, Jacob Karlzon, Arne Domnérus, Bobo Stenson, Jan Lundgren, Carl Allen, Adrian Mears, Mike del Ferro among others. He has also contributed to radio, TV and several recordings. A great example is his solo in the end of the song "Kom ut till stranden" with pop phenomenon Per Gessle. He became “Jazz teacher of the year” in Sweden 2014.
Along with concert tours in Sweden, Per Thornberg has performed as guest artist in Denmark, Norway, France, South Africa, Italy, Spain, Germany, Australia, USA and U.K.
LOVE WALKED IN
SINGLE
• 2024 02 09 •
This release marks the start of the duo project between Per Thornberg and Hans Backenroth. It's a beautiful, medium swing jazz standard by George Gershwin. The duo setting creates a unique sound with a lot of space, and you can truly feel and hear the responsive and dynamic interaction between the musicians.
GUESTS
SINGLE
• 2023 12 29 •
This album encapsulates Per Thornberg's year. Titled GUESTS, it comprises a total of 14 tracks, each featuring a distinct guest artist. Eleven of these tracks have already been released individually as singles, one per month. Despite exploring various styles and soundscapes, the common thread throughout remains jazz.
COASTLINE
SINGLE
• 2023 12 08 •
Per Thornberg's latest composition draws inspiration from the captivating nature and landscapes of the West Coast of Sweden. Infused with impressions from leisurely walks and jogs, the music transforms these experiences into vibrant musical art. Renowned guitarist Peter "Spunk" Bengtsson contributes to the piece.
STRIERN
SINGLE
• 2023 11 10 •
Striern is a small lake in Sweden, and a great source of inspiration. The view over the lake can shift quickly with fog in the morning, sunlight during the day and darkness during the evening. In the music you can hear these shifts instrumented in the arrangement. Different layers which capture the listener.
FOREST SPIRITS
SINGLE
• 2023 10 13 •
FOREST SPIRITS is a song with a groovy beat featuring the amazing Swedish trumpeter Peter Asplund. The music is composed for the inauguration of a stone sculpture in Halmstad, Sweden, made by the artist Dagmar Glemme. A great example of interaction by music and art as a common expression.
WAVES
SINGLE
• 2023 09 15 •
WAVES is inspired by paintings by the Swedish artist Karin Almlöf. The song is a swinging bebop blues in the jazz tradition with unison phrases on the melody which capture the flowing wavelines in Almlöf’s art. Per Thornberg on saxophone, Andrew Lilley (Cape Town, South Africa) on piano, Max Thornberg on double bass and Micke Vigh Svensson on drums.
HERRVIK
SINGLE
• 2023 08 18 •
Herrvik is a small village on the Swedish island Gotland where the artist Lage Lindell had a summer house and studio. After an inspiring visit, Per Thornberg composed this melodic summer jazz waltz. He invited the South African saxophonist Dan Shout as a guest musician on the recording.
THE SILVER TENORS
SINGLE
• 2023 07 21 •
The Silver Tenors is a minor blues in bossa nova style. This time with guest musician Dave O’Higgins. Per met Dave the first time at a jazz festival in South Africa in the summer of 2008, where they performed together. The two tenors have same preferences in jazz but different personalities, sound and expression.
EASY LIVING
SINGLE
• 2023 06 23 •
EASY LIVING is a beautiful jazzballad from the great American songbook, in a classical quartet setting with tenor saxophone, piano, bass and drums. The improvised solo contains melodic flowing lines with a great sound from Pers Selmer SBA saxophone manufactured in the golden year of 1951.
SHADES
SINGLE
• 2023 05 26 •
SHADES is like a musical painting. Layers of harmonics become a relief, where the melodic instruments from the pointed brushstrokes build up the contours. There is also a connection to John Coltrane's music in the sixties, but with a more fragile touch. The well known trumpet player Mårten Lundgren has a big part in the song.
LIGHT COMES
SINGLE
• 2023 04 28 •
This soft, melodic, song features Gicken Johansson on electric bass who plays and interprets the melody. It’s a varied arrangement with bass, drums, percussion, fender rhodes, vibraphone and tenor saxophone. The music is inspired by poetic paintings and suggestive photos by the Swedish visual artist Karin Almlöf.
A MAN AND HIS MIND
SINGLE
• 2023 03 31 •
The half-time swing and suspended chords during the melody, brings a mellow energy that allows the band to build into more hard-swinging territories during the solos. Thornberg’s soulful blues and modern post-Trane lines, and Erik Söderlind’s similarly soulful hard-bop flavored guitar playing, complement each other perfectly.
TRUST
SINGLE
• 2023 02 10 •
Per Thornberg's first single in 2023 is a beautiful jazz ballad called TRUST, inspired by the artist Karin Almlöf work. Her poetic painting is reflected in the melodic and sensitive music performed by Per Thornberg on tenor saxophone and keyboards, and Carl Persson on drums. A symbiosis of jazz and visual art.
THE SENSITIVE EAR
SINGLE
• 2022 11 18 •
This is the fourth single to be released from The Sweetspot Revisited session, a one mic recording with a jazz quartet. The song has flowing melodic lines with moving harmonies, played in a relaxed Bossa Nova style. This dynamic version features all four musicians in a responsive interaction and makes you feel good.
THE OPEN DOOR
SINGLE
• 2022 10 07 •
The Open Door is the third single to be released from The Sweetspot Revisited-session. The song is a swinging jazz tune in medium up tempo, composed and arranged by Per Thornberg. It's written in the jazz hard bop tradition with flowing melodic lines and rhythmic awareness.
SUMMER NIGHT
SINGLE
• 2022 08 26 •
Summer Night is the second single from the Sweetspot Revisited session, a one mic recording with tenor saxophone, electric guitar, double bass and drums. The song is a soft, melodic ballad, which features the individual personalities of the musicians. The music captures the feeling of true Swedish summer nights.
BACK AT SWEETSPOT
SINGLE
• 2022 07 15 •
This is the first single from the second session at Sweetspot Studio, recorded with only one microphone - precisely placed to capture the full band. This time it is a quartet session with saxophone, electric guitar, upright bass and drums. BACK AT SWEETSPOT is a medium relaxed jazz blues with inspiration of Thelonious Monk.
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THE POINT
SINGLE
• 2020 10 23 •
Melodic lines and "groovy" rhythm section with Per Thornberg on tenor saxophone, Robert Tjäderkvist on electric piano, Simon Petersson on double bass and Hannes Olbers on drums. A symbiosis between art and jazz improvisation that happens in the moment - live in the studio. The song is inspired by the artist Lage Lindell.
THE LIGHT
SINGLE
• 2020 06 26 •
The song is a melodic jazz waltz played by Per Thornberg on tenor saxophone, piano and keyboard, and Michael Edlund behind the drums. The moods of light are important to the artist and are interpreted in composition and improvisation. The song is inspired by the painting LJUSET by the artist Karin Almlöf .
FREE TREE FLOW
SINGLE
• 2020 03 18 •
The source of inspiration for the song is a glass sculpture titled The Tree of Life by artist Dagmar Glemme. Influences from both jazz and folk music and various cosmic sounds. Per Thornberg plays tenor saxophone and keyboard, Carl Mörner Ringström plays guitar and Magnus Helgesson plays drums.
LINES & WAVES
SINGLE
• 2020 01 26 •
The piece is in two movements, the first of which is for solo saxophone with vertical lines. The other with saxophone and synth pads and horizontal lines. Per Thornberg plays all instruments. The song is Inspired by the oil painting BLUE RHYTHM by the artist Signe Lanje.
BLUE CONCEPT
ALBUM
• 2019 03 25 •
An album with a classic Hammond Trio setting: Per Thornberg on tenor saxophone, and the Danish musicians Kjeld Lauritsen on organ and Andreas Svendsen on drums. Original songs by Thornberg and selected jazz standards performed in a nice mix. Recorded live in the studio.
LINES FOR LAGE
ALBUM
• 2016 12 19 •
An album which is a tribute to the artist Lage Lindell (1920-1980) with Thornberg's own songs in combination with jazz standards. Per Thornberg plays tenor saxophone, Magnus Hjorth sits behind the piano, Lasse Mörck plays double bass and Snorre Kirk handles the drums. Arts and jazz in a nice interplay.
THE SIX ELEMENTS
ALBUM
• 2009 07 27 •
The soundtrack to the art film THE SIX ELEMENTS that Thornberg made together with the artist Dagmar Glemme in 2009. The physical elements earth, air, fire and water are supplemented with art and music. Stylistically in the jazz idiom with influences of folk, classical, and more.
MUSICAL LANDSCAPE
ALBUM
• 2009 06 29 •
This album was recorded live at the Glenn Miller Café in Stockholm in 2009. Thornberg's own compositions are mixed with jazz standards and performed by Per Thornberg on tenor saxophone, Martin Sjöstedt on piano, Max Thornberg on double bass and Calle Rasmusson on drums. Music created in the moment in front of an enthusiastic audience at a legendary jazz club!
IN FOCUS
ALBUM
• 1999 05 10 •
An album where the music consists of original songs by Thornberg performed in various settings such as trio, quartet and quintet. Per Thornberg on tenor saxophone, Carl-Axel Andersson behind the piano, Rolf Nilsson on guitar, Stefan Tesslie on double bass and Raymond Karlsson on drums.
