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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.

Per Thornberg: Skivsläpp
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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SWEETSPOT REVISITED

ALBUM
• 2022 12 31 •

Sweetspot Revisited is a one mic recording with a jazz quartet. Six songs with saxophone, guitar, double bass and drums. The album features all four musicians in a responsive interaction and makes you feel really good.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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OCEAN VIBE

SINGLE
• 2022 06 10 •

This summer song is another beautiful composition from Per Thornberg. The saxophone performance is excellent, and together with the drum track with lots of swing, you will really feel the happy feelings that comes with the summer warmth.

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TWIN SOULS

SINGLE
• 2022 04 08 •

Recorded live at Glenn Miller Café in Stockholm, this elegant performance embraces a nostalgia and intimacy brought to life by a stellar rhythm section, charming harmonic lines and a beautiful melody that will surely linger and echo in your mind long after.

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IN MOTION

SINGLE
• 2022 02 19 •

The first release of 2022 from Per Thornberg, is a groovy song with high energy, where the organ is prominent in the soundscape.

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THE SWEETSPOT SESSIONS

EP
• 2021 12 31 •

This is a five song strong EP, recorded with just one microphone in a perfect sounding room at Sweetspot Studios. Besides the already released singles, you get a uptempo version of the song SWEETSPOT, cleverly named AN EVEN SWEETER SPOT.

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IN MEMORIAM

SINGLE
• 2021 11 19 •

The final single from the coming EP THE SWEETSPOT SESSIONS. IN MEMORIAM has a nice bolero rhythm as its backbone, which gives the song a unique twist.

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FIGURES AND MOVEMENT

SINGLE
• 2021 10 08 •

The third single from the project THE SWEETSPOT SESSIONS, has a higher tempo than the previous two. A nice groovy song with only three instruments - drums, bass and of course saxophone.

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SWEETSPOT

SINGLE
• 2021 08 27 •

SWEETSPOT is the second single from the upcoming EP THE SWEETSPOT SESSIONS. The song makes the mind immediately head over to some smoky jazz club in New York. The music is recorded with only one microphone in a well-sounding room, which gives a unique sound.

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THOUGHTS

SINGLE
• 2021 07 20 •

THOUGHTS is the first single from the upcoming EP THE SWEETSPOT SESSIONS. The music is recorded with only one microphone in a well-sounding room. To get a balanced sound, the musicians had to find the right placement in the room. Exciting and unique!

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CITY PULSE

SINGLE
• 2021 06 11 •

CITY PULSE is a groovy beat-blues by Per Thornberg, arranged for jazz quartet: tenor sax, grand piano, double bass and drums. The South African pianist Andrew Lilley makes a guest appearance with a really nice piano track.

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SALMON RISING

SINGLE
• 2021 04 16 •

SALMON RISING was written with Walter Bengtsson's famous sculpture LAXEN GÅR UP as inspiration. Drums, Moog bass and saxophone ... what more could you possibly need?

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THE DARKNESS

SINGLE
• 2021 02 19 •

Sometimes the minimalistic is quite enough. In this song, Per Thornberg proves that with just his saxophone he can evoke great emotions in the listeners. Take a portion of melancholy, a pinch of folk tone and mix with dazzling melody lines, and you get THE DARKNESS.

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HESELDON ROAD

SINGLE
• 2021 01 15 •

The first release from Per Thornberg in 2021, is a funky creation with a higher tempo. Michael Bester on electric guitar, based in Cape Town, South Africa, is a highly interesting guest musician. The song is inspired by the good things in life!

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CLOUDS

SINGLE
• 2020 12 11 •

An instrumental, beautiful, relaxing song based around the grand piano. Per's saxophone makes a really delicious solo. Despite the slow tempo, the song offers a nice groove. The song is inspired by artist Karin Almlöf's painting MOLNET.

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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.

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THE STARTER

SINGLE
• 2020 08 28 •

A fairly simple, classic jazz blues played on a trio without chord instruments: Per Thornberg on tenor saxophone, Mattias Grönroos on double bass and Michael Edlund on drums. Dynamic and creative interplay with harmonious freedom and space.

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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 .

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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.

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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.

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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.

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A PLACE FOR YOU

ALBUM
• 2018 10 12 •

An album with both instrumental and vocal songs. Lineup: Per Thornberg  on tenor saxophone, Vivian Buczek on vocals, Carl Mörner Ringström plays guitar, Lasse Mörck on double bass and Snorre Kirk plays drums.

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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.

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GUIDELINES

ALBUM
• 2011 06 27 •

An album with Thornberg's own compositions and arrangements in focus. Instrumentals and songs with vocals, in different settings, styles and varying instrumentation. Cover art by the artist Alexius Huber.

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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.

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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!

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DYNAMISK DIALOG

ALBUM
• 2003 09 15 •

An album with melodic compositions where jazz meets folk tones, including classical folk dancing songs with a twist. Per Thornberg on tenor saxophone and keyboard, Fredrik Davidsson on trumpet and Magnus Helgesson on drums and percussion.

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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.

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