Welcome to the official homepage of Anders Jormin   biography selected discography reviews links, contact & downloads

biography

Anders Jormin was born 1957 in Jönköping, Sweden. After intense studies, he left Musikhögskolan in Göteborg with diplomas in double-bass and improvisation / pedagogy in 1979. Today as a doublebass-player and composer, AJ is a frequent and highly respected performer on the international concert scene. As a musician in great demand, AJ has recorded and toured with many of the legends in jazz. Among others : Gilberto Gil, Lee Konitz, Elvin Jones, Joe Henderson, Don Cherry, Charles Lloyd, Mike Mainieri, Joe Lovano, and Jack deJohnette, as well as Kenny Wheeler, Albert Mangelsdorff, Tomasz Stanko, Dino Saluzzi, John Surman, John Taylor, Marilyn Mazur, Arve Henriksen, Mark Feldman , Paul Motian, Joey Baron, Tom Rainey , Jon Balke, Vertavo string quartet , Ann-Sofi von Otter, Norma Winstone and Marilyn Crispell. For many years, AJ was also a front figure in one of Scandinavias foremost ensembles, "Entra". AJ today performs regularly all over Europe, USA/Canada, and Japan, but has also for shorter periods performed and studied ethnic music in Cuba and Mocambique. At the present AJ is a member of Bobo Stenson trio, and the unique swedish group "dr Dingo". AJ is also constantly creating new projects of his own, highly appreciating challenging work on local and national level as well as his international obligations. AJ is an "ECM recording artist".

As a composer, AJ has a rich production for various ensembles in contemporary jazz/chamber music. Among his commissioned works are: for I.S.C.M "Jord" for SAMI "Post scriptum" for Gothenburg int. Jazz Festival "Eight pieces" for Swedish Radio (SR) "Ytterligare åtta" "Silvae" for Stockholm - 98 "Utkast" for Musik i Västernorrland "Rävjakten" (for woodwind quintet/childrens choir) for H.M. the queen of Norway "Skogar-hav" for Mats Bergström "Three angels" for the cathedral of Västerås,Sweden "Bortom" for Sundsvall Chamber Orchestra "Scores of winterlight" for Umeå Sinfonietta "Whitman intonations" for the Altenberg trio "Hemingway intonations" for Jönköping Sinfonietta and chamber choir "Mellan alltid och aldrig- an oratorio" for Swedish Jazz celebration 2010 "Klotter"

In Sweden, AJ has been given several prizes and awards, such as the rare "Jan Johanssson - award", the Swedish radio prize Guldkatten and The Royal academy of music´s Big prize. His solobass recording "Alone" won "Record of the year - all categories worldwide" in 1991. He is four times winner of the swedish "Grammy" - award for best jazz recording. On a part - time basis, AJ has for almost 30 years been a teacher of doublebass and improvisation at Musikhögskolan in Göteborg (School of music and drama/ Gothenburg university) , where he has initiated and participated in building up a strong and leading improvised music department. AJ is also a lecturer much in demand at clinics, master-classes and workshops all over Europe. 1995 AJ was given a professorship at Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. 2002 he was given a professorship also at Högskolan för scen och musik in Sweden. 2003 Anders Jormin was given an honorary doctorate- the title "doctor honoris causa"- together with Esa-Pekka Salonen and Georg Sokolov, at Sibelius-academy, Finland. AJ is, as the first contemporary improviser ever, a member of the swedish Royal Academy of music, and, since 2009, also a member of its executive board. In Sweden. AJ has recorded around 80 CD/ LP's. As a leader he has, so far, released twelve albums featuring his compositions and arrangements. (See the selected discography)

reviews   "The sound he gets, the fills he executes, his soloing ability in and out of chord changes is amazing. For me he is one of the world´s greatest bassists." (Dave Liebman, Hunters and Gatherers) "Jormin is a treasure - everything a bassist should be" (Down beat, USA) "Formidable Jormin´s mastery came through in his solointroductions. He is one of the finest living jazzbassists, whose instrumental command and intonation are so seamless, he makes it look easier than it is. He is a virtuoso, but deep, natural musicality prevents him from grandstanding". (Los Angeles Times ) On his CD "Silvae": "Anders Jormin is, both as a composer and soloist, a magician of absolute worldclass......What a constellation! This piece of art sounds fantastic! Brilliant music." (OJ, Sweden) "Anders Jormin who must be counted among the most interesting jazz bassists in the world continues introducing us to his incredibly strong compositions and studio groups ....... "Silvae" is Jormin's finest album to date, clearly a bullseye!" (Soundi, Finland) On his CD "Xieyi" "To enjoy Xieyi is to stay in a musical garden of zen" (Dagens nyheter,Sweden) "Jormin relies on a perfectly honed melodic sense and an impassioned, lyrical approach to solo bass language that relies as much on folk and classical influence as it does on jazz. His technique, though impressive, is never allowed to grandstand and is completely at the service of the music (though there are occasions when the listener is led to wonder exactly how many hands he posseses). It´s the warm, dark song of Jormin´s bass thats at the heart of this impressive and rewarding release. " ( BBC Music, England) " A feat- nothing less" (Gramophone/Korea) On his CD "In winds, in light" "Jormin´s pure pursuit of musicality and art places substance far ahead of style. This hour-long performance transcends definition- it is music to be felt, to be experienced, and to be absorbed as a whole. Compelling, provocative and evocative, with "In winds, in light" Jormin asserts that music should not be about technical prowess, rather it is about taking extra-ordinary ability and creating something deeply personal and spiritually moving" (Allaboutjazz /USA) "You come to think of such major and important works as John Coltrane´s "A Love Supreme" or the "Sacred concert´s" by Duke Ellington. With "In winds, in light", Anders Jormin brings another major piece that adds a european dimension to this tradition." (Der Bund/ Switzerland) On his CD "AVIAJA" "While he possesses the kind of technical facility that makes most bassists scratch their head in wonder, Jormin has always been more concerned with making his instrument sing, and playing music that touches the heart in the most personal of ways. Aviaja´s intimacy is so personal that it almost feels like intruding on a private conversation.... Aviaja remains vivid long after the final song is over." (Allaboutjazz, USA) On his CD "Ad Lucem" Anders Jormin continues to impress and Ad Lucem reinvents the more contemporary ideas of the modern song cycle into a vastly different and far more creative realm than what has previously been attempted. A stirring work of great depth and subtle character. (Critical Jazz) Ad Lucem remains defined by Jormin—one of but a very few players of this low register instrument who can truly make a bass sing.  (Allaboutjazz)

selected discography

As a leader Nordic light (Dragon) Eight pieces (Dragon) Alone (Dragon) Jord (Dragon) Once (Dragon) Silvae (Dragon) Xieyi (ECM) In winds, in light (ECM) Aviaja (Footprint records) Songs in meantone (Footprint) Ad lucem (ECM) Between Always and Never (Swedish society) With Charles Lloyd (all on ECM) Notes from Big Sur The call All my relations Canto With Bobo Stenson trio Very early (Dragon) Reflections (ECM) War orphans (ECM) Serenity (ECM) Goodbye (ECM) Cantando (ECM) INDICUM (ECM) With Tomasz Stanko Bosanossa (Gowi) Matka Joanna (ECM) Liosia (ECM) From the green hill (ECM) With Don Cherry Dona Nostra (ECM) With Elvin Jones / Albert Mangelsdorff Hot hut (EMI) With Bendik/Django Bates (all on Verve) Metamorphoses Colours With Entra Live lights (Timeless) Ballet (LJ Records) In Concert (LJ Records) With Magnetic north Further (ECM) Solarized (EmArcy) Kyanos (ECM) With Mats Gustafsson / Christian Jormin Opus Apus (LJ Records) With Dr Dingo New Age (IAM) Relaxin' at Kartong Inn (GAC) With Mark Feldman What exit (ECM) With Sinikka Langeland Starflowers (ECM) THE LAND IS NOT (ECM) With Morten Halle Ten easy pieces (Curling legs) Kenny Wheeler/ John Abercrombie It takes two! (CAM) With Rita Marcotulli Koiné (Suoni music) With Mats Bergström Perceptions of time (Caprice) With Oslo chamber choir Kyst (Footprint)

links, contact & downloads

GAC (Göteborg Artist Center) ECM Dragon Records LJ Records xgac download (photo by Ann-Sofie Öman) download download   For a complete discography and list of works, as well as updating and contact, please send e-mail to anders.jormin@hsm.gu.se webmaster & design by norrstroems updated jan 9, 2013