Home » Jazz Articles » My Playlist » Mattias St?hl: What I'm Listening To Now

Mattias St?hl: What I'm Listening To Now

Mattias Ståhl: What I'm Listening To Now

View Slideshow

Courtesy Kjell Oscarsson

By Vincenzo Roggero
November 27, 2022
View read count

Mattias St?hl is a Swedish jazz vibraphonist, multi-instrumentalist and composer. A key figure on the nordic jazz scene, he is active both as a leader and a sideman in countless projects including

Eirik Hegdal

saxophone, soprano

" data-original-title="" title="">Eirik Hegdal's Team Hegdal, the

Trondheim Jazz Orchestra

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.2000

" data-original-title="" title="">Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, IPA and many more.

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk, Solo Monk, (Columbia, 1965).

I always return to this one, I listen to a lot of Bach but after a while I need something to shake loose, Monk has the recipe. I prefer him often solo or in a trio, this one is essential.

2.

Getatchew Mekurya

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Getatchew Mekurya, Negus of Ethiopian Sax , (Philips, 1970).

Fantastic music, these waltzes with one chord repeating over and over and the amazing hypnotic vibe.

3. The

Charles Lloyd

saxophone
b.1938

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Lloyd Quartet, Dream Weaver, (Atlantic, 1966).

Lots of energy and vitality in this supergroup, a smashing start with their first album!. I love Lloyd's somewhat fumbling flute playing at "Autumn Sequence," the mysterious moody intro before a magic renewal of a worn out standard tune. When it comes to

Keith Jarrett

piano
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Keith Jarrett,I'm a huge fan of his early years. I love it when he plays an upright piano... no problem even when it might be a bit out of tune, with no ECM patented reverb etc. More friction and excitement, less perfection.

4.

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins, A Night at the Village Vanguard, (Blue Note, 1958).

Unbeatable trio, swings so much I get happy each time. I shook his hand once!

5.

Paul Bley

piano
1932 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Bley, With
Gary Peacock
bass, acoustic
1935 - 2020
" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Peacock, (ECM, 1970).

"Long Ago and Far Away..." Paul Bley flies on top of it, some hints of traditional structure, then parallel worlds, flying but still grounded somehow! Harmonic layers on top of each other, like Charles Ives or something... you can fly along with it too. Recorded in 1963.

6. Jazz Composers Orchestra, Jazz Composers Orchestra , (JCOA, 1968).

A masterpiece with the creme de la creme of the avant-garde:

Don Cherry

trumpet
1936 - 1995

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Cherry,

Pharoah Sanders

saxophone, tenor
1940 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Pharoah Sanders,

Carla Bley

piano
1938 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Carla Bley,

Cecil Taylor

piano
1929 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Cecil Taylor etc. Fantastic and powerful compositions by

Michael Mantler

trumpet
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Mantler pointing to different directions... chaos and order. Listen to "Preview"" with Sanders and get knocked!

7. Friends and Neighbors, The Earth Is #, (Clean Feed, 2021).

A burning quintet! The classic setting in itself is a challenge and these guys pull it off with great tunes, interplay and solos. Grammy—nominated in Norway.

8. Carla Bley, {m: Gary Burton = 5485}}, A Genuine Tong Funeral, (RCA, 1968).

Carla Bley's fantastic music with a fantastic band (with

Steve Lacy

saxophone, soprano
1934 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Lacy and

Gato Barbieri

saxophone
1934 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Gato Barbieri among others) brings out the best of

Gary Burton

vibraphone
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Burton's playing. It's a warm and absurd marching band that tells you a hell of a story.

Karl Berger

vibraphone
1935 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Karl Berger, From Now On, (ESP Disk, 1967).

Energy! Raw and dirty sound with

Carlos Ward

saxophone, alto
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Carlos Ward,

Ed Blackwell

drums
1929 - 1992

" data-original-title="" title="">Ed Blackwell and

Henry Grimes

bass, acoustic
1935 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Henry Grimes.

10. Jan Johansson, Georg Riedel, R?relser (Megafon, 1963).

Ballet music in different settings from Stockholm, with two musical heroes of mine. Complex and easy, swinging and swagging.

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Anthony Orgeta, Johnny Hodges & Owen...
< Previous

Charged Particles' Michael Brecker T...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.