Elsa nilsson - Band of Pulses

APPEARING: Keychange Showcase @ Nublu

Monday, January 15, 2024

As the recipient of the 2022 CMA New Jazz Works grant, Elsa Nilsson - Band Of Pulses explores the intersection between spoken language and Jazz. “Pulses” uses the voice of Maya Angelou (with permission from Caged bird Legacy) reading “On The Pulse Of Morning” as the foundation for compositions and improvisations, highlighting the intrinsic musicality of her voice by supporting and amplifying the harmonic, rhythmic and melodic content. In their deep dive they found clear echoes of Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane in her phrasing, the blues implicitly and explicitly expressed in her pitches and an intense sense of groove in her rhythms. The ethos of this piece is to highlight that connection and bring the beauty of jazz as communication to the forefront. 

This New York City based band, lead by Elsa Nilsson (Flutes and FX), consists of Rodrigo Recabarren (drums), Santiago Leibson (piano) and Marty Kenney (bass). Nilsson teaches Rhythmic Analysis and Socially Engaged Artistry at The New School as well as her work as a bandleader and collaborator. Paul Rauch of All About Jazz has said about her: “She is the logical choice to provide a next step for her instrument in the world of jazz and improvised music.” Leibson is one of the most sought after pianists in the New York contemporary jazz scene and has played multiple solo recitals at Carnegie Hall as part of the “Sophia Rossoff Presents'' series. Recabarren has worked with artists as Guillermo Klein, Brad Shepik, Melissa Aldana, Camila Meza, Claudia Acuña and many more. He and Elsa developed this piece together. Kenney is an equally creative and sought after bass player and together this band weaves intricate invitations to view Jazz in a fresh light. 

Originally from Gothenburg, Sweden, Brooklyn-based Nilsson is a musical visionary with boundless creativity. A founding member of the Esthesis Quartet, and leader/co-leader of nearly a dozen albums, Nilsson’s growing discography reflects an astute perspective, informed by deep research and immersion. Her adventurous 2022 ears&eyes release, Atlas Of Sound – Coast Redwoods – 41°32’09.8″N 124°04’35.5″W” brought listeners into Redwood National Park, and was praised by Bandcamp’s Dave Sumner as being “as close as you’ll get to being there without actually being there,” adding that it was “yet another intriguing project from Nilsson that touches upon themes of experience, memory, and interconnectedness.” Hindsight, her 2020 release inspired by the street protests after the 2016 election, did the same thing by incorporating the rhythmic cadence of protests and chants and turning them into compelling melodies and motifs. Pulses follows in the footsteps of these great contemporary works by marrying music and the spoken word in impeccable fashion. 

“Pulses” was released on October 6th, 2023 on Ears and Eyes Records with an album release concert at National Sawdust on the same date.