Das Madchen
Das Madchen is a Swedish freejazz group formed in Gothenburg already in the mid-1970s. The somewhat odd name was originally chosen to indicate that the band was inspired by the German avantgarde jazz scene.
Das Madchen is somewhat related to modern American jazz fusion, but has its strongest bonds to the European freejazz tradition. The newly re-organized group is now more a project with an aim to play improvised music, based on original compositions. Most of the band members have studied music at university organisations and are, or have been, professional musicians for many years.
The band today consists of five members:
Bosse S: plays electric bass and tuba, studied music at Gothenburg University and has been working as a multi-instrumental musician and composer at the Swedish national child theatre scene Backa Teater in Gothenburg since the late 1970s.
Eskil P: plays electric piano and trombone, studied music at Gothenburg University and has been working as a professional musician for many years.
Ulf S: plays saxophones and trumpet, and was working as a musician at Angereds Teater in Gothenburg for many years.
Daniel Ekborg: plays trumpet, and has been working as a musician at Backa Teater for many years.
Peeter U: plays drums, and has played and recorded with freejazz musicians like Cecil Taylor, Peter Brötzmann and the Swedish freejazz legend Frippe Nordström.
Stefan T: plays electric guitars, has been involved in jazz fusion and avantgarde groups since the mid-1970s.
Music: Demo "Für Alle", recorded rehearsals March 2008
Buy CDs: Still not available
Booking; bo.stenholm2@comhem.se
Contact: bo.stenholm2@comhem.se
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Das Mädchen is mainly a live band building its performances on collective improvisations.
Your musical influences
The original influences came from the German and English avantgarde scene, with Brötzmann and Mangelsdorff, Evan Parker and Derek Bailey. The band sometimes play in a free Nordic folktone style. Some tunes are inspired by modern symphonic composers like Shostakovich and Stravinskij.
What equipment do you use?
Bo S: Hohner stick bass, EBS bass combo
Eskil P: Fender Rhodes piano, Jupiter trombone
Peeter U.: Gretsch drums
Ulf S: Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone
Stefan T: Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion, Gibson Les Paul-SG, Godin Artisan ST-1
