Gush - Afro Blue (Live) (2024)

Saxophonist Mats Gustafsson is notorious for his prolific nature and constantly expanding circle of collaborators, but few of his partnerships have been as powerful and profound as Gush, the Swedish trio which formed way back in 1988 and celebrates its 36th anniversary in 2024. This performance was captured live at the famous Stockholm jazz venue Fasching on December 17, 1998, and the music excited all three musicians when they revisited it this year. The album is named for the Mongo Santamaria tune, which John Coltrane famously made his own, and the 19-minute account Gush offers captures its own bold transformation of the piece. That performance is preceded by the two-part Sandell theme “Behind the Chords”, a thrilling free jazz workout that sets the tone for “Afro Blue.”

Mats Gustafsson – soprano and tenor sax
Sten Sandell – piano
Raymond Strid - drums