Koma Saxo: Post Koma (WeJazz)
Petter Eldh: double bass, electric bass, guitar, keyborads, sampler
Mikko Innanen: alto saxophone
Sofia Jernberg: voice
Jonas Kullhammar: tenor saxophone, flute, voice
Maciej Obara: alto saxophone
Otis Sandsjö: tenor saxophone
Christian Lillinger: drums
When bassist and producer Petter Eldh (Gard Nilssen Acoustic Unity, Amor Amok, Punkt.Vrt.PLastik) brought his brilliant Koma Saxo project to Molde Jazz Festival this past summer, he had renamed it Post Koma. Presumably since, while many of the parts remained intact, both in terms of personnel and musical elements, some had changed. Altoist Mikko Innanen was not present, but the otherworldly voice of Sofia Jernbärg was. And whereas the band’s first releases utilized the malleability of jazz to blend or cut and paste influences from hip-hop and electro, they now leaned heavily into folk songs and forms as well.
With the new album given the title Post Koma while the project name back to what it was, one would think we’d be getting a bit of both of those sides of Eldh’s interests. With all previous members involved, as well as new associate Majiec Obara, albeit never on the same track — Eldh is the only constant on these 13 pieces — this instead stretches the sound established on their previous albums into new territories. Of the many highlights here is the glorious “Stunens Hetta” (which translates into “Heat of the Moment”), which starts off with a catchy cool jazz-like, three pronged saxophone riff over a swinging rhythmic drive only to suddenly shoot off into blistering, free wheeling mode. Other stand outs include “Portal Koma” with its deep, bass heavy groove, and the ghostly ballad “Omkomma Hemma”.