Ljungkvist – Bäckström – Leppänen

Saxophonist and clarinettist Fredrik Ljungkvist (SE), bassist Jonathan Bäckström and drummer Joonas Leppänen join forces to deliver a powerful musical expression deeply rooted in the saxophone trio tradition. They explore the boundaries between form and freedom, approaching composition through a process of collective exploration in which improvisation is seen as a living, constantly evolving process unfolding in the moment. The trio creates music that is immediate, exploratory and fully present.

Fredrik Ljungkvist, a prominent figure in improvised music and jazz since his arrival in Stockholm in 1989, has established himself as one of the most distinctive voices on the Scandinavian jazz scene. Playing both saxophone and clarinet, Ljungkvist is particularly known for his leading role and worldwide tours with the acclaimed Swedish-Norwegian band Atomic, as well as for leading the ensembles Yun Kan 5 and Yun Kan 10.

Jonathan Bäckström is a Finnish bassist, composer and improviser who recently earned his master’s degree from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. Over the past decade, he has made his mark on the Northern European improvised music and jazz scene with his distinctive sound, working in a wide range of acoustic, electro-acoustic and interdisciplinary ensembles.

Joonas Leppänen is a drummer and composer with a highly individual playing style. Throughout his career, he has distinguished himself particularly as a performer of more experimental and playful forms of jazz and improvised music. Along the way, he has had numerous significant opportunities to collaborate with fellow artists, including Darius Jones, Kit Downes, Alabaster DePlume, Verneri Pohjola, Kalle Kalima and Mikko Innanen.

Fredrik Ljungkvist (SE): saxophones, clarinets
Jonathan Bäckström: double bass
Joonas Leppänen: drums

The concert is supported by City of Helsinki, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.