Martina entered the European scene in 2007 when she teamed up with Scottish saxophonist Laura Macdonald (Open Book 2008) and has now participated in several international projects, for example Tom Bancroft´s Band of Eden, Nikki Iles Quintet and in trio with pianist Zoe Rahman.
She teaches occasionally improvisation classes at the Academy of Music and Drama at the University in Gothenburg.
RHYTHM AND BEAT have always fascinated me......
Surrounded by music as a child I started to play the piano soon followed by the flute. In my late teens I was caught entirely by the drums and the freedom of improvisation. Some years later I started to compose.
I live near Gothenburg in Sweden. Besides being a freelance musician in various constellations I lead my own bands.
Björn Almgren - sax
Tommy Kotter - pi
Owe Almgren - b
Martina Almgren - dr
This group started in 1998, with Marcos Ubeda at the piano. Tommy joined the band in 2003. So far we have been frequently touring and released 4 CDs . "September" 1999, "Leaving Home" 2001, "Unden" 2003, "Bingo" 2005.
De spelar äkta och levande jazz, med en påtaglig dynamisk beat. I väven finns inslag av den fria jazz som utvecklades under exempelvis Ornette Coleman och Don Cherry, men modifierad och mixad med andra rytmiska element.
Och det som håller samman det hela är Martina Almgrens otroligt smidiga och följsamma trumspel, som liksom lindar sig runt de övriga musikernas kraftfulla och mustiga uttryck. Och Martina Almgren gör det utan att det känns påträngande, det är ett närmast koreografiskt spel, som mera smeker än pushar.
Det är Martina Almgren som står för det musikaliska materialet, melodiskt, rytmiskt varierande alltifrån veka ballader till hetsigare och mer bubblande låtar. Det blir aldrig långtråkigt. Stadgan står elbasen Owe Almgren för, i kombination med finessrikt solospel. Det unisona samspelet med brorsan Björns tenorsax får ibland kvartetten att låta större än den är och till det bidrar också Tommy Kotters underfundiga och pulserande pianospel."
GUNNAR LINDGREN Norrbottenskuriren 2005
Oh Yeah Orchestra got a "flying" start by playing live in Swedish Television 2004. After that followed successful concerts at festivals and jazz clubs and live performances in radio. In 2009 Martina composed "Freedom of Movement" on commission from Swedish Jazz Celebration. Debut CD released in oct 2011.
Jazzclub Fasching, Stockholm 2006.
Lisen Rylander- sax
Björn Almgren - sax
Staffan Svensson/ Magnus Broo- tpt
Karin Burman - voice
Niclas Rydh - tbn
Petra Lundin - vcl
Tommy Kotter - pi
Owe Almgren - b
Ebba Westerberg - perc
Martina Almgren - dr
MARTINA & LAURA
A collaboration with scottish saxophonist Laura Macdonald.
CD "Open Book" 2008.
Laura Macdonald-Martina Almgren Quartet, The Lot, Edinburgh February 06 2008
"...the pair, who got together as part of last February's Jazz from Sweden initiative and have cemented the partnership with subsequent gigs and a brand-new CD, are producing some of the freshest-sounding jazz on the current scene.
They share composing credits equally and while both show a liking for dance metres, there's a variety of approach in their writing that over two 45-minute sets makes for a really satisfying and stimulating listen."
Rob Adams
Edinburgh Jazzfestival 2008, with Steve Hamilton - piano
and Mario Caribé - bass.
BAS & BATTERI
Djuplodande basal jazz för percussiva trumhinnor! Deep basal jazz for a percussive ear drum!
I got the idea to compose for bass instruments - drums and percussion together with double bass, electric bass and tuba.
An opportunity to be the focus for us, as is often the backup. So far we have had some fantatstic gigs and hope that more will discover the charm of our special constellation.
Owe Almgren - electric bass
Niclas Rydh - tuba
Martina Almgren - drums/percussion
