Svante Henryson – electric bass, cello, composition
Joakim Milder – tenor and soprano saxophones
Jon Balke – piano, synth
Morgan Ågren – drums
Back to Base features 4 of the most interesting and innovative musicians in today’s Scandinavian scene, and traces its musical roots to the high energy melting pot of ‘70s electric jazz.
Svante Henryson once started out on the electric bass, long before picking up the cello. He has played bass in metal bands like Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force, in funk and R&B bands, and in front of symphony orchestras playing his electric bass concerti. Joakim Milder played with Paul Bley, Tomasz Stanko, Bobo Stenson, Palle Danielsson as well as his own bands. He is Professor of Jazz at the Royal College of Music, and leader of Norrbotten Big Band. Like Svante Henryson he is a member of the Royal Academy of Music.
Jon Balke is an ECM recording artist. He joined Arild Andersen’s quartet in his teens, and has been the leader and composer of projects like Siwan, Jøkleba, Batagraf and Magnetic North Orchestra of which Svante Henryson was a member.
Morgan Ågren is, like Svante Henryson, from Umeå in northern Sweden. Since childhood he has played with another prodigy from Umeå; Mats Öberg on keyboards. Frank Zappa invited them to join his band, but sadly passed away shortly after. Morgan also played with Squarepusher, Magma, Bill Laswell, Steve Vai et al.