Elsa Nilsson & Band of Pulses

Elsa Nilsson & Band of Pulses create suggestive and boundary-crossing music where the improvisation of jazz meets influences from the sounds of nature and urban rhythms. By combining both acoustic and electronic elements, the band explores the music hidden in the soundscapes of everyday life. Nilsson's flute playing is both technically impressive and deeply emotional, and together with Santiago Leibson's lyrical piano playing, Marty Kenney's dynamic bass lines, and Rodrigo Recabarren's rhythmic experimentation on drums, they create music that is simultaneously powerful and meditative.

This evening, the group will perform the suite Pulses, based on Elsa Maya Angelou's voice, highlighting the musical essence of her poetry. They will also play new material from the series Lullabies for a World on Fire as well as works from Elsa Nilsson's previous albums. Together, they create a musical experience that blurs the boundaries between music and sound, poetry and improvisation, inviting the audience into a world filled with both contemplation and energy.

Elsa Nilsson, originally from Gothenburg, has lived in New York since 2010 and is now considered one of the most exciting flutists and composers in the jazz world. She has received several awards, including first prize in the 2018 National Flute Association's Jazz Flute Competition and multiple grants from Chamber Music America, including the 2022 New Jazz Works grant for the piece Pulses with Band of Pulses, which we will hear this evening. Her music transcends genre boundaries and unites improvisation with social engagement and a strong connection to elements of nature.

Band of Pulses consists of some of New York's most prominent jazz musicians: Santiago Leibson, an Argentine jazz pianist based in Brooklyn, whose music operates at the intersection of jazz, contemporary, and classical music. Marty Kenney, a responsive and creative bassist who has toured and recorded with many prominent musicians, excelling in both small and large ensembles. Rodrigo Recabarren, a Chilean drummer and composer who continuously explores rhythm and sound through improvisation and cross-genre collaborations.

The group has toured extensively at festivals in Chile, New York, Seattle, and Los Angeles. Elsa is now looking forward to bringing this band back to Sweden, where they offer a unique musical experience filled with technical brilliance and emotional resonance.

On stage:
Elsa Nilsson – flute
Santiago Leibson – piano
Marty Kenney – bass
Rodrigo Recabarren – drums