Review – Orkesterjournalen No. 2, 2025

Peter Danemo is a sought-after drummer who has consistently run his own projects alongside his work—such as Meloscope and Peter Danemo Kapell, for example. And of course, LED, the group for which Danemo arranged Led Zeppelin songs. His already extensive discography has now been expanded with three more albums, each of which reflects Danemo’s versatility.

The album Vägen was recorded back in 2009. It features a trio format—a meeting with two musicians Danemo had never previously played with: pianist Klas Nevrin and bassist Pär-Ola Landin. Everything is entirely improvised and created in the moment. The improvisations are strikingly focused and never directionless. They range from quietly contemplative—inviting associations with ECM—to more expansive and extroverted passages, with especially inspired playing by Nevrin. Vägen is an album that grows with each listen.

Resonansium, on the other hand, is a big band album. In 2015, Peter Danemo served as guest composer for Norrbotten Big Band, which resulted in the album Hedvigsnäs, released on Prophone the following year. Resonansium features four pieces that didn’t make it onto Hedvigsnäs. What’s striking is how free Danemo’s compositions are from all the clichés of big band jazz—especially in the longer piece Ember, which begins with rhythmically diffuse mood painting, where the orchestra’s sound meets live electronics. Dan Johansson’s trumpet interjection with effects here is reminiscent of how George Russell, in his later years, allowed his compositions to be colored by Palle Mikkelborg’s electrically amplified trumpet. Even though the album features strong contributions from soloists such as Robert Nordmark, Håkan Broström, and Adam Forkelid, the core is still Danemo’s ambitiously composed music for the big band.

The most substantial of the three albums, in my opinion, is Gläntan. Here, Danemo has written for an ensemble that includes both jazz musicians and classically trained players. The combination of cello, violin, flute, and clarinet lends the compositions a delicate and sonically beautiful character. With few exceptions, the music is lyrical and restrained. Compared to the big band album, the soloists here leave a more distinct mark on the music and deepen it with sensitive playing. This is true of pianist Britta Virves, and of course also Joakim Milder. He never wastes notes or overworks his solos—and he possesses an unmistakably beautiful tone on both tenor and soprano saxophones.
Jörgen Östberg – Orkesterjournalen 2025

Nevrin-Landin-Danemo – Vägen released!!

Klas Nevrin – Piano
Pär-Ola Landin – Acoustic Bass
Peter Danemo – Drums

November 2009. Pianist Klas Nevrin and bassist Pär-Ola Landin didn’t hesitate when I called them with my idea. My idea was very simple: ”Let’s play together, without preparation, plan, or goal. Play a note or two, and let what happens show us the way.”

We met in a room, set up microphones.Apart from a few notes during the soundcheck, we had never played together before.

We exchanged a glance, and then we started to play. Suddenly, an hour and a half had passed. I quickly mixed the recording and sent it to Klas and Pär-Ola. We were all happy with what had emerged, and we briefly considered whether we should do something with the recording.

Sixteen years later, I dug up the recording and was pleasantly surprised when I listened to it. I mixed it once more and sent it to Klas and Pär-Ola with the question: ”This should be released—what do you think?”
This is the result of that brief encounter—a snapshot of a meeting between three musicians, where their curiosity about each other and what would unfold guided them forward. – Peter Danemo 2025

Nevrin – Landin – Danemo
Vägen (The Road)
1. Ett 03.23
2. Nio 05.29
3. Sju 04.08
4. Två 10.40
5. Fem 03.59
6. Fyra 01.34
7. Tre 13.12

The music on this record was created spontaneously, with no specific plan or goal, other than the exploration of what unfolds in the moment.

Klas Nevrin – Piano
Pär-Ola Landin – Acoustic Bass
Peter Danemo – Drums

Recorded by Peter Danemo the 16 november 2009 in B-studio at Sami Stockholm
Mixed by Peter Danemo 2025
Mastered by Mats Äleklint
Layout & design by Ilaria Capalbo

Produced by Peter Danemo

First review of Gläntan, Vägen and Resonansium

Here’s the first really nice review of my latest releases. Peter Danemo & Norrbotten Big Band “Resonansium”, PETER DANEMO “Gläntan” and Nevrin-Landin-Danemo “Vägen”
Eyal Hareuveni wrote this in the Norwegian Jazz blogg Salt-Peanuts: 
https://salt-peanuts.eu/record/peter-danemo-danemo-norrbotten-big-band-nevrin-landin-danemo/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJH535leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZAXuUyucCnR1y19cmCOiuYzsmhqY_kGAOcq_CM30jgJNq-rC1MU538O2Q_aem_oqntMw_LAj7h5xhFcwnNdA

And here’s the second positive review written by Tor Hammerø and published in the Norwegian Netavisen:
https://www.nettavisen.no/kjendis/peter-danemo-gl-ntan-peter-danemo-norrbotten-big-band-resonansium-nevrin-landin-danemo-v-gen/r/5-95-2330844

You can buy all of the, CD, mp3 or high resolution audio files at my Bandcamp store.