GROUPA
Isungset, Edén and Simonson
Groupa, with their completely unique type of Swedish folk music, is considered one of the absolute top groups. Since the 1980s, Groupa has spearheaded progressive Swedish folk music. With their characteristic blend of traditional melodies, free improvisational elements, new composition and imaginative instrumentation, Groupa has brought an influence to bear on a whole generation of musicians.
The music Groupa performs combines older traditions with contemporary impulses and future potential. The very special sound associated with Groupa’s music has its sources in tunes including the halling, the waltz, polskas of both old and new varieties, all performed with furious enegy and a strain of blue notes. The members of Groupa give the music free rein and new color, as they untiringly pursue the path of providing each other with new inspiration for shifting their music into new dimensions.
In autumn 2008, Groupa’s eighth disc, Frost, was released to great acclaim. Frost is on the Footprint label. (see www.footprintrecords.com)
Terje Isungset - percussion, Jews’ harp
Mats Edén - fiddle, viola d'amore, viola, accordion
Jonas Simonson - flutes, bass clarinet
www.groupa.se
www.myspace.com/groupa1