Ale Möller Band

Ale Möller found his roots in Swedish folk music by way of first falling in love with the sounds of Greece. En route he became a master of the bouzouki and a multi-instrumentalist with a lot of different flutes in his belt. He has toured with Mikis Theodorakis and been a front member of bands like Filarfolket, Enteli and Nordan to name but a few. While he still tours the world with the trio of Frifot, first and foremost he is just Ale, the multi-musician and performer who is a master at making people joining him in joyful musical experiments.

Emerging from Stockholm Folk Big Band, a child of Stockholm’s Cultural Capital of the year bash in ’98, and the strange rumblings created in the first years of the 21st century at Falun Folkmusik Festival as the World Heritage Orchestra – both projects initiated and led by Ale Möller – eventually came Ale Möller Band. Their first release, “Bodjal” in 2004, caused RootsWorld to announce it “Record of the Year” with nine full months to go ‘til New Year. The second release, Djef Djel, followed in 2007 to rave reviews.

Yet it is as a live act that Ale Möller Band comes to the best. Audiences crowd into concert venues to embrace the legacy of music taking shape before their very eyes, quite often in chaotic circumstances and divinely guided by inspiration and the moment shared. In the very best moments everyone present becomes part of the creative process and of the music itself.

Ale Möller is currently Artist in Residence at both Gävle Concert Hall and Vara Concert Hall, writing music for and creating new collaborations with the permanent ensembles of both concert halls. The first five months of 2008 he and the band are performing with the Stockholm City Theatre in a production of “The Master and Margarita” by Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov for which Ale Möller has written, arranged and along with the band perform all music on stage with the actors.

So far Ale Möller Band has not made international touring a priority. Apart from short concert visits to Canada, China, Hungary, Lithuania, Denmark, Norway, Finland and a few annual returns to Scotland to perform and participate in radio and television shows for BBC they’ve been too busy on the home front. Something they are now prepared to change…

ALE MÖLLER
Mandola, flutes, shawm (skalmeja), accordion, harmonica, vocal

MARIA STELLAS
Greek lead vocals, finger cymbals (zils)
Born in Sweden of Greek parents Maria Stellas sings with various rebetiko groups and as an oriental dancer performing Raqs Sharki dances

MAMADOU SENE
West African lead vocals, Senegalese fiddle (riti)
Singer and acrobatic dancer from Senegal. Learned many nomad songs of the Serer people while growing up. His credits include performing as a soloist with the Senegal National Ballet Ensemble.

MAGNUS STINNERBOM
Fiddles, mandolin, guitar, backing vocals
Fiddle player specializing in the traditional music from Värmland, in the border region between Sweden and Norway. Often composes music for theater and dance productions.

SEBASTIEN DUBE
Double bass, backing vocals
Double bass player from Québec, Canada. Both a trained classical musician and a virtuoso jazz musician. Also a member of the Swedish Chamber Orchestra.

RAFAEL SIDA HUIZAR
Percussions
Born in Chihuahua, Mexico. Has a special interest in Afro-Cuban and Latin drum traditions.