Groupa

Group has shrunk to a trio. But it is not so simply. The trio format allows Groupa to do more than ever with the folk music tradition. Whether it is folk music? Well, improvised rather than traditional. Swedish and Norwegian folk songs come, stay for the music and disappear. The songs can be traditional, but often blended various idiomatic expressions.
Jonas Simonson's bright flute fly like birds. Mats Edén pulls the bellows of an accordion rhythm drone like and play rough though melodically on the fiddle. Terje Isungset snaps easy rhythms of the mouth harp or beats heavy on percussion.
Groupa gives birth to new folk music with a thin but strong cord to the tradition.

Bengt Eriksson - Svenska Dagbladet

*****
QUEEN'S HALL, EDINBURGH

… Sweden's foursome Groupa complemented Kalanimei perfectly. The sparring rapport between fiddler Mats Edén and flute man Jonas Simonson was matched by awesome improvising piano of Rickard Åström. Percussionist Terje Isungset created breathtaking soundscapes, cracking, slapping, throbbing, luminous moments from drums, twigs, sheets of bamboo, bells, jews harp, tambourines. This was a totally thrilling evening.«

Jan Fairley, The Scotsman
- The Scotsman

Founded in 1980 during the dawn of the modern Nordic roots music revival, this ensemble has always been at the forefront in innovating and reinventing folk music in Sweden and Norway. Now a trio of Mats Edén - fiddles; Terje Isungset - percussion and Jonas Simonson - flutes, they continue to explore and expand in 11 strong instrumental compositions based on traditional but reaching well beyond it. - CdRoots