Summer Bummer Festival: Angles - The Death Of Kalypso

Angles is a band of many configurations led by Swedish saxophonist Martin Küchen. From the original sextet in 2007, known for several classic albums and its passionate live performances, the group has expanded for several occasions to a nonet or even a twelve piece ensemble. In 2022 they recorded an opera, written by Küchen, that will have its world première live on stage at Summer Bummer. ‘Une certaine paix — The Death of Kalypso’ is a jazz opera for our times — an archaic pantheon reflecting a self-indulgent hyper modern humanity. Roles and sides change constantly, in a condensed and atmospheric libretto. The music vibrates through past and present, through brass and reeds, piano and vibraphone, strings, percussion and a solitary voice. The crystal clear vocals of Elle-Kari Sander are the obvious centre of the opera.

For the creation of this magical piece of work, the Angles octet will be reinforced with a superb Belgian delegation of musicians: baritone saxophonist Hanne De Backer, who just got back from a monster tour with her “As We Walk”-project, is no stranger to Küchen and his Scandinavian gang. She has been playing for a number of years with the likes of Paal Nilssen-Love, Signe Emmeluth and Ingebrigt Håker Flaten. With double bass player Nils Vermeulen (on Saturday he presents a brand new just intonation project), cellist Jasmijn Lootens, violinist Laure Bardet and Esther Coorevits on viola, four string players with heaps of experience in contemporary classical music and free improvistation, will be joining in as wel.