Vacation, rest & upcoming gig

Reform at Myspace

Hello fellow jazzrockers and music lovers!

I'm on vacation until Saturday. A vacation without internet, so you will have to settle with these videos. Those from 2001 is with Reform 2 and 3.

You can also visit our page at RadioIndy if you want to stream our channel on a hot summer's day.

12 September Reform & EGBA play at the Stockholm Fusion Club! Check the add!



Freak Jazz Live August 2001

Thru Breaks Live August 2001

Six Live August 2001

Happy Landing Live August 2001

Vuelta Abajo Live August 2001

Great Expectations Live August 2001

Happy Landing Live at Underbara Bar 6 May 2009

Hellstone Live at Stampen 22 April 2009

Lion Bar Live at the Seahorse 24 may 2009

Happy Landing Live at the Seahorse 24 May 2009

Amanita Muscaria Live at the Seahorse 24 May 2009

Thru Breaks Live at the Seahorse 24 May 2009

Uncle Urri Live at the Seahorse 24 May 2009

It's About That Time Live at the Seahorse 24 May 2009

Great Expectations Live at Stampen 22 April 2009

Hellstone (Kullrusk) Live at the Seahorse 24 May 2009

Take care and live well!
Yours truly
Jesper

The History of Reform VIII

In the summer of 2003 Jesper was back in STockholm. Reform now bacame a trio consisting of Johan Glasson on guitar and Isak Andersson on drums. The gruop change direction a bit towards Tony Williams' Lifetime and John McLaughlin's record Devotion. Alvaro G guested this formation once. Songs were written both by Johan and Jesper. Johan brought his portable digital studio and in early 2004 the band recorded their third album, Reduced and Maximized (recently re-issued).

After this disc Reformed was laid to rest for a while.

Johan had a project of his own. Isak was the drummer and there was a bassist, whose name I can't remember. The project still had no name, but a demo was cut. Johan was not really satisfied with it and he decided that he would change his personnel. For a period of time he had been jamming with a guy called Garre and I suggested that Garre was a candidate for the drum chair in the project. I was selected bassist and I was very happy for that. Johan wrote all the songs and since I liked them, actually loved them, it was easy for me to create bass lines. During our time in school I called Johan "Glasson" (son of ice cream) since he did not like ice cream. One day Johan came to the rehearsal studio saying that the band was to be called Glasson.

To be continued...

Today's video


Take care!
Jesper

Reform is now Distributed by Tradebit

Reform has got yet another distributor!

Check this out!



Music is divine
Jesper

The History of Reform VII

Reform at Myspace

Jesper and Alvaro G started to hang out regularly, meeting up at one of the thousands of bars in Donostia. As Jesper's Spanish got better he and Alvaro G started to talk more profoundly and realized that they were more or less twin-souls when it came to music. They benefited from each other since their musical backgrounds were completely diffrent. Jesper's came more from an Anglo-Saxon world and Alvaro's from a Latin one. Alvaro had travelled in Latin-America for a couple of years and had stayed for an extra long period of time in Brazil. There he had learnt to appreciate bossa-nova. He could play the guitar and the harmonica at the same time and perform an endless repertoire of bossa numbers. Among other things they recorded two of Alvaro's own compositions, with harmonica as the lead instrument. Jesper slowly drew Alvaro's attention towards Miles Davis and he became more and more interested. The Spanish version of Reformed started to form. Alvaro knew a pianist, Paúl San Martín. Pa´l knew a drummer, Fran Gasol, and at the bar Ondarra right beside the surfer's beach, Zurriola, Jesper met Pitú, who had played with Manu Chau.

They started rehearsing at Alvaro's apartment.

(It is amazing what a difference there is between countries. Rehearsing with electric bass, drum kit, electric guitar, piano and harmonica inside a regular apartment, without receiving complaints from the neighbours. In Sweden that would be totally out of the question. Actually, I think we wouldn't even consider trying.)

The band worked perfectly and is immortalized on the cd Concierto en Altxerri

To be continued...

Today's video is from 2001 with Reform 3



Enjoy!
Jesper

Listen and Support the Arts

Hello there!

As I have written before, the three previous Reform albums are available for download. Further down I have now pasted a widget. On this widget you may listen to a sample if you are too lazy to go to Last.fm and there listen to all the tracks for free, and then download. Anyway, I hope you like what you hear whether you download or not! Reform is always yours!

Hats off!
Jesper

IndyRadio Corrects and Reposts Reform's Review

Reform at Myspace

Good morning jazz-rockers and fellow musicians and music lovers!

I have just been contacted by RadioIndy and I am happy to announce that I, in fact, am the bassist of Reform. I have not been substituted with Johan Glasson. The review will be reposted any day now.

Read about Reform at:

Wikipedia (sv)
Wikipedia (en)

A blast from the past:


Enjoy!
Jesper

Reduced & Maximized: Re-issued & Re-mastered

In the summer of 2003 Jesper came back to Stockholm. Reform now became a trio consisting of:

Jesper Bergman: Electric bass
Johan Glasson: Electric guitar
Isak Andersson: Drums

This formation was more influenced by the early recordings of Tony Williams’ Lifetime and by John McLaughlin’s second album Devotion. In 2004 Johan made a recording of the trio. This recording has now been remastered and two bonus tracks have been added, Cream and Mountain. The result is Reduced & Maximized.

You may also listen to the tracks at Last.fm

Support the arts!
Jesper

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

Reform presents a blast from the past!

Check out the new videos at myspace with Reform 2 & 3 live August 2001.

or

Reform's channel at Youtube

Take care!
Jesper

The History of Reform VI

Reform at Myspace

Of course recording wasn't quenching Jesper's thirst for playing and as soon as he had established himself in Altxerri he asked his boss Alvaro if he might introduce him to some musicians. Alvaro said that the best way to know local musicians was to go to the street Reyes Catolicos (The Catholic Kings), better known as Reyes Alcoholicos (The Alcoholic Kings). Jesper went there and he found an English pub from which the sweet sound of blues was coming out. Lower octave harmonica. Accompanied by only bass.

Well inside Jesper ordered a pint of lager and sat down to enjoy. Jesper didn't know it yet but the guy playing was Àlvaro Fernandez Gavíria. It was soulful, dark, sweaty and intense. His harmonica was crying and screaming.

After the last set Jesper went up to Gavíria and introduced himself. Since Jesper's Spanish was far from perfect there was a short misunderstanding of Jesper's business. Jesper and Álvaro sat down and talked about music until very late. They decided that they should meet at Alvaro's apartment the next day and make some music. This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

To be continued...



Enjoy!
Jesper

Reformed reviewed by RadioIndy

Equal parts jazz and instrumental psychedelic / progressive rock, Reform’s debut CD, “Reformed,” charts a middle ground that ably fuses classic styles and influences - with an unusual twist. With a stellar 6-piece ensemble behind him, harmonica player Àlvaro Fernandez Gavíria’s full, lower-octave playing serves as a primary lead instrument for much of the album. With studied restraint, Gaviria’s tone – which recalls that of accomplished blues harp-stylist, Corky Siegel, approaches his instrument like a fusion-oriented Miles Davis, drawing out found harmonics within the framework of the band’s rich and melodic songscapes.
Guitarists Johan Glasson and Peter Åkerberg create the underpinning for Reform’s – at times, Steely Dan-like jazz-rock sound, while drummers Anders Bergman and Åke Eriksson provide the forward thrust, effectively filling passages with deft and meticulous hits and textures. Not to go unmentioned, bassist Jesper Bergman and keyboard player, Magnus Ramel’s contributions are no less vital - and noteworthy, to Reform’s decidedly adventurous leanings. Regardless of whether it’s fusion jazz or spacey art rock, Reform’s CD is a terrific set of original music by unique players with unbounded skills.

-Rice B. and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team

Check out Reform's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Midsummer

Reform wishes you a happy Midsummer!

Today's video

The History of Reform V

Reform at Myspace
In June 2002 Jesper moved to San Sebastian, or Donostia which is the name in Basque, in the Basque Country to study Spanish and to work. He immediately started to look for musicians. He went to one of the jazz clubs, Atxerri. There he met Alvaro Suarez for the first time and they became friends. Alvaro was the one in charge of the music and he asked Jesper what Jesper could work with. Jesper said that he had brought his computer and that he could record the gigs. Alvaro accepted and Jesper started his work. Jesper place was at the end of the bar where he sat with his computer close the the mixer and to the musicians. He became known as El Sueco (The Swede).

To be continued...

Today's video

Check out Sky Rats, one of RadioIndy's favorite Alternative artists

Radioindy Artist Spotlight for Sky Rats

 

 

Band Name: Sky Rats
Band Location: England
Sounds Like: Foo Fighters, Nickelback, Chris Rea, Stereophonics, Greenday
Visit Band's Website: click here

The History of Reform IV

Reform at Myspace

The concentrated around Miles Davis' early fusion period and performed numbers such as: Rated X, Billy Preston, Moja, Wili, It's About That Time, Great Expectations and many more.
About this time Gustav Ejstes of Dungen moved up to Stockholm. Jesper and Anders had played with him in Skövde and he called them Bröderna Sjuk ("The Sick Brothers" with reference to the Swedish folkloric group Bröderna Djup "The Deep Brothers"). Jesper had already played with Dungen a couple of times and now he joined them. Through Dungen Jesper met Alexander Wiig and Reine Fiske. Isak Andersson, a great drummer, had recorded pop songs with Jesper earlier and he also joined Dungen for a concert at Skeppsholmen in 1999.
The 3rd of November 2000 a new line-up of Reform met for the first time in the Semi Studio at the Royal University College of Music and recorded three numbers.

Jesper Bergman: Electric bass
Johan Glasson: Electric guitar
Anders Bergman: Percussion
Mattias Lennestig: Rhodes
Reine Fiske: Electric guitar
Alexander Wiig: Percussion, Sitar
Isak Andersson: Drums

The first was called Morning and was written by Jesper, the second one was based on a groove by Ginger Baker and with a base line written by Jesper, and the third one was Great Expectations written by Miles Davis. Everyone was very satisfied with the recording and Alexander immediately designed a beautifully strange cover for the cd, which was never released. This line-up went into the studio a couple of times more and it resulted in the cd Easy. Included on the record is only one of the three numbers from the first session, Baker. It is fast and has a great drive. On the last two numbers on that album Pedro Martinez takes Isak's place at the drums. But Reform stuck to its path: To deliver Psychedelic JazzRock to the people!

To be continued...

Today's video

Check out The 99th Floor, one of RadioIndy's favorite Pop artists

Radioindy Artist Spotlight for The 99th Floor

 

 

Band Name: The 99th Floor
Band Location: Norway
Sounds Like: Elvis Costello
Visit Band's Website: click here

Check out Peter Paul Parker, one of RadioIndy's favorite Rock artists

Radioindy Artist Spotlight for Peter Paul Parker

 

 

Band Name: Peter Paul Parker
Band Location: England London
Sounds Like: Singer songwriter, The Beatles, Crowded house
Visit Band's Website: click here

Check out Delario, one of RadioIndy's favorite Hip-Hop artists

Radioindy Artist Spotlight for Delario

 

 

Band Name: Delario
Band Location: Norway
Sounds Like: Tonedeff, Atmosphere, Brother Ali
Visit Band's Website: click here

The History of Reform III

The music life in Stockholm was intense. Jesper and Johan played in many bands, both together and separately. The first Reform line-up emerged when Anders moved to Uppsala. Mattias Lennestig, rhodes, knew Jesper from Skara Stifts Folkhögskola where they had studied music for two years. Mattias was an excellent improviser and was at the time also studying at the Royal University College of Music. Ulf and Jesper already played together in an obscure 60's tribute group, Carl-Eiwar Sect, where Jesper played the keyboard and, the later to become the drummer of Reform, "Doktor" Åke Eriksson played the bass. Ulf joined Reform.

To be continued...

The History of Reform II

Time passed and it was not until 1998 that Jesper and Johan reunited at a party at the Royal University College of Music in Stockholm, where Jesper was studying at the time. They decided to join forces.

To be continued...

RadioIndy is pleased to present Paul Mac Innes & T.B.O.I. with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Paul Mac Innes & T.B.O.I. "

RadioIndy is pleased to present Paul Mac Innes & T.B.O.I. with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Paul Mac Innes & T.B.O.I. "

"Paul Mac Innes & T.B.O.I." is an impressive self-titled release from the Swedish duo comprised of vocalist Paul Mac Innes and saxophonist/drummer Björn Almgren, also know as T.B.O.I. (The Brother Of Invention.) Their sound is a highly polished blend of rock, jazz, pop, soul, and R&B that is radio-ready. Just one listen to this album and you realize that the primary focus here is on creating well-written songs with lovely melodies and performed with a high degree of musicianship. The production is clean and professional throughout, with a pleasing lack of overproduction and tricky effects. "Welcome to The Bunker" is a strong opener, with a silky soul groove and vocal harmonies reminiscent of Steely Dan. The vocals are incredibly strong throughout, beautifully layered to produce the desired effect on each track. Listen to the superb harmonies on "Need" and "Time?!" for great examples of this. "Even Though" has a definitive gospel flavor, showcasing the group's versatility. The rhythm section is extremely strong on this entire album, with funky bass lines and in-the-pocket drum grooves throughout. "What You Do" features the melodic saxophone of Almgren along with his tasteful, inventive drumming. "Paul Mac Innes & T.B.O.I." is a creative collaboration between two very fine musicians, and the product they have produced is a very original and enjoyable form of soul music. Fans of Steely Dan and Sly & The Family Stone will want to check "Paul Mac Innes & T.B.O.I." out.

-Rodney and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Paul Mac Innes & T.B.O.I. 's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Michael Behm"The Remaining Go" The song’s lyrics bring the situation to vivid life: “1,000 summers to make just one…

MICHAEL BEHM

The Remaining Go

Michael Behm is a multi-talented singer/songwriter with a rapidly expanding international reputation as an artist to watch. He is also a concerned citizen of Planet Earth. These two roles intersect in compelling fashion on his new track, “The Remaining Go.”

The song was written for Earth Day, and Behm is donating all the proceeds from sales of the track to the Western Canada Wilderness Committee (WCWC) for their work in educating people on the steps we can take to make living on earth sustainable. The song has also been donated to the WCWC for use in their publicity campaigns. "I created the song as a reminder for us to be a little easier on the planet,” explains Behm. “I recognised the need for all of us to honour the agreement we have with nature and to walk with a little softer footprint.”

The catalyst for The Remaining Go was Behm’s witnessing of environmental destruction in his own British Columbia backyard. He lives close to Qualicum and Cathedral Grove, a beautiful old growth forest now under serious threat from logging. Heli-logging close to protected areas of forest creates serious damage to the entire forest, says Behm. “When you cut down the primary trees around an old growth forest, the wind affects the remaining trees and they fall as well, hence the title ‘The Remaining Go.’”

The song’s lyrics bring the situation to vivid life: “1,000 summers to make just one…when the cold winds blow, the remaining go.” The message is delivered in the form of a strongly melodic and accessible pop-rock song. “I wanted something singable so the audience could sing along if they wanted to. I was looking for something with a pop sensibility and a pleading kind of performance to it,” says Behm.

This mandate is fulfilled in strikingly effective fashion on “The Remaining Go.” The song features the high-end production that has become a Michael Behm trademark, while his vocal and instrumental work is of an equally high calibre. This creative talent was vividly showcased on his 2008 album Saving America, which earned notable airplay and media attention in the U.S., while his recent single “If I Could Learn To Fly” topped online charts in Australia (mp3.au.com) and Canada (Reverb Nation). His carefully-crafted compositions are also in increasing demand for film and television, and Behm recently completed a track for a new Disney prodution.

An impressive new addition to Behm’s body of work, ”The Remaining Go” reflects a wider purpose. ”I’m not preachy, but there’s a point when mainstream people like myself feel motivated to do something about what is going on.”

For more information, contact michaelbehmmusic.com

http://www.rhapsody.com/michael-behm/the-remaining-go-vocal

The History of Reform I

Reform was formed in Stockholm in 1998 by Jesper Bergman, Johan Klaeson and Anders Bergman, who had played together from time to time since 1992. The gruop started out playing tunes from Miles Davis' early fusion period (1969-1975). The group then consisted of:

Jesper Bergman: Electric bass
Johan Glasson: Electric guitar
Anders Bergman: Drums
Mattias Lennestig: Rhodes
Ulf Henningsson: Electric guitar

Ulf and Jesper knew eachother from their home region, Skaraborg in the south of Sweden, where they had jammed together at numerous occasions at the studio, Alice's Restaurant (owned by Mats Jarl). Sometimes they were joined by Anders on drums, but Anders prefered reading books by Herman Hesse and watching Alfred Hitchcock movies so he had to be bribed (candy worked well!).
Jesper, Johan and Anders had first played together in the Bergman's basement jamming Jimi Hendrix. One time Johan got himself so worked up so he started to bang the guitar on the floor during an outrageous version of Wild Thing. At climax the cellar door swung open and there was Mr. Bergman (Prosecutor). He had just come home from work. He looked at Johan, closed the door and went back to work.

To be continued...



Enjoy!
Jesper

Reform is now distributed by IndieRhythm

Reform is now distributed by IndieRhythm!

Todays video:


Greetings!
Jesper

Our new album, Reformed.

Our new album, Reformed, has been received very well and is now distributed both digitally and non-digitally. We are trying to get through to Swedish and international conaisseurs of psychedelia, progressive and fusion, since our music, according to many, is a mix of these three.

We appreciate Soft Machine, Nucleus, Grateful Dead (in fact, all the other Bay Area bands from that period), Phish, Wasa Express, Träd Gräs och Stenar, Kullrusk, Mahavishnu Orchestra and, especially, Miles Davis' music from 1969 - 1975. In concert we play some Miles numbers, for example Great Expectations, It's About That Time, Billy Preston, What If/Sivad, Moja1...

Reformed was recorded and mixed in two and a half days time with no re-takes what so ever. I am very satisfied with the result. It has that "in the moment" feeling that I like about all kinds of music. On our myspace we have a lot of things that could be interesting if like what you have read so far.

Reform has gone through many shapes but established its sound and musical direction with line-up number 2:

Jesper Bergman: Electric bass
Johan Glasson: Electric Guitar
Anders Bergman: Drums/Percussion
Reine Fiske: Electric Guitar
Mattias Lennestig: Rhodes
Alexander Wiig: Sitar, Flute, Percussion
Isak Andersson: Drums/Percussion

The current line-up is:

Jesper Bergman: Electric bass
Johan Glasson: Electric Guitar
Anders Bergman: Drums/Percussion
Peter Åkerberg: Electric Guitar
Magnus Ramel: Keyboard
Alvaro Fernandez Gaviria (sometimes substituted by Jonas Redmo): Harmonica
Åke Eriksson: Drums

Take care!
Jesper

Previously released Reform albums available!

The previously released Reform albums "Reform - Concierto en Altxerri" and "Reform - Easy" are now listenable at Last fm. If you want to support us financially please download 1 or more tracks from the albums at IndieStore.

Musicians on "Reform - Easy" are:

Jesper Bergman: Electric bass
Johan Glasson: Electric guitar
Anders Bergman: Percussion
Mattias Lennestig: Rhodes
Reine Fiske: Electric guitar
Alexander Wiig: Percussion, Sitar, flute
Isak Andersson: Drums
Pedro Matrinez Ramirez: Drums

Musicians on "Reform - Concierto en Altxerri" are:

Jesper Bergman: Electric bass
Àlvaro Fernandez Gavíria: Harmonica
Pitú: Electric guitar
Fran Gasol: Drums
Paúl San Martín: Piano

Enjoy!
Jesper Bergman & Reform

Michael Behm "Free Daily Download"

“The Daily Download” is a new in incentive I have created to give back to the fans that have supported me. Each day I offer a new track that is a free download. It’s cool because the track is not just streamed (listen only) it can be put on your ipod or added to your music for free. This has already been highly successful with fans / friend’s. Par Weinberg wrote about it in Melodic.net Sweden and singled ”Michael Behm The Daily Download as a cool idea” Here is the link where the tracks come from. Just press the downward arrow to download. I will post it on FB,Twitter and send the Reverb Nation Email. If you have not signed up for the RN email you can opt in on the link as well. I’m pumped, lots of new song in the days to come……………..
Cheers
Michael
http://www.reverbnation.com/michaelbehmmusiccom