Music preview: Magnus Ostrum Band

Magnus Öström, the former drummer of E.S.T., a Swedish progressive jazz trio, is taking his own group to Prague for a special two-night, weekend engagement at the intimate Agharta Jazz Club.
E.S.T., which stands for the E.S. Trio, was led by pianist Esbjorn Svensson, with Dan Berglund on double bass and Öström on drums and percussion. Formed in 1993, the group hit its stride at the end of the '90s, and they performed in Prague at their peak in 2004, 2006 and 2007 as part of the Agharta Jazz Festival.

Naturally, the group's popularity was strongest in Scandinavia and Germany, but the group had fans across Europe as well, and such frequent invitations back to Prague is proof there was a devoted fan base for the group here in the Czech Republic.

While their studio recordings are all exceptional, and particularly their breakthrough Winter in Venice, (1997), as well as Good Morning Susie Soho (2000) and Viaticum (2005), E.S.T. were even more compelling live; one of their live recordings from their Tuesday Wonderland tour in November 2006 (released as E.S.T. Live in Hamburg in 2007) is a testament to not only their musicianship, but their natural, telepathic understanding of the art of improvisation and live experimentation. Live in Hamburg was later named "Album of the Decade" by The London Times.

Unfortunately Svensson passed away in 2008, after a tragic accident while scuba diving. For a while afterward, the surviving members of E.S.T. were inactive, but Öström and Berglund now lead their own groups, and both are composed of younger players. So in a positive way, it seems there is no looking back for the former trio. On the other hand, the hard-to-categorize musical direction of E.S.T.'s "jazz" compositions live on in both groups; it is a contemporary Nordic jazz most influenced by post-bop, electronica, classical, rock, pop and techno.

Naturally, Öström has been deeply scarred by the premature death of his childhood friend and dearest musical collaborator, so perhaps his recent material from Thread of Life (ACT Records) is grappling with this new phase in his life, but his most touching songs, "Ballad for E" and "Weight of Death," are surely among his most powerful. Öström was an equal partner and driving force of E.S.T. Now he is leading with his remarkable spark.

Öström's band includes electric guitarist Andreas Hourdakis, bass guitarist and trumpeter Thobias Gabrielson and pianist and synthesizer player Gustaf Karloff, with Öström on drums, percussion and vocals. The addition of vocals on a few tracks is the greatest leap from the E.S.T. sound to Öström's own music. By using his voice as an instrument, and by altering it with effects and electronic manipulation, the group produces a harder modern rock or even post-rock-jazz fusion than E.S.T.

Öström's band of younger players have jazz schooling and they've played with noted Swedish jazz musicians, but Hourdakis started off playing hardcore punk, and Karlof's other group is Nikki & The Dove, an indie-pop duo featuring female vocalist Malin Dahlstrom, on Seattle's Sub Pop Records.

Some E.S.T. fans may have some trouble adjusting to Öström's new sound; but E.S.T. was always a band that attracted a wider audience with an openness to experimentation. And while there is an abrasiveness here that was only hinted at on a few E.S.T. recordings, the darker tension and remorse on some of the compositions is expected and cathartic, and not only for Magnus Öström.

Tony Ozuna can be reached at - features@praguepost.com
http://www.praguepost.com/night-and-day/stage/12742-music-preview-magnus-ostrum-band.html