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The Thing

The Thing is a Norwegian/Swedish jazz trio, consisting of Mats Gustafsson (saxophones), Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (double bass), and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums). The band was established in February 2000 to play a series of concerts in Stockholm and a recording of Don Cherry compositions that was released in Sweden by the label Crazy Wisdom/Universal. Melding German, British and American traditions of free music, their repertoire has later been collected from various sources such as James Blood Ulmer, Frank Lowe, PJ Harvey, White Stripesand Joe McPhee. McPhee was also a participating musician on the She Knows... album (2001). 

The Thing is a Norwegian/Swedish jazz trio, consisting of Mats Gustafsson (saxophones), Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (double bass), and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums). The band was established in February 2000 to play a series of concerts in Stockholm and a recording of Don Cherry compositions that was released in Sweden by the label Crazy Wisdom/Universal. Melding German, British and American traditions of free music, their repertoire has later been collected from various sources such as James Blood Ulmer, Frank Lowe, PJ Harvey, White Stripesand Joe McPhee. McPhee was also a participating musician on the She Knows... album (2001). 

She Knows...
Temporary Super Offer! The Thing started as a recording project in 2000, for the newly formed label Crazy Wisdom, run by Christian Falk, Conny Charles Lindström and me. I wanted to put together a trio, to record some Don Cherry pieces and since I had…
Again
Recorded July 2nd and 3rd, 2017 by Øyvind Gundersen at Studio Paradiso, Oslo Mixed October 2017, by Andreas Werliin at Repeat Until Death, Stockholm Mastered by Lupo at Calyx mastering, Berlin Liner notes by Brian Morto. Mats Gustafsson (saxes), Inge…
Baby Talk
LP version. Live at Molde International Jazz Festival 2015. All music by James Blood Ulmer. Viking jazz band The Thing team up with one of the legendary men of jazz and blues. Guitarist and singer Ulmer combines (free) jazz, blues, funk, and rock --…
Live
Mats Gustafsson, baritone saxophone. Ingebrigt HŒker Flaten, electric bass. Paal Nilssen-Love, drums. Thurston Moore, electric guitar. On their tour for their recent album 'Boot' the scandinavian freejazz monsters teamed up with ThurstonMoore of Soni…
Shake
Mats Gustafsson, tenor & baritone saxophones. Ingebrigt HŒker Flaten, electric & double bass. Paal Nilssen-Love, drums, percussion. Additional guests on one track, Anna Högberg: alto saxophone, Goran Kajfes: cornet. Recorded June 1st and 2nd 2015 by …
Jukebox-Series 004
Trost continues its Trost Jukebox Series of 7"s. Mats Gustafsson: tenor and baritone saxophones; Ingebrigt Håker Flaten: double bass; Paal Nilssen-Love: drums, percussion, and megaphone-sampler. It seemed to be a split between The Thing and Shit and …
Garage
Garage is Scandinavian free jazz trio The Thing's acclaimed third album, originally released in 2004 by the Norwegian label Smalltown Superjazzz. In the wake of this album's original release, which was heralded by media outlets ranging from the BBC t…
Boot!
After more than 600 concerts around the globe, five studio albums and a variety of live releases over the years, the Scandinavian garage, free jazz trio, The Thing – Mats Gustafsson (bass, baritone, tenor and soprano saxophones), Ingebrigt Håker Flat…
Mono
Initially published on CD by Smalltown Superjazzz in 2011. Mats Gustafsson, tenor and baritone saxophones. Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, bass. Paal Nilssen-Love, drums. The Thing music + two Sonny Rollins tracks and one Norwegian trad. Recorded and mixe…
Metal!
A double LP of The Thing (Mats Gustafsson, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, and Paal Nilssen-Love) performing live with bassist Barry Guy at Saint Catherine's Church, Vilnius, Lithuania in 2011, exceptional cutting-edge improvisation.
Shinjuku Growl
Smalltown Superjazzz is very proud to present two new albums by The Thing. And this time it is The Thing with guitars! And none others than two of the best guitar players in the improv world today; Otomo Yoshihide and Jim O`Rourke. Both albums are re…
Bag It
double Vinyl edition with additional tracks: The Thing with Mats Gustafsson, Ingebrigt Haaker-Flaten and Paal Nilssen-Love covering 54 Nude Honeys, The Ex, Duke Ellington and Albert Ayler, intense modern improv. Swedish reed-chewer Mats Gustafsson is…
Live At Blå
First live document and fourth album overall from a band that mixes free jazz ecstasy with garage rock intensity. Even with no electricity, they make a hell of a noise and the album is an explosion of energy. Recorded at the Bla in Oslo.
Action Jazz
The Thing pretty much tore my living room to shreds on the release of their last album 'Garage' with its rock 'n roll take on free jazz. Their rendition of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's 'Art Star' especially defined their sound perfectly with a distinctly pun…
Now and Forever
The Thing was originally formed in 2000 to play concerts and record music based around Don Cherry's compositions, along with original compositions. They've since played and recorded with Joe McPhee, with whom they released 3 albums, and joined with t…
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