THE THING
Mats Gustafsson soprano-/tenor saxophone, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten bass, Paal Nilssen-Love drums
Since 1999 The Thing brings fans of rock, noise and jazz together. With sax, bass and drums the band has covered music from jazz avant-gardists such as Don Cherry and Albert Ayler, from garage rockers such as The White Stripes and The Cramps, more established names such as PJ Harvey and Iggy Pop and underground bands such as Lightning Bolt. The trio recorded albums together with, among others, Neneh Cherry, Ken Vandermark and Thurston Moore.
Frontman Mats Gustafsson is internationally renowned for his powerful tenor sax playing. The Swedish saxophonist/composer plays in The Thing with bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and Paal Nilssen-Love, who are known as ‘Norway’s heaviest rhythm section’.
‘The sheer energy and physicality of The Thing’s sound is immensely satisfying, fusing the freedom of jazz with the controlled power of rock’ (The Quietus).
‘Free jazz you can stage dive to. Heavy riffs are treated as scaffolding for excursions into free improvisation’ (Pitchfork).