Pete Fraser

Tonight I went to listen to Max Agnas, Mauritz Agnas, Nils Agnas and Jonas Kulhammar in town. They played mostly Sonny Rollins songs. Here’s a bit Max’s very expansive intro to ‘Oleo’. Hugely inspiring gig, and nice to see them all.

Went to a jam session this evening. Strong Sonny Rollins theme in the house of course. Some Pent Up House here with Jon Henriksson, Fredrik Lindborg, Erik Söderlind and Jacob Lindberg.

Ttw you’re v good at cooperating.

Is there a gladder sight.

Around four hours in. Bit of cider vinegar and some salt to season the areas of the ribs whose structure has opened up a bit.

Been sticking to a resolution lately of warming up with 10-15 minutes’ Giant Steps every day. I’ve mostly been playing it relatively slowly, but today I indulged in 230bpm and, as suspected, can’t play v interestingly uptempo. Consonant solo, but particularly the last chorus v derivative.

Ok, by and large just a case of leaving it alone now. Vents are very near closed so I should make sure it doesn’t go out, but I don’t think it will.

Shitty phone clip, but here’s some duo with Alf Carlson over Days of Wine and Roses from last Sunday. Playing with Affe in this context is kind of an honour. His abilities, re what’s possible for him, feel almost limitless. If you push, he goes. It’s like gliding over ice.

Been v out of the jazz bag lately work wise, and hardly been home, so this morning I did twenty minutes of slow Giant Steps practice. V, v scrappy here, but as always, focus is on trying to Truly Improvise, as opposed to regurgitating lines. Mixed success.

It’s so still today. Not a breath of wind.

Short bit of moderately uptempo shred from the other week over the distressingly titled tune ‘Hub’s Nubs’. Erik Tengholm trumpet, Adam Ross drums, Johan Tengholm bass, Mattias Lindberg piano, myself saxophone.

Good times blowing the jazz cobwebs out after three weeks of punk rock and drone circular breathing with some good friends at Stampen this evening. Erik Tengholm - Trumpet Adam Ross - Drums Johan Tengholm - Double Bass Mattias Lindberg - Piano Myself - Tenor Saxophone

And, whilst I’m heaping praise on people, the sheer inspiration of hanging out with the Irish trad lot, who play at the world class, is always amazing. These are people who, after playing to thousands, on the same night, will move heaven and earth to find a pub to play tunes in, for free. For fun.

Been travelling over 24 hours now. Pretty plum tuckered. My jet lag app says that I’m not allowed to go to sleep for another eight hours, and that I have twenty minutes more of coffee drinking.

I’m trying to practise - and sucking at it pretty hard right now - playing relaxed, slow phrases over fast tempos rather than just stressy, messy strings of 8ths. Here’s Cherokee at 300. Far from relaxed yet, but I think I know what I’m aiming for at least.

Good times getting the house band back together now Henke’s back from a month in New York. Here’s a short moment from ‘My Little Suede Shoes’ by Charlie Parker. I cannot play enough with these people. Too much.

Kom och vara hos oss imorgon! Stampen, kl17-19, gratis inträde, med - Pete Fraser - Tenorsaxofon Mattias Lindberg - Piano Henrik Jäderberg - Trummor Johan Tengholm - Kontrabas Ett riktigt bra gäng

Forgot to post this the other day, but I think this pigeon actually lives in our local supermarket - he’s always knocking around in the coffee aisle and when anyone approaches he ducks under a shelf.

I mean, just insane levels of fun at the Sunday Session today. We play whatever we want, and that’s good. Really, bonkers to get to play with people on this level. L-R Myself Adam Ross Johan Tengholm Mattias Lindberg

THEN, I’m going to head over to Stampen in Gamla Stan and play my weekly gig The Sunday Session to the absolutely mind bending accompaniment of Johan Tengholm, Mattias Lindberg and Adam Ross. Two sets, kl17-19, also free to listen.

No YOU’RE crying.

Little bit of Juan Tizol’s ‘Caravan’ from this evening. Ikiz started on the drums and I couldn’t decide whether the tempo was double or half. Opted for double and it was fucking hardcore. Fun though. Robert Ikiz Mehmet - drums Jonathan Jessen - bass Mattias Lindberg - piano

Years ago me and my mate Sam started doing an ill-advised set of arrangements for big band, orchestral brass forces, synths and drum machines. Through daft file naming I managed to lose the project, and he’s just found it again, so I guess the impossible project is back on.

I’m making risotto tonight. I’ve never made it in my life without consulting my extremely venerable copy of @nigelslater.bsky.social’s Real Fast Food, which must be the best part of 30 years old now. Money VERY well spent, that.

SUPER lineup imorgon på The Sunday Session. Tunga jazz standards från kl17-19 med - Undertecknad - tenorsaxofon Jonathan Jessen - Kontrabas Ikiz - Trummor Mattias Lindberg- piano Stampen, Gamla Stan. Gratis inträde

Bit of drones/circular breathing practice as a treat. Not v smooth but maybe I’ll get there in the end!

Opening theme from the other night at Stampen of one of the most beautiful ballads ever written, Stars Fell on Alabama. Self - Tenor Saxophone Victor Nordmark - Drums Jonathan Jessen - Double Bass Mattias Lindberg - Piano

I committed the cardinal jazz musician’s sin this weekend and assumed Giant Steps would be where I left it in my brain and that I could play it without practice. Not to put too fine a point on it, I got completely roasted. So yeah, slow Giant Steps practice this morning.

A bit of Joe Henderson’s ‘Isotope’ from this evening. I don’t think I’m lost here, but I’m doing damn good impression (til the end). Victor Nordmark - Drums Jonathan Jessen - Bass Mattias Lindberg - Piano