Johannes Gammelgaard Kvartett

The Johannes Gammelgaard Kvartett (Quartet in Swedish) was formed in 2017 when Danish saxophone player Johannes Gammelgaard studied at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. By this time, he had grown tired of the strong focus on the American jazz scene that was dominant throughout the educational system and wanted to play a kind of jazz more clearly informed by his own musical roots in Danish folk songs and church hymns. With that in mind, he gathered three friends and likeminded musicians to play his own melodic compositions.
The music of the quartet is both swinging and playful and draws inspiration from Scandinavian artists such as Jesper Zeuthen and Jan Johansson as well as personal heroes of the American jazz history such as Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane. Most of the time, the music tells stories of joy and happiness, but now and then you will even get a glimpse of Scandinavian melancholy.
In May 2019, the quartet released their debut EP which was praised by music critic Johan Jacobsson Franzén in the Swedish jazz magazine OrkesterJournalen: "Listen to Johannes Gammelgaard Kvartett (2019) and you will feel recklessly happy."
On April 9th 2021, the EP was followed up by their debut album "I Venners Lag" (Danish for "In Company of Friends") on the Danish indie label Jaeger Community Music. The album was recorded in Swedish saxophone giant Jonas Kullhammar's home studio and features the two guests Isak Hedtjärn on metal clarinet and Love Meyerson on accordion.