Bild på SLAK

SLAK

Technical brilliance, intensity and world-class improvisation. Swedish-Japanese quartet SLAK fuse modern jazz and fusion with surgical precision and breakneck speed.

The lineup brings together saxophonist Björn Arkö, now a regular member of Billy Cobham’s touring band; Henrik Linder, bassist with Dirty Loops; drummer Senri Kawaguchi; and keyboardist Akito Shirai, who has performed with the iconic fusion group T-SQUARE. Alongside saxophone, Arkö plays the NuRAD, a Swedish-made electronic wind instrument. Kawaguchi first made headlines as a child prodigy at just 12 or 13, with a series of widely shared YouTube videos showcasing a level of technical mastery far beyond her years. Since then, she has established herself as one of Japan’s most exciting fusion artists, collaborating with the likes of Lee Ritenour, Philippe Saisse, David Sanborn and Marcus Miller.


Built around the band’s original compositions, SLAK’s music leaves plenty of room for improvisation, playful interplay and unexpected turns. Japanese press have dubbed them a “supernova fusion band” – a fitting description of both their technical calibre and explosive energy. Following two tours of Japan and a debut album on Universal Music Japan, the group makes its much-anticipated Fasching debut this February.

LINEUP

Björn Arkö – saxophone, NuRAD
Henrik Linder – bass
Senri Kawaguchi – drums
Akito Shirai – keyboards