Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-06-04
Photo: Courtesy of Peter Gannushkin
Swedish guitarist, composer, and improviser Henrik Olsson, based in Copenhagen, will release his latest record, Antumbra Ensemble, on June 26 via Cuneiform Records.
Existing on a continuum between free improvisation and experimental music, Olsson curiously explores and embraces the multifaceted nature of the electric guitar, with meticulous attention to the instrument’s timbral and textural subtleties. As Glenn Astarita from All About Jazz writes, “Olsson is apt to terrorize his guitar on a nanosecond´s notice.”
Antumbra Ensemble presents a new group and a new set of compositions from Olsson, drawing on a wide range of adventurous influences, including Henry Cow, Henry Threadgill, Sun Ra, Blast, Marc Ribot, and Frank Zappa.
Joined by fellow artists from the Copenhagen scene — including a horn section of Michaela Turcerová on alto sax, Erik Kimestad Pedersen on trumpet, Petter Hängsel on trombone and recorder, and Kristian Tangvik on tuba, with a rhythm section of bassist Jeppe Skovbakke and drummer Rune Lohse — Olsson draws on a wide palette of sounds to form the album’s musical universe.
His process is intuitive, playing until he finds the right musical figure, then tossing it about in repetition to discover everything it has to offer. “I constantly have to ask a piece what comes before or what comes after,” he explains. Slowly, the pieces reveal themselves, and the composition assembles.
On his Cuneiform Records debut, Olsson has created eight musical puzzles, each unique in form and function. The music balances free improvisation, experimental rock, jazz, groove, and unexpected melodic turns, forming a record that is both adventurous and deeply composed.
“When I was a kid and really got into a record,” Olsson explains, “I wanted to live in this world, where I could smell and taste and discover new things. That’s the kind of experience I want to give the listener.”
Antumbra Ensemble arrives June 26 via Cuneiform Records.
