Äleklint & Sandell: Trombone Meets Organ in Airflow

Airflow is a bold free jazz duo recording where trombonist Mats Äleklint and organist Sten Sandell engage in a continuous, searching musical dialogue. Recorded in a church in Saltsjöbaden, the album captures two voices — human and architectural — in stunning, unresolved conversation.

A Jazz Dialogue Between Trombone, Organ and Room

On Airflow, Sandell's organ fills the space with dense, choral textures that evoke centuries of sacred music — from the medieval polyphony of Leonin and Perotin to the expansive sound of Nordic jazz improvisation. Äleklint's trombone responds with lyrical, vocal phrasing, stretching each phrase like a human voice searching for meaning. The church itself acts as a third instrument, shaping every tone that rises toward its vaulted ceiling. The result is sculpted free music — thunderous, singing, and quietly overwhelming.

Key Takeaways

Airflow is a magnificent showcase of two master improvisers pushing jazz into deeply expressive, almost spiritual territory. Äleklint and Sandell prove that free jazz can be both intellectually rigorous and emotionally immediate — a recording that rewards repeated listening.

Author: Dan Backman

Source: Orkesterjournalen

Published: September 18, 2026