Swedish piano trio channels American free jazz tradition with exquisite precision
THE Stockholm-based piano trio SPACE will play Dolans this Wednesday January 21.
SPACE, comprising pianist Lisa Ullén, double bassist Elsa Bergman, and drummer Anna Lund, has established itself as a formidable force since releasing its debut album in 2022.
Following their self-titled debut Space in 2022, the trio released Embrace the Space in 2024 on the New York-based Relative Pitch Records label, further cementing their position in the international free jazz community.
The ensemble’s approach to improvisation emphasises both explosive power and meticulous attention to sonic detail, creating what critics have described as an “aural space” where every musical gesture carries weight and possibility.
Pianist Lisa Ullén, a graduate of Stockholm’s Royal College of Music, brings classical training from the late 1980s and early 1990s to her work. Originally from northern Sweden, Ullén has built a reputation for her distinctive tonal sensibility across numerous collaborations, including duos with Nina de Heney and Okkyung Lee, and larger ensembles such as Anna Högberg Attack! and her own Motståndsorkestern (Resistance Orchestra).
Double bassist Elsa Bergman studied at Sund Folkehøgskole and the Norwegian Academy of Music’s Jazz Department in Trondheim. Since completing her studies, she has worked extensively in free jazz and improvisation circles, releasing her solo debut album ‘A’ in 2021.
Drummer Anna Lund represents one of Sweden’s most versatile percussionists, working across the spectrum from free improvisation to mainstream pop.
Her collaborators include artists Ane Brun and Frida Hyvönen, whilst she has also composed for Sweden’s leading theatres, Stadsteatern and Dramaten.