Kaja

Swedish Chamber Folk Music with Eastern European vibes. Since 2005, Sweden's Kaja has championed daring and dazzling Nordic music. The acoustic trio's foundation is klezmer and other Eastern vibes, enriched by layers of film and contemporary music, tango, Scandinavian folk tunes, and jazz. The band takes inspiration from its evocative Swedish surroundings and train rides between east and west. An independent-minded sensibility in composition and arrangement leads Kaja from the intimacy of chamber music to the unpredictability found in folk and improvised music, the players' idiosyncrasies in technique – from glissandos to unusual grooves and ornamentations – revealing personal playing styles that are both highly expressive and tightly controlled. Although the band remains informed by Eastern European Folk music traditions, it's Kaja's experimental side that has made the genre its very own.

To date, Kaja has released two critically acclaimed full-length CDs (2007's "Krackel" and 2010's "Rust").

Livet Nord – violin and viola
Camilla Åström – accordion and piano
Daniel Wejdin – double bass

Reviews:

"Kaja have arranged their music in a most ingenious way... /...There is a thrill and magic that makes each track grow into a world of possibilities which they really use in their daring composing." – Gunder Wåhlberg, Lira #4 09-2010 (Swedish magazine for World music and Jazz)

"Rust is exceptional and dazzling music." – Lars Åbom, Corren, 08-09-2010 (Swedish newspaper)

"Kaja uses blue notes of a kind B.B. King has never found and which sting better than shampoo in your eyes." – Alexander Agrell, Sydsvenska Dagbladet 29-09-2010 (Swedish newspaper)

"Kaja has taken everything in life, distilled it in a bottle, and shaken it." – Lovisa Eriksson, NWT 17-09-2010 (Swedish newspaper)