Evolution is a slow process, invisible to the naked eye. Transformative change only comes to light given the wide lens of time. Bassist/composer Bruno Råberg has released a string of compelling albums in the decades since his stunning 2002 nonet album Chrysalis – most of them in small group formats, though his compositional ambitions have also shone through in works for woodwinds and strings. Another clue to his evolution as a conceptualist and virtuoso arrived with Råberg’s last release, 2023’s Look Inside, his
captivating solo bass debut.
On his new album, Evolver, Råberg returns to a large ensemble format for the first time in 22 years, this time expanding the band by one to create a remarkable tentet. As the title suggests, the brilliant results are a clear indication of how far Råberg has journeyed and how he takes personal evolution as a mission core to his musical vision. Out June 1, 2024 via Råberg’s own Orbis Music Records imprint, Evolver features a stellar ten-piece band along with special guest appearances by Grammy-winning pianist Kris Davis and acclaimed saxophonist Walter Smith III.
Bruno Råberg is an internationally renowned bass player and composer. Since coming to the US from his native Sweden in 1981, he has made 14 recordings as a leader, more than 50 as a sideman, and has performed with numerous world-class artists, including Kris Davis, Walter Smith III, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, Kenny Werner, Sam Rivers, Tony Malaby, Donny McCaslin, Bob Moses, Mick Goodrick, Ben Monder, Bruce Barth, Adam Cruz, Ted Poor, and Mike Mainieri. He currently presents concerts for solo bass and leads a trio featuring pianist Bruce Barth and drummer Matt Wilson. At 20 Råberg was drafted by Swedish trombone virtuoso Eje Thelin and spent the ensuing years performing and recording with renowned Swedish and European artists such as Bobo Stenson, Monica Zetterlund, Zpigniew Seifert and Nils Landgren. In 1981, Råberg left his performing career in Europe to come to the USA, thanks to a scholarship to the New England Conservatory in Boston. There he studied with Miroslav Vitous, Mick Goodrick, George Russell, and Bob Moses. Råberg has been a professor at Berklee College of Music since 1986 and teaches in the prestigious Berklee Global Jazz Institute, led by pianist Danilo Perez.