MOUNT EVEREST – The 1970's albums

Mount Everest was one of the most important bands to grow out of the fertile jazz and improvisation soil of Gothenburg, formed by the marvellous saxophonist Gilbert Holmström who also was the only constant all through Mount Everest's everchanging line-up.

Mount Everest (Philips, 1972)

Instrumental, English vocals
International relevance: ***

At the time of Mount Everest's maiden work they were eight people which perhaps suggests it's a wild and expressionistic affair. But it's actually a comparatively reflective and withheld effort, slightly in the vein of the first Egba album. The method of harnessed energy creates some tension, but some tracks feel out of place. ”Torero” sounds as if it belonged to another album altogether, and the last two, ”Afrodolphia” and ”No Other Choice” (the only vocal track) feels more like session outtakes than an integrated part of the album.

Waves from Albert Ayler (LIM, 1975)

as Mount Everest Trio
Instrumental

International relevance: ***

Three years later and Mount Everest was a trio with Holmström on sax, Kjell Jansson on bass and Conny Sjökvist on drums. The album title is appropriate – although only ”Spirits” is an Ayler composition, the entire album is in the spirit of the free jazz pioneer. Only ”Orinoco” and ”Elf” take it down a bit, the rest is powerful and violent free jazz with especially Holmström and Sjökvist in good shape. Fewer musicians work up a higher energy level on an album that is much better than their debut.

The album was reissued with bonus tracks by Atavistic in 2000.

Jazz i Sverige '79 (Caprice, 1979)

Instrumental
International relevance: ***

In 1979, the trio turned into a quartet and was awarded 'best jazz group of the year' why they were that year's installation in Caprice's ”Jazz i Sverige” (”jazz in Sweden”) series. Again they had a new line-up, this time a quartet including piano. Unfortunately they also swung towards fusion and that seriously diminished the music's impact. The most imaginative track is ”African Daybreak”, but even that is far from Mount Everest at their best.

The 70's Mount Everest can also be heard on various artists comps "Tonkraft 1972-74", "Det nyJAZZte från Göteborg" (1972), and "LIM – Levande improviserad musik från Göteborg" (1975). They released two further full length albums on Four Leaf imprint in 1981 and 1983 respectively, "Latin Doll" and "Latin Blue".

from Mount Everest

Mind at Ease

Waves From Albert Ayler full album playlist

Jazz i Sverige full album playlist