--  German
SNAG is an international band with members from around the world. The music is an eclectic blend of jazz, South American rhythms and folk themes with popular western music influences. Their original compositions reflect a broad diversity, from thematic based Ornette Coleman-type tunes to Nordic influenced mood pieces.
	The bands members are: Stephen Magnusson - guitar Australia Julien Wilson - tenor saxophone Australia Bjorn Meyer - basses Sweden Sergio Beresovsky - drums Argentina
The musicians have experience performing and recording with international acts as diverse as Arthur Blythe, Enrico Rava, the Australian Arts Orchestra, Milla Jovavich, Hermetto Pasqual, Paul Williamson, Jim Kelly, Odeon Pope, The Gypsy Kings, Palle Mikkleborg & Tibetan Dixie and also supporting artists such as Betty Carter, McCoy Tyner, George Benson, Kurt Elling, Toots Thielmans & Gilberto Gil. Between them, they have performed at festivals in Australia, Argentina, America, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Holland, Italy, Israel, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland & Sweden. Formed mid '97 in Switzerland, SNAG's first CD presented a new stage in their development as an ensemble. Their second CD,"heaps", recorded mid '98 has seen their musical conception expand in new directions. SNAG have prepared tours in Australia during Jan/Feb and Europe during April/May '99 and plan to make their next album a collection of live recordings compiled from these tours.   RECENT REVIEWS   "Guitarist, Stephen Magnusson, a significant voice in Melbourne's contemporary jazz scene....rides the grooves smartly, shaping lines that twist and leap when you least expect them to....and plays dreamy, sighing solos that invite time to stand still. There are echoes of Joe Lovano's partnership with John Scofield in the way the tenor and guitar combine in the ensembles and spur each other on in their solos. The music ranges from ethereal reflection to vigorous interaction and the players do it all convincingly." Adrian Jackson   THE AGE 1st January 1998   "An almost perfect meshing of talents from two continents. Award winning saxophonist Julien Wilson, at turns lithe and tempestuous, combines well with the wonderfully fluid electric guitar of Stephen Magnusson. Their European bandmates interact with a high level of interplay and provide very strong rhythmic support. SNAG is a group very much deserving of wider recognition." Gerry Coster   PBS FM March '98   "OVER THE RAINBOW Three continents, even more musical styles and yet harmonious: the Quartet SNAG. Jazz is an international music form and the quartet SNAG proves it. Guitarist Stephen Magnusson and tenor saxophonist Julien Wilson hail from Australia, drummer Sergio Beresovsky is from Argentina and electric bassist Bjorn Meyer is Swedish. These four young jazz musicians met in Zurich where several of them teach at the Academy of Contemporary Music. And contemporary is what their music is. Categories like Jazz, Rock, or others do not do justice to their music. On the debut CD, SNAG the musical concepts of Ornette Coleman are as present as those of pop music icon Bjork, as well as South American rhythms and a homage to master bassist Charles Mingus. It is a tribute to SNAG that this ride across the musical rainbow does not result in stylistic indistinctiveness but actually results in forming a musical identity. Whoever had the chance to hear SNAG live, as I did recently at "Moods" in Zurich, will listen to the CD with different ears. The feeling of joyful abandon and excitement coming from the stage during the live concert is replaced by a controlled coolness on the studio recording. But whether cool or hot the moods are what count. And they are intensive indeed" Peter Burli  TAGE ANZIEGER 1st July '98      (Swiss Newspaper)

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Real Audio Samples Hey, Guess What? (32 kbs or less) (56 kbs or less) Sudamericana (32 kbs or less) (56 kbs or less)