Sofi Hellborg

Some reviews of Drumming is calling

Orkester Journalen

Swedish jazz magazine

April, 2008

Svenska Dagbladet

Swedish daily paper

Göteborgsposten

the daily paper of Gothenburg

April 1, 2008

Once you get over Sofi Hellborg’s somewhat fragile voice (or is it in fact just the English language standing in her way?), you realize that she is actually one of Sweden’s main international artists. The music she creates! On her last album, Tony Allen and Swedish artist Timbuktu helped her out. This time she stands on her own two feet, backed up by her band, and she is more infallible and confident than ever. Afrofunk and jazz merge with Caribbean flavors and each and every song on the album is of the highest quality.

­­Lira Musiktidning

Swedish music magazine

May 10, 2008

Her current band is so tight and play so well together that I doubt there is a more swinging band in all of Sweden. With his importance, not only to African music, but to groove-based music in general, Fela Kuti is of course a key influence for Sofi Hellborg, but the music does not rest there. Because, even though the musical framework, without a doubt, is built on different kinds of African pop, she adds several other styles to the blend. The fact that there are no more than two horn players on most of the tracks is impressing – the horn arrangements are tight and viral all the way through. The rhythmical drive of base, drums, and percussion carries the music like an onrushing train. With a bunch of excellent songs and plenty of inspiring solos, especially from Sofi Hellborg’s saxophones, Drumming is calling is practically a consummate album.

Andreas Lagercrantz

Sofi Hellborg "To give is to get"

The CD:

Groove Magazine – March 2006

By Gary Landström

This is how life should be. A musical journey with Sofi´s horn arrangements and intimate singing is a sacred experience. The record is like a smiling summer night at the end of a long and cold winter.

Sydsvenskan – March 2006

By Alexander Agrell

Sofi´s first record in 5 years sounds better than those in the past. Partly it is because of the king of afrobeat drumming, Tony Allen. He plays perfect cooking, nervy and boiling drums. Mr Allen plays on only four songs but the ordinary drummer Jean Francois Ludovicus is also a very good drummer. The proof of his skills is on the track "Jungle in my livingroom". Sofi writes effective riffs and melodies and her sax works nicely together with trombonist Ola Åkerman. Both of them understand how to play short, soulful solos. Sofi burns brightest in the above mentioned "Jungle in my livingroom".

Concerts:

Dagens Nyheter – 11/3 2006

By Johannes Cornel

There are not many Swedish musicians who have as big experience of African music as Sofi Hellborg. She heads her band with natural self-assurance and warmth. The music is funk, jazz, afrobeat which lay emphasis on on dance and groove. At the same time she sends out a sensitivity that's completely honest. As a saxophone player she draws towards the funky side. As a singer she is weaker but on the other hand controls a way of singing that is typical African. The singing is an expression of the music and the band rather than of her own personality. And as such it is very convincing.

Rootsy.nu – May 2006

By Bengt Eriksson

After Fela Kuti and Tony Allen, Sofi Hellborg is the one who best preserves the afrobeat. Then it fits well that Tony Allen is a part of this album. Afro-rhythms, jazz and funk mixes and filtrates through Sofi. The result is a more warm and kind – should I say female – brand of Afro beat. Sofi plays humble, beautiful saxophone tones and her open attitude towards the music, the people and the world makes Sofi Hellborgs afromusic her own, special and good.

OLD

Some concerts

Concert in Sweden 18.08.98

Two talented women hornplayers in the frontline dominates the show.
Sofi Hellborg´s funky and danceable afropop is easy to take in because of its
positive energy, overwhelming the audience. And ofcourse because of this elastic heavy groove
that all of the six musicians controls in many different forms of variarities.
We discovered also what a soulful and pushy saxplayer Sofi is.

Sydsvenska Dagbladet Alexander Agrell
______________________________________________________

Concert in Sweden 12.08.96

Groovy, funny and good, Sofi

Kvällsposten Marlene Lövgren
_____________________________________________________

Concert in Paris may. -99

It's live you have to listen to Sofi. On the peniche boat
the musicians laid out a carpet of rocky groovy sound,
and Sofi put her sensible, crispy voice and intensive saxophone on top.

Gränslöst Christer Carlbäck
______________________________________________________

Concert in Saint-Gilles, La Reunion 28.11.94

Born from the country far in the north,
the blond saxophonist has showed us with talent
that she vibrates of African rhythms. She hit us all!

Thierry Barra La Reunion
______________________________________________________

travel

PRESS from first cd "TRAVEL AND SEE"

Svenska Dagbladet 23.03.93

Sofi hellborg 's first solo cd includes of course
Afromusic but Sofi´s modern afro sound which is as
much swedish as it is african.
But it doesn´t sound like any african music that I have heard before !
Each tone from her saxophone is a tone of solidarity...
Bengt Eriksson
_________________________________

Dagens Nyheter 02.04.93

On her own this swedish musician makes
uplifting pop music with african influences.
The rhythms and the words are aimed at the feet.

Fredrik Söderling
_________________________________

Nya Wermlands Tidningen 06.09.93

I have been waiting for Sofi´s solo Lp
since I heard her play with Mory Kante.
On this cd Sofi is better on saxophone than on vocals
But in overall I give it full marks

Kenneth Hammargren
__________________________________

Hey Now

Press from second cd "Hey Now"

Kvällsposten -96

Cool groove with lots of warmth,
joyfulness in words and melodies
- this is Sofi´s second CD "Hey Now".
The music is characterised by a pureness that feels honest.
The band is tight and groovy.
It is exiting to hear odd instrument like the Thumb piano.

Yvonne Erlandsson
__________________________________________

L´Affiche nov.-96

Sofi est une pleine de talent qui souffle le feu dans son alto,
chenu et sensuel. "Hey Now" est un album robuste,
plein d´énergie, Finement construit, baigné de vibrations africaines,
de funk et d´afro beat.Tout cool,t out groove. Exitant.

Jaques Matinet
___________________________________________
Funk Magazine dec.96

"Hey Now" reflète une culture musicale approndie,
loin des clichés acid jazz raccoler.
L´Afrique est l´âme de cette musique et lui a donné ses rondeurs rythmique.
Le swing naturel qui Sofi est son Gang a su utiliser avec grace sans lourdeur.

Domisoul
____________________________________________

Time

Press from third cd "Time Will Tell"

Dagens Nyheter 15.05.98

Natural like water running in the
river flows this third cd of
Sofi Hellborg "Time will Tell".
A mixed pot of afrofunk, a bit of Highlife
and some really nice drum´n´bass.
A swallow of happiness.
Måns Wallgren
____________________________________

Orkester Jornalen sept..98

The record "Time will Tell" is a well produced
record with very competitive musicians.
She dare to be sensual, she plays beautifully.
Very warm music!
Thomas Millroth
____________________________________

Helsingborgs Dagblad spring 98

The third production "Time will Tell"
and the strongest so far makes Sofi one
of the hottest player right now
in the category of women players.
Not one track resembles.
The groove of her is soft and unconvensual
and with inspiration from Africa gives the music a
nice tension.
From this she creates exiting stories
from one of her saxophones or her voice.
Knut Johansson