Abstract Logic (Re-Mastered)

2. Rice with the Angels (Hellborg) - 8:19

3. Abstract Logic (Hellborg-Lane) - 6:39

4. A Handful of Earth (Hellborg) (Bonus Track) - 4:37

5. Don't Look Back (Hellborg) (Bonus Track) - 8:52

6. Throwing Elephant and Wrestling (Hellborg-Lane) - 9:38

7. Pluie D'etincelles (Lane) - 4:07

8. Layla Attar (Hellborg) - 5:55

Jonas Hellborg - bass guitar

Recorded in December 1994 by Stephane Jean at RagnarPers, Gärsnäs, Sweden, with the Day Eight Mobile. Mixed by Tim Hunt 2005 on Aspö Island, Sweden. Technical support by Lennart Schander

Musical logic is abstract logic. It is a logic of the senses and not of rigid symmetry. It is convincing and striking when come across but it can seldom be explained, understood or analyzed in one simple way. It is as complex and simple as life itself. The logic of life is abstract logic, Music is Life Logic.

On Abstract Logic Jonas Hellborg teams up with guitarist/pianist Shawn Lane and drummer Kofi Baker for 5 days of recording in the Scania countryside in the south of Sweden. The recording was done in the 500 square meter gallery space of Ragnarpers with mobile recording equipment. The music was composed so it could be played in a variety of ways, so over the days each song was turned inside out in new ways and recorded like it was played, live without overdubs or corrections in order to make a snapshot of a moment in time.

From Jonas Hellborg
"94 December, I had a year earlier moved from New York to Paris, I was trying to establish a new way of dealing with improvisation within "fusion" music. Very much inspired by the Indian tradition of supporting imitation behind soloists, I wanted to create a platform where listening and understanding was so alert that there would be a continuos flow of ideas back and forth between the musicians playing. Playing with Ginger Baker thru the late 80's we had touched on this quite a bit. During one of our recording sessions in London the then 17 year old son of Ginger, Kofi, had been down to the studio and played a bit, and I had been very curious to play further with him.

A chance encounter at a Paris musical instrument trade show had finally put me in touch with Shawn Lane, the elusive underground guitar virtuoso. We had found some common ground over a few dinners in Paris, and decided to try to record together at least. For the sessions I had rented a huge (500 sq m/5000 sq foot) Art Gallery, brought in my portable recording set up and prepared about 10 different sketches of musical compositions. Also I had at the time collected a lot of Indian and Pakistani music videos, that I played for Shawn and Kofi in order to explain my ideas of collective improv a little bit clearer. They where both largely unfamiliar with the music I showed them and particularly Shawn was deeply moved and sort of found a new musical path here for the rest of his musical life (which is pretty clear if you listen to the recordings following Abstract Logic).

We did spend a wonderful week with good food and playing, turning these ideas of mine inside out and scraping the surface of my new concept of improv. I was looking for something particular at this time so I did overlook a few things in the final assessment of the takes we had, and I have included 2 new songs in this remixed version of the record. I suppose one of the interesting facts of this record is that it is really a crossroad for three individuals embarking i new directions. Me and Shawn continued down the road together and Kofi took a different route but its a very vivid and happy sonic documentary."