The band gathers members from Malmö, Stockholm and Copenhagen. The tunes are composed and arranged by Johannes Nästesjö. NEO delivers jazz with strong Nordic roots, spiced up with a mixture of classical music, free form and fusion. The music is positive and melancholy at the same time. The arrangements shift sharply between arranged and free parts. Virtuoso elements blend with dreamlike harmonies. NEO has a unique band sound that steams from the unusual jazz instrumentation of double bass, violin, saxophone and battery. The music is custom-made to fit the musicians, including a suite of four tunes, one for every band member. NEO consists of four strong individuals that together make up an even stronger musical collective. The members of NEO are Johannes Nästesjö: double bass, Stefan Pöntinen: violin, Michala Østergaard-Nielsen: drums/percussion/glockenspiel, Marcelo Gabard Pazos: alto- and baritone saxophone .... “The so-called NEO Suite is the highlight of the record. The tip-tapping ”Denmark”, the soothing violin-filled ”Ingermanland”, the rough ”Kansas”, where the violin and Marcelo Gabard Pazos’ baritone saxophone weave intricate patterns, and the final piece ”Uruguay”, where predetermined art music is released into free excursions, and a sad duet between alto saxophone and violin. This is where the arrangements of composer and bass player Johannes Nästesjö really shine.” Magnus Nygren; *soundofmusic.nu* Oct 15, 2010 “The strength of Nästesjö’s compositions is that they are correlated and feel like an integrated whole. His bass playing naturally finds the important common denominators, and composition-wise, every ingredient serves its purpose.” Johannes Cornell; Dagens Nyheter (Sweden’s most influential newspaper) Oct 13, 2010 “The setup is interesting: double bass, violin, percussion and saxophone. I’m impressed with percussionist Michala Østergaard-Nielsen. She is flexible yet unique in her playing, distinct but tangibly fundamental and supporting. Of course, Nästesjö knows his own compositions very well, which shows in his sensitive and excellent bass playing, while Stefan Pöntinen’s violin challenges, intertwines with, and shoots off from Marcelo Gabard Pazos’ beautiful saxophone playing. It is entirely enjoyable, and a brilliant debut for NEO.” Stefan Nilsson; Nerikes Allehanda (newspaper) Oct 22, 2010 “It’s not the instrumentation in itself that makes the music interesting – double bass, violin, glockenspiel and baritone saxophone should, by the way, meet more often – it’s rather Johannes Nästesjö’s inventive compositions and his brilliant arrangement skills.” Peter Bornemar; Dig Jazz (jazz magazine) Oct 28, 2010 “The music often has a delicate, fragile tone. Thoughtful and sparse, not much rawness. Although occasionally, Michala Østergaard-Nielsen finds a more brutal expression in her drums. As is often the case, she has a free role, providing personally distributed rhythmic comments. A very interesting percussionist! The whole record is only just over half an hour, which feels very right. There’s only room for the essential notes, all the fuss and unnecessary ornamentation has been left out. Nästesjö’s bass playing has the same quality, sparse, gaining rhythmic significance through a beautiful and clear sound. Pöntinen’s violin sometimes takes on an art music expression, and Gabard Pazos’ alto saxophone has a restrained intensity that I find appealing.” Jan Strand; 5.Orkester Journalen/#6 (jazz magazine) Dec/Jan 2010