ESQ was formed in 1984 by the Swedish guitarist and composer Ewan Svensson. Since then the group has existed in some different constellations. Among others the great Polish altosaxplayer Zbigniew Namyslowski was in the band 1988-90. However, since 1990 the members have been the same and the band has almost become an institution among Swedish jazz-groups. With the present members ESQ has released three CDs which have all been very well received. During this time the music has changed from being mostly electric with use of synth.-guitar and EWI to a more acoustic sound. The band has toured and performed throughout Europe at festivals, clubs and on radio and TV. For the past eleven years ESQ has also worked as "house-band" at Falkenberg Jazz Festival. They have performed with many different guest artists like: Toots Thielemans, Clark Terry, Johnny Griffin, Bob Berg, Georgie Fame, Kenny Wheeler, Art Farmer a.o. In 1998 Ewan Svensson was asked to arrange some of his music for ESQ together with the Swedish stringquartet Ensemble Ginestra. The result was a crossover-project, called MEETING which turned out to be a great success. Besides tours in Sweden and abroad the combined groups have performed on radio and TV-programs and a record was released in 2000. ESQ plays modern melodic jazz, a mix of lyrical ballads, latin-beat and straight jazz, with a "Nordic" touch. Except for some standards, most of the music consists of original tunes by Ewan Svensson.

The members: Ove Ingemarsson-tenorsax With his beautiful sound and amazing technique Ove is one of the top names in Sweden and his brilliant conception can be heard on his own record with a.o. drummer Adam Nussbaum and with “Bohuslän Big Band” as well as other bands. Ewan Svensson-guitar Ewan often receives attention as one of S w e d e n ’s most expressive guitarists, “with a free flow of ideas combined with brilliant technique”. In addition to ESQ he has a.o his own trio that can be heard on the CDs PRESENT DIRECTIONS (with bassplayer Palle Danielsson), STREAMS and FIGURES Matz Nilsson-bass For the past 20 years Matz has been one of the hardest working bassplayers in Sweden. Besides being one of the foremost freelance studio musicians, he also works with different bands and he can be heard on several records with his former group ” Hawk on Flight”. Magnus Gran-drums Magnus supplies the band with a steady flow of energy and fantasy. He is a highly technical yet sensitive and dynamic d r u m m e r. He has worked with Ewan Svensson in different bands for almost 15 years and is also a member of several other groups.