Mattias Eklundh

Jason Becker’s life story teaches two important lessons. Firstly, it teaches perspective—which was the apt title of his second solo album—because no matter how difficult your life is, it could be worse, so learn to appreciate what you have. Secondly, it teaches perseverance, because no matter what challenges lie in your way, perseverance will help you overcome them…

Planet Alliance is a project-band where several respected, high class musicians were carefully selected in order to participate in the line-up. The musical direction is melodic hardrock/metal with strong hooklines. Mike Andersson (Cloudscape) and Magnus Karlsson (Last Tribe, Starbreaker, Allen/Lande Project) started to compose songs for Planet Alliance in early 2005. Bob Daisley (Gary Moore, ex Ozzy Osbourne) and Janne Stark (Locomotive Breath, Overdrive) were also invited to contribute with songs in order to complete the setlist…

Jonas Hellborg is a Swedish bass guitarist. He has collaborated with John McLaughlin, Ustad Sultan Khan, Fazal Qureshi, Bill Laswell, Shawn Lane, Jens Johansson, Anders Johansson, Michael Shrieve, V. Selvaganesh, Jeff Sipe, Mattias IA Eklundh, Public Image Ltd, and Buckethead.

John McLaughlin’s 2008 Abstract Logix CD Floating Point and its companion DVD Meeting Of The Minds featured some of India’s contemporary musician’s playing over Western music styles and forms (i.e. chord progressions). One of the standout performers on those sessions was drummer Ranjit Barot; who plays with a dynamically propulsive style that seamlessly emerges Eastern rhythms with jazz swing, R&B backbeats, fusion flash – and everything in between. I became an instant fan of his playing, and hoped to hear more of Ranjit’s music as a band leader. That hope is now a reality with the release of Ranjit Barot’s debut CD on Abstract Logix, Bada Boom. Bada Boom is not a typical “East meets West” project where the Eastern music component plays a minor or “decorative” role.

Jonas Hellborg (born June 7, 1958) is a Swedish bass guitarist. He has collaborated with John McLaughlin,Trilok Gurtu, Ustad Sultan Khan, Fazal Qureshi, Bill Laswell, Shawn Lane, Jens Johansson, Michael Shrieve, V. Selvaganesh, Mattias IA Eklundh and Buckethead.