People In Orbit | Viewpoint | April 10, 2026

Leading outlet for forward-thinking Scandinavian jazz, April Records, proudly presents the new album from Malmö-based quintet People In Orbit. A followup to their critically acclaimed 2023 release Close/Away (Naxos Prophone), the group continues to explore Scandinavia’s jazz tradition through a contemporary lens, blending acoustic interplay with electronics and a focus on collective improvisation.

Viewpoint is set for release on April 10th, 2026 via April Records.

Led by trumpeter and composer Adam Sass, People In Orbit were formed in late 2020 with the intention of reimagining the classic jazz quintet with a contemporary edge. The group prioritises space, interaction, and ensemble balance, allowing composed material and collective responsiveness to shape the music. Alongside Sass, the band features Edvin Ekman (tenor saxophone, effects), Niklas Bergström (piano, Moog, keyboards), Edvin Elmersson (double bass), and Frank William Reis (drums).

Viewpoint is a concept-driven album centred on perspective; how different viewpoints influence the way events are interpreted, and how perspective can foster connection or distance. Much of the album is built around Cycles, a four-part suite composed from a graphic score, with each section representing a different human life and its relationship to the surrounding world.

The album moves through shifting emotional and psychological states, from curiosity and tension to reflection and release. Perspective is explored not only through human experience, but also via non-human viewpoints – including music inspired by deep-ocean communication between whales and slow, drifting motion.

Musically, Viewpoint continues People In Orbit’s blend of modern jazz-rock and electronics, while drawing influence from the Scandinavian jazz quintet tradition of the 1960s. The music balances structured composition with openness, allowing individual voices to exist within a clearly defined collective sound.With Viewpoint, People In Orbit presents a focused and cohesive statement – an album shaped by shared intent, conceptual clarity, and a continued commitment to collective expression.

Line up

Track Listing

Synchronized Whalestuff
Prelude to Cycles – Particles
Cycle 1 – Bombastic And Majestic Introduction
Cycle 1,5 – Reaching. Searching. Longing.
Cycle 2 – The Clueless Marchers
Cycle 2,5 – Running
Cycle 3 – Everlasting Confusion
Cycle 4 – Landing
Spinning Downwards

PR Quotes

Jazz Journal (UK)
“Viewpoint is an impressive achievement which bodes well for the future of this potent outfit.“

Paris-move (FR)
“the beauty of the images it imposes on us is striking”

SK Jazz (SK)
“What is particularly appealing is the interplay and combination of acoustic instruments and subtly used electronics, which creates a modern, multifaceted atmosphere that is constantly evolving and opening up new perspectives!”

Jazz-fun (DE)
“An exciting, well-thought-out and sonically unique album of modern European jazz”

Esensja (PL)
“People in Orbit’s music appears like the light of a lantern visible on the jacket, seemingly warning of the black hole looming in the background. If we listen, follow the light, we will have a chance at salvation”

Orkester Journalen (SE)
“Viewpoint is a highly refined album with an urban sound from a group with great potential — one I would gladly like to hear more from in the future.”

Lira (SE)
“I would love to hear more of this. This quintet can go far.“

Jazzpress (PL)
“Listening to Viewpoint, People in Orbit invites us to drift among the clouds, let our imagination flow, and immerse ourselves in a kind of quasi-philosophical reflection”

UK Vibe (UK)
“Everything here feels considered and resolved, with no excess and nothing that undermines its own intent. It may not be built to dominate a broader cultural stage, but within its own parameters it is executed with conviction, intelligence and a clear artistic logic”

Jazz.sk (SK)
“People in Orbit bring us their version of mixing influences and it is very tasteful. You can spend a lot of time with this music, for example, thinking about what the combination “modern jazz-rock” means to you personally”

Blue in Green (UK)
“People In Orbit have released a genuinely fantastic effort and one that inspired through its fascinating concept and through its fantastic performances and composition”

Jazzda (PL)
“Bravo for their uncompromising approach and for the fact that in a world of “bravo me,” the band was able to say “bravo us.” The album is a solid dose of energy that restores faith in the power of a collective with a modern edge.”