Mats Gustafsson (born 1964, Umeå) is a Swedish saxophonist, improviser and composer who has become one of the defining voices in European free jazz. Active since the mid-1980s through groups such as The Thing, Fire!, Gush and the AALY Trio, he has accumulated over 200 album productions and more than 1,800 concerts across five continents. His playing draws on extended saxophone techniques and a raw physical intensity that sets him apart in the world of improvised music.
Gustafsson released a debut album Traces with the new quintet Cosmic Ear (We Jazz Records, May 23, 2025), which pays tribute to the legacy of Don Cherry.
Gustafsson performed at the French festival Sons d'Hiver in Paris (January 24-28, 2025).
The German tour of the band Gush was postponed from December 2024 to November 2025 due to health issues.
