Anders Åstrand is a renowned Swedish mallet specialist, considered to be a unique voice of both the marimba and the vibraphone. He is a popular and sought after soloist, regularly performing and giving master classes and clinics throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Since 2021, Åstrand teaches in the Evolution: Classical program at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
Åstrand focuses on melodic and rhythmical improvisation, with influences ranging from jazz, Scandinavian folk music, and Gregorian chants. The element of improvisation is also an essential feature in his compositions. His commissions include compositions for percussion and chamber music ensembles, brass quintets, double woodwind quintet, saxophone quartet, choirs, and big band. A more spectacular side features compositions for ice instruments for percussion ensemble, as well as using fighter aircrafts, snow trucks, and buildings as instruments.
Åstrand’s music can also be found in multimedia performances, including dance, video projections, ice instruments, and fire sculptures. His compositions include More Steps, a duet for saxophones, flute, marimba, and vibraphone, and Spring Dance, a solo piece for marimba, vibraphone, and symphony orchestra, which premiered 2016 at the Busan Maru Festival, South Korea. Åstrand regularly collaborates internationally with various ensembles and groups. The Omnibus Ensemble (Uzbekistan) has premiered two of his pieces, Omnibus 17 and Next Move.
As a featured guest artist and mallet player, Åstrand has toured both in Europe and South America with Pies En la Terra (Ecuador). He plays vibraphone in both Soundscape Orchestra and Firm Roots. Soundscape Orchestra is based on electronic and acoustic instruments.
Åstrand also plays the vibes in Ann-Sofi Söderqvist Jazz Orchestra, and can be heard on the album Move. The duo Vibes and Bass (Mikael Berglund, bass, Anders Åstrand, mallets) has released three albums with original music: Seven Thoughts, Frantelunia, and Watercolors. He also performs in WÅG (Mattias Wager, church organ, Anders Åstrand, mallets and percussion, and Gary Graden, vocals) and the percussion ensemble, Global Percussion Network, with which he has toured extensively in Sweden, Europe, the United States, and South Korea.
Anders Åstrand has performed several times at PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention). He is International Education Orchestral Consultant for Zildjian since 2008.
Anders Åstrand plays Yamaha instruments, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth mallets, and Evans drumheads.