A steady drum backbeat and descending piano chords establish the groove on Bear Garden’s In the Water, with a bluesy saxophone melody moving across the arrangement. There’s a classic feel to the sound, drawing on jazz and funk while maintaining a relaxed, downtempo pulse.
The chord changes roll around beneath the saxophone, giving the piece plenty of harmonic movement without disturbing its easy rhythm. The playing has a strong ensemble feel, with the drums, piano and saxophone working together to create a warm, rhythmically engaging sound.
Partway through, the arrangement breaks down. The drums fall away, allowing a distant, choir-like vocal to emerge against a more spacious backing. It’s a brief change in atmosphere that provides contrast before the rhythm returns and the track settles back into its earlier groove.
Bear Garden is the project of Swedish saxophonist and composer Martin Wirén. Released through Jazz by Bolero on 16 September 2026, In the Water precedes his forthcoming fourth album. Wirén describes the track as an attempt to bring drums, saxophone and choral voices together while stripping the music back to its essential elements.
That approach comes through in the arrangement. There’s enough detail in the shifting harmony and saxophone lines to maintain interest, but the track never loses sight of its central groove. It’s a lively combination of funky rhythm, jazzy phrasing and blues-influenced melody, with the vocal breakdown adding an unexpected change of texture.
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Previously on Frequency State: Bear Garden – We Are All.
