Lars Westin: Jazz in Sweden - an overview
"Free" and "Happy" (3 of 3)

Sweden had its share of the Dixieland and New Orleans revival movements in the late 1940s, and has had a vast number of traditional groups ever since. In the early years most of these orchestras were made up of college students. In recent years, however, there have also been quite a few professional groups working in this area, and several have even gained international fame. Kustbandet (photo: Bo Flodin), founded in the early 1960s, re-creates the music of the early big band era (Henderson, Ellington etc) and has toured world-wide. One of its members, trumpeter Bent Persson (b. 1947), is widely acclaimed and takes part in events throughout the world, often in an all star line-up modestly called The Swedish Jazz Kings.  Kustbandet: Honeymooning (1991) from Ösregn [Kenneth CKS 3401] With the opening of the jazz pub Stampen (The Pawnshop) in the Old Town of Stockholm in the late 1968, Sweden also experienced a renaissance of swing music. A sign over the stage saying "Happy jazz, please" gave the music a new label. Clarinettist Ove Lind (1926-91) was in the forefront of this movement, performing music in the style of Benny Goodman’s small groups. One of his co-musicians, vibraphonist Lars Erstrand (b. 1936), has later fronted his own unit and has appeared as guest soloist with bands all over Europe.  Ove Lind: Fascinating Rhythm (1957) from Swinging the blues 1957/58 [Dragon DRCD 251] Sweden also witnessed a big band revival, mainly in the form of amateur orchestras with older musicians or connected to music schools. It was estimated that Sweden had about 400 big bands in the mid-1970s and quite a few have survived to the present day. Some have risen to a semi-professional level, such as the Sandviken Big Band, founded in 1968 in the small town of Sandviken.  Sandviken Big Band: Ankbrand (1992)from Big Band Wulf [PHONT NCD 8820] From 1971 and onwards the twenty-five or so military bands in Sweden were  transformed into regional music institutions with a wide range of commitments. Norrbotten Big Band (based in Lulea) and Bohuslän Big Band (based in Gothenburg) are two examples of such bands which have developed into large jazz orchestras, working more or less on a full-time basis together with different composers and guest soloists. Stockholm has several big bands with some of the foremost jazz soloists in their ranks. Trumpeter Bosse Broberg (b.1937) leads one of them, playing his own compositions and arrangements, while trumpeter Fredrik Norén (b. 1957) is the initiator of the Stockholm Jazz Orchestra which since 1982 has collaborated with several famous American composers and soloists at concerts and recordings. Saxophonist Magnus Lindgren (b. 1974) has also fronted several big bands in the Swedish capital, and also led his own quartet. Saxophonist and composer Helge Albin (b. 1941) heads the Tolvan Big Band in Malmö which plays a repertoire of pieces which have mostly come from his own pen.  Tolvan Big Band: Kobolt (1990) from Colours [Phono Suecia PSCD 47]

"Free" and "Happy" (3 of 3)
Lars Westin: Jazz in Sweden - an overview