Jazz at Konserthuset

Anyone familiar with jazz history knows that Charlie Parker in 1950 released two separate albums, both titled Charlie Parker with Strings, where he played jazz standards rather than his own compositions. These albums also became his best-selling records.

In other words, it’s no bad idea to revisit that concept – and that’s exactly what the American clarinettist and saxophonist Ken Peplowski and his ensemble do here. The versatile Peplowski has explored a wide range of musical genres, having collaborated with artists such as Mel Tormé, Peggy Lee, Madonna, Marianne Faithfull, and Woody Allen.

The distinguished Swedish jazz musician Klas Lindquist has performed with a range of prominent musicians and bands, and his own nine-piece ensemble, the Klas Lindquist Nonet, had its latest album, Alternative Source of Energy (2023), named Jazz Album of the Year by the readers of OrkesterJournalen.

Most of the music performed consists of the original arrangements from Charlie Parker’s best-selling 1950 albums. The ensemble of around 20 musicians is led by Calle Rasmusson.

Jan Lundgren is one of our foremost musicians, and with around fifty CDs and a range of projects and collaborations, he has consistently shown his ability to embrace tradition while always evolving. Each year, Jan Lundgren presents three concerts under the banner Kind of Jazz – unique meetings with invited artists and ensembles. Kind of Jazz 2025 marks the series’ seventh season.

“This is a tribute to Bill Evans, who was one of my most important influences when I started playing jazz,” says Jan Lundgren. “I was captivated by his sound: his way of playing and voicing chords, the immense richness of his harmonies. It made him truly unique, and I consider him one of the most important jazz musicians of all time. We’ll play some original Bill Evans music, like Waltz for Debby and Very Early, as well as music he’s associated with, such as Song from MASH. We’re paying homage to both the artist and the composer. To recreate his style and not just play the songs requires a deep understanding of the artist – without losing oneself.”

Just as Bill Evans had his trio, Jan Lundgren has put together an exceptionally skilled trio here. German drummer Wolfgang Haffner, one of the foremost in the world, has previously worked with Jan Lundgren (as well as with Nils Landgren, for instance). The renowned Swedish bassist Anders Jormin has also taken a leading role in international music and is now a professor at the Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg.

Kustbandet has been committed to 1920s and 30s jazz since the band’s formation by a few enthusiastic schoolmates in Årsta in the 1960s. With high spirits, energy and professionalism, they have nurtured the legacy of greats like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Count Basie, and presented that legacy with pleasure to Sweden and the world. Like their role models before them, Kustbandet is musically rooted in early-twentieth-century New Orleans and the jazz and swing of Harlem – eras in which jazz was a popular, festive style of music for dance and entertainment.

They’ve had numerous successes over the decades, appearing at thousands of concerts, festivals and jazz clubs. As Swedish jazz ambassadors, Kustbandet has toured 20 countries and been celebrated by the media, jazz lovers, and not least – by greats like Arne Domnérus, Benny Carter and Dizzy Gillespie. Leif “Smoke Rings” Andersson referred to Kustbandet as his special “Swingin’ Swedes”.

Jazz is Fun traditionally combines new and old works with a surprise or two.

Jan Lundgren is one of our foremost musicians, and with around fifty CDs and a range of projects and collaborations, he has consistently shown his ability to embrace tradition while always evolving. Each year, Jan Lundgren presents three concerts under the banner Kind of Jazz – unique meetings with invited artists and ensembles. Kind of Jazz 2025 marks the series’ seventh season.

This year’s Kind of Jazz series concludes with a duo performance. Till Brönner is Germany’s leading jazz trumpeter, often mentioned in the same breath as Chet Baker. “I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time,” says Jan Lundgren. “This will be our first concert together. He’s extremely busy, so it has taken some time to make this happen. Among Till Brönner’s idols are Chet Baker and Miles Davis. The title’s ‘vs’, versus, isn’t meant as a competition, but perhaps it suggests a playful shadowboxing. I look forward to a delightful meeting with lots of spontaneous twists. It’ll be melodic, with a blend of original compositions, jazz classics, and some pop elements.”

Till Brönner’s dozen solo albums, most recorded in Los Angeles, have been hugely successful, with his debut album in 1993 winning an award. He has performed with virtually all the international greats and was invited in 2016 by President Barack Obama to the White House for International Jazz Day. This will be the first time the renowned German trumpeter performs at Konserthuset Stockholm.