Besides industrial, the other thing I've been listening to a lot of recently is Swedish folk. Spotify has actually been a really great tool for this even if their genre tagging is less-than-stellar -- you just gotta know where to look if you wanna dig deep. For instance, how else would I know about Jonas Knutsson's various "Norrland" album collaborations with Johan Norberg? "Skaren: Norrland III" with Kraja? Maybe not as edgy as I usually go for, but it is undeniably gorgeous. Plenty more where that came from, too. Novices however, are very much encouraged to start with Hedningarna since they are (were?) an act that can do no wrong. "Tuuli", off the 1994 album "Trä" piles on the works: brilliant dense vocal harmonies, hypnotic beats, Wimme's excellent and unmistakable joik, witchy cackling and more -- everything the band is renown for, aside from their creative hurdy gurdy playing. Absolutely essential listening and a major influence on me and my interest in Scandinavian music.
Swedish jazz and world music label has updated their fall schedule: http://www.countryandeastern.se/?p=2540
Highlights include a string of live recording dates for Befive (feat. the incredible lineup of Bengt Ernryd, Jonas Knutsson, Mats Öberg, Christian Spering and Bengt Berger) in mid-September plus a new album from Per Tjernberg, aka Per Cussion -- the dude who released the very first Swedish rap record back in 1983. Of course his solo work under his given name is a bit different, but it's good to know he's still around making music.
The Swedish Music Information Centre is giving away copies of a CD sampler featuring a selection of tunes recorded at Swedish Jazz Celebration 2010: [click here]
Featured artists include some of Sweden's finest, such as Mats Öberg & Jonas Knutsson, Karin Hammar Quartet, Jacob Karlzon Trio and more.
Best album: Håkan Hellström - 2 Steg Från Paradise Oskar Linnros - Vilja Bli Robyn - Body Talk Säkert! - Facit The Radio Dept. - Clinging To a Scheme
Best artist: Håkan Hellström Johnossi Oskar Linnros Petter Robyn
Best song: Anna Bergendahl - This Is My Life Daniel Adams-Ray - Gubben I Lådan Eric Saade - Manboy Erik Grönwall - Higher Johnossi - What's The Point Mohombi - Bumpy Ride Oskar Linnros - Från Och Med Du Robyn - Dancing On my Own Salem Al Fakir - Keep On Walking Swedish House Mafia – One
Best group: Dungen - Skit I Allt Hästpojken - Från Där Jag Ropar Johnossi - Mavericks Kent - En Plats I Solen The Radio Dept. - Clinging To A Scheme
Best folk/visa: Blandade Artister - Sonja Åkesson Tolkad Av First Aid Kit - The Big Black & The Blue Jonas Knutsson - Blåslåtar Ola Magnell - Rolös Toni Holgersson - Ibland Kallar Jag Det Kärlek
Best hardrock/metal: Ghost - Opus Eponymous Khoma - A Final Storm Pascal - Orkanen Närmar Sig Sabaton - Coat Of Arms Watain - Lawless Darkness
Best jazz: Dan Berglunds Tonbruket - Tonbruket Goran Kajfes - X/Y Magnus Carlson & The Moon Ray Quintet - Echoes Oddjob - Clint Peter Asplund Quartet - Asplund Meets Bernstein
Best songwriter: Annika Norlin & Henrik Oja - Facit Håkan Hellström - 2 Steg Från Paradise Klas Åhlund & Robyn - Body Talk Oskar Linnros - Vilja Bli Pernilla Andersson - Ö
Best female artist: Anna Von Hausswolff - Singing FromThe Grave Britta Persson - Current Affair Medium Rare Pernilla Andersson - Ö Robyn - Body Talk Säkert! - Facit
Best male artist: Daniel Adams-Ray - Svart Vitt Och Allt Däremellan Håkan Hellström - 2 Steg Från Paradise Oskar Linnros - Vilja Bli Salem Al Fakir - Ignore This The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt
Best newcomer: Anna Von Hausswolff - Singing From The Grave Ceo - White Magic First Aid Kit - The Big Black & The Blue Oskar Linnros - Vilja Bli Swedish House Mafia - Until One
Best producer: Adrian Lux Joakim Åhlund & Håkan Hellström Klas Åhlund Max Martin Red One
Best international success: Dungen Max Martin Red One Robyn Swedish House Mafia
Best lyrics: Annika Norlin - Facit Håkan Hellström - 2 Steg Från Paradise Ola Magnell - Rolös Oskar Linnros - Vilja Bli Plura Jonsson - Kärlekens Väg - En Mässa
Best urban/dance: Boeoes Kaelstigen - Tanum Teleport Familjen - Mänskligheten Petter - En Räddare I Nöden PH3 - PH3 Löser Ett Fall Swedish House Mafia - Until One
Best Innovator: Johnossi Robyn Nomy Magnus Weideskog Iamamiwhoami
Winners will be announced at a ceremony at Kungliga Operan in Stockholm on January 17.
Swedish saxophonist Jonas Knutsson will be releasing the new album "Blåslåtar" on November 22 via , his first album recorded solo with no accompaniment. The record is collection of various folk tunes Jonas has collected over the years from various parts of Sweden, transcribed from fiddle and reconfigured for sax. Read more in the label's latest newsletter: http://www.countryandeastern.se/images/pressroom/large/101027_ce_news.pdf
Scandinavian House in NYC is hosting a "Northern Realms Showcase" on January 11 featuring live performances from artists such as acclaimed jazz duo Mats Öberg & Jonas Knutsson and Sami singer Sofia Jannok. More details: http://pl-pl.facebook.com/event.php?eid=196845214067&index=1
Country & Eastern, the label that lovingly mixes Swedish jazz and Eastern folk, has just released a new album from Bengt Berger entitled "Beches brew". The record was recorded live and in the studio with Thomas Gustafsson, Lindha Kallerdahl, Jonas Knutsson, Max Schultz, Mats Öberg and mixed by Sigge Krantz. Head to the label site for more info and samples: http://countryandeastern.se/
Here's the playlist for last week's radio show on 12/28, a special all-jazz program to close out the year:
01. TALK 1
02. Jan Johansson - Visa från Utanmyra
03. Saft - Marching for no. 1
04. Auton - El Dorado
05. TALK 2
06. The Splendor - Canary Islands
07. Kornstad/Opsvik - Happy house (live)
08. TALK 3
09. Yttling Jazz - Konstant krease
10. Jonas Knutsson - Glaciär
11. Moha! - Teknosangen
12. Oskar Schönning - Faustine
13. TALK 4
14. E.S.T. (Esbjörn Svensson Trio) - Leucocyte (ad initio)
And in case you happened to catch it, here also is my Sirius XMU top 10 most important albums of 2008 playlist:
#10 - Fucked Up - Days of last
#09 - Commando M Pigg - Baby doll
BEST COVER SONG - The Kid - Mayhem troopers (Cortex)
#08 - Katzenjammer - Le pop
#07 - Tobias Hellkvist - Wintervarm
#06 - The Goner - Field ceremony
BEST REMIX OF 2008 - Firefox AK vs Laid - Once I was like you
#05 - Haust - Ugly fucking Oslo
#04 - Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Which way to go
#03 - Sort Sol - White shirt
BEST LIVE ACT OF 2008 - Sex Vid - Cleansing
#02 - Montys Loco - Farewell Mr Happy
#01 - Lukestar - White shade
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
Yesterday I mentioned that my daily listening of late has been mostly crust and jazz and I posted an example of the former. Today, you get the latter.
I've expressed admiration for both Jonas Knutsson and Mats Öberg before on these pages, but I don't think I've ever heard the two old friends play together until receiving a copy of the new live duet album on Country & Eastern. According to the minimal liner notes, the two have known each other since 1981 when Jonas was 16 and doing a recording for the local radio station in Umeå. Mats, then 10 years old, was asked how he liked the music and he commented, "Fine, but the three-line E on the piano is out of tune..." For anyone already familiar with Mats' musical abilities, this should come as no surprise. He's a phenomenal talent, perfect pitch or not; it shines through even when I witnessed him performing casually at his brother's wedding this past summer. Get him on a record like this and it's even more obvious. Jonas is no slouch either, his "Horn please!" album from last year is a beautiful extension of Jan Johansson's folk-jazz tradition and consistently gets regular play in my household. Together, the best thing about Jonas and Mats playing together is how fun it sounds. That's one revelation of the duo format - it's much more a conversation between two friends than any sort of virtuostic showpiece. Especially on "Jagad i hissen" ("Fugitive in the elevator" so says Google). Even if bits of the music may seem a bit hard to follow, hopefully the laughter at the end will cue you in to the true intent. Sometimes it might seem like they're having a private conversation, but they really do want to let you in on the joke.
Reading comprehension time: provided you made it this far, I've got something extra to give you. Country & Eastern sent me an additional copy of the aforementioned "Horn please!" CD, so I'm going to give it away. Leave a comment on this post and you're eligible. The winner will be announced in a day or so.
Hey, look! More jazz to bore all you indie music fans. I make no secret that I'm a huge fan of Nordic folk-inspired jazz such as Jan Johansson and Cornelis Vreeswijk and other modern folk-influenced acts such as Detektivbyrån, Det Gamla Landet and Hedningarna, but did you know that I am also a soprano sax player? Or was I guess I should say, as I am waaaay out of practice. I know most people immediately think Kenny G when they think soprano, but please put such thoughts aside! Think John Coltrane, Steve Lacy. Anyone else! Or maybe start thinking Jonas Knutsson & Horn Please. Six sax players (from sopranino to baritone, but mostly soprano) plus a rhythm section playing "Country & Eastern" music (as the cover proclaims), or as you may have guessed, ethnic folk-inspired jazz. I became hooked on this stuff way back when John Zorn first started his acclaimed Masada project- I had been a fan of his work with Naked City among other projects, but it's his roots-based work with Masada that I consider to be his best. Did you realize that there are many similar tonal qualities in Middle Eastern, Eastern European and Scandinavian folk? It's true. The styles blend together far more easily than you might expect. That's why me, as some Jewish kid getting into Masada, can also similarly appreciate a "polska" piece from Jonas Knutsson. Now, I'm not actually posting a polka today, but you get the idea, right?