Rolf Ericson And His Swingin' Swedes

Rolf Ericson

Swedish Pastry

One of Sweden's finest trumpeters, Rolf Ericson was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on August 29, 1922. He moved to New York City in 1947 and, in 1949, joined Charlie Barnet's big band and then with Woody Herman in 1950. Later, he worked with Paul Gonsalves, Charlie Parker, and Charles Mingus.

Returning to Sweden in 1950, he recorded as a leader and with Arne Domnérus, as well as for Leonard Feather's Swinging Swedes and Lars Gullin. He returned to the U.S. during 1953–1956, and played with the big bands of Charlie Spivak, Harry James, the Dorsey Brothers, and Les Brown, and was with the Lighthouse All-Stars. In 1956, he toured Sweden and played with Ernestine Anderson and Lars Gullin.

From 1956 to 1965, he was back in the U.S., working with Dexter Gordon, Harold Land, Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich, Benny Goodman, Gerry Mulligan, Dan Terry, Max Roach and Charles Mingus, among others. He was with the Duke Ellington Orchestra from 1963 until 1971. In the early 1960s, he made three recordings as a member of the Rod Levitt orchestra (octet). Ericson played with the Al Porcino Big Band in Berlin in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His warm tone and creative yet melodic style were always considered an asset.

Rolf died in Stockholm, on June 16, 1997.

When American fans first became aware of the existence of a modern jazz cult in Sweden, one of the first musicians to spread the good word around was Rolf Ericson, the Stockholm-born trumpet player, who had emigrated to America in 1947, and played with Woody Herman, Charlie Barnet, Elliot Lawrence, Benny Carter and other name bands. 

Rolf's pride in the accomplishments of his fellow-Scandinavians was concerned not only with the individual solo talents of the Swedes, but also in their ability to weld themselves into clean-playing, neatly-arranged jazz units. 

Most of these men ...(who accompany Rolf in this album)..., at one time or another, have won the annual poll conducted by Sweden's ESTRAD magazine. When you hear these performances you'll undoubtedly agree with the Scandinavian jazz fans who voted for them.

*Leonard Feather (liner notes)*

Side 1

1 - Miles Away

(Ericson)

2 - How High The Moon

(Morgan, Lewis)

3 - Conservation

(Theselius)

4 - Perdido

(Tizol)

Side 2

5 - Strike Up The Band

(Gershwin)

6 - The Nearness Of You

(Carmichael)

7 - Lullaby In Rhythm

(Profit, Sampson)

8 - Git Straight

(Ericson)

#1 to #4:

Rolf Ericson (trumpet), Georg Vernon (trombone), Arne Domnérus (clarinet, tenor sax),

Gösta Theselius (tenor sax), Lars Gullin (baritone sax),

Reinhold Svensson (piano), Simon Brehm (bass), Sven Bollhém (drums).

Recorded in Stockholm, Sweden, September 19, 1950

#5 to #8:

Rolf Ericson (trumpet), Arne Domnérus (alto sax),

Rolf Blomquist (tenor sax), Lars Gullin (baritone sax),

Gunnar Svensson (piano), Yngve Åkerberg (bass), Jack Norén (drums).

Recorded in Stockholm, Sweden, January 10, 1951