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

Lars Gullin Quartet, Quintet, Sextet, Octet and Orchestra

Lars Gullin

Baritone Sax

Lars Gullin, the Swedish saxman, was reckoned as one of the greatest baritone saxophone soloists of his time. His personal playing, composing and arranging style was somewhat reminiscent of Gerry Mulligan's, but he was also heavily influenced by Lee Konitz' alto playing. He played with all the greats when they visited Scandinavia, and was ranked high in Down Beat's polls during the fifties.

This man and his music, 1950's bebop oriented, well crafted and arranged jazz with a tinge of Swedish folklore, deserves a lot of attention! This album is a great first look into his work, heart-and-ear-pleasing music by a true romantic! Check this one out! *amazon.com*

An amazing American release from this legendary baritone saxophonist – one of a few Swedish sessions that Lars issued here in the US at the time! The album's a perfect introduction to Gullin's groundbreaking work – that blend of soul, swing, and modernism that easily made him one of the best talents on his instrument in the postwar years – an overseas player to rival gians like Pepper Adams or Serge Chaloff here in the US! The work is some of Lars' best from the decade – and the tracks feature his modernist baritone in different groupings with top Swedish jazzmen of the time – including Rune Ofwerman on piano, Arne Domnerus on alto, Rolf Blomquist on tenor, Ake Persson on trombone, and George Riedel on bass. The tracks are all longish (most are over 5 minutes), with a strong swing, and introspective solos by Gulling that are some of his strongest of the time – and titles include "Perntz", "Fedja", "All Of Me", and "So What".  *dustygroove.com*

1 - Summertime

(George Gershwin, DuBose Heyward)

2 - Fedja

(Lars Gullin)

3 - A Foggy Day

(George and Ira Gershwin)

4 - Perntz

(Lars Gullin)

5 - All Of Me

(Seymour Simons, Gerald Marks)

6 - Mean To Me

(Roy Turk, Fred E. Ahlert)

7 - So What

(Gerry Mulligan)

#2 and #4: Lars Gullin Octet

Georg Vernon (trombone); Arne Domnérus (alto sax, clarinet); Carl-Henrik Norin (tenor sax); Lars Gullin, Rune Falk (baritone saxes) ; Rune Ofwerman (piano); George Riedel (bass); Bert Dahlander (drums).

Stockholm, Sweden, April 23, 1956.

#5: Lars Gullin Quartet

Lars Gullin (baritone sax), Rune Ofwerman (piano), Bengt Carlsson (bass), Bert Dahlander (drums).

Stockholm, Sweden, April 24, 1956.

#7: Lars Gullin Quintet

Lars Gullin (baritone sax), Åke Persson (trombone), Rune Ofwerman (piano), George Riedel (bass), Bert Dahlander (drums).

Stockholm, Sweden, April 25, 1956.

#1 and #3: Lars Gullin With Gösta Theselius And His Orchestra

Jan Allan, Weine Renliden, Nisse Skoog, Bengt-Arne Wallin (trumpets); Gordon Ohlsson, Åke Persson, Georg Vernon (trombones); Arne Domnérus (alto sax); Rolf Blomquist, Carl-Henrik Norin (tenor saxes); Rune Falk, Lars Gullin (baritone saxes); Rune Ofwerman (piano); George Riedel (bass); Bert Dahlander (drums). Gösta Theselius (arranger).

Stockholm, Sweden, April 25, 1956.

#6: Lars Gullin Sextet

Lars Gullin (baritone sax), Åke Persson (trombone); Arne Domnérus (alto sax), Rune Ofwerman (piano), George Riedel (bass), Bert Dahlander (drums).

Stockholm, Sweden, April 26, 1956.