Label: Grong, 2025
Personnel - Fredrik Ljungkvist: tenor saxophone, clarinet, composition; André Kassen: tenor and soprano saxophones; Guttorm Guttormsen: alto saxophone, flute; Jon Øystein Rosland: tenor saxophone; Line Bjørnør Rosland: clarinet, bass clarinet; Finn Arne Dahl Hanssen: trumpet; Thomas Johansson: trumpet; Mats Äleklint: trombone; Frøydis Aslesen: trombone; Åsgeir Grong: bass trombone; Mathias Ståhl: vibraphone; Jan Olav Renvåg: acoustic bass; Audun Kleive: drums.
Scheen Jazzorkester, a deliciously progressive Norwegian big band whose works often feature guests, invited Swedish saxophonist Fredrik Ljungkvist to compose for and perform with them. Ljungkvist’s eight compositions form a sumptuous suite crafted with a broad palette of sounds, fascinating dynamics, and creative nuance. Framåt!—meaning ‘going forward’—is dedicated to the composer’s father, who passed away in 2023, and is formidably executed by a fine roster of like-minded players, including two fellow Swedes: trombonist Mats Äleklint and vibraphonist Mathias Ståhl.
Initially immersed in dark tones, “Mörk” creates a mysterious soundscape that gradually dissolves through chromatic tonal shifts, leading to Thomas Johansson’s trumpet solo over harmonic vibraphone textures, resolute pizzicato bass, and gently brushed drums. Intensity ebbs and flows until the final theme reemerges. More restrained yet relying on well-defined melodic trajectories in unison, “Bågarna Och Rörelserna” features the rich woodiness of Ljungkvist and Line Bjørnør Rosland’s clarinets.
The fresh orchestral vitality of “Framåt!” And “No Time to Loose” is on full display. The former, propelled by a beseeching force in five, shifts from elegant melodic contours into a wild sonic eruption driven by a dense horn concentration. Ljungkvist enjoys an unaccompanied exchange with Äleklint in a section that moves seamlessly from tense to tranquil. The latter piece, impeccably arranged and luxuriantly open, begins with flute over a droning backbone, and is elevated by Ståhl’s sophisticated improvisation and Ljungkvist’s explosive saxophone bursts.
While “Glassolalia”—translated as ‘speaking in tongues’—swings with a playful, uncompromising energy, “Leif Håkon” is a ballad of the impressionistic kind. The album closes with two dedications: “En Hyllning till Kerstin”, for writer Kerstin Ekman, and “Keijsers Dans”, for Ljungqvist’s former teacher, saxophonist Roland Keijser. The former, launched by saxophone over drums, emits classical essences in a chamber jazz setting; the latter exudes an infectious, feel-good rock vibe in waltz time, further animated by puissant saxophone exchanges.
With the band showcasing remarkable chemistry, Ljungkvist’s magnetic presence and compositional adroitness are felt throughout. This is serious big band work, where every musician contributes meaningfully to strike that sweet spot between individual improvisation and collective cohesion.
Favorite Tracks:
01 - Mörk ► 03 - Framåt! ► 04 - No Time to Loose ► 08 - Keijsers Dans