Band Members
Lars Danielsson | Bass
The bassist Lars Danielsson is renown and admired in the International Jazz world for his lyrical but groovy playing. Not least his capability to improve the appearance of the melody has brought him around the world in a number of various musical constellations.
Background:
Lars Danielsson was born in 1958 and was educated from the Music Conservatory in Gothenburg. Both on double bass, electric bass and cello - (his originally main instrument from the days at the conservatory) - he is an extraordinary soloist and accompanist, who gives the music edge and colourful temperament.
"Lars Danielsson Quartet" with former Miles Davis saxophonist David Liebman, pianist Bobo Stenson and legendary ECM drummer Jon Christensen has been receiving loads of recognition and awards during the 18 years in which the Quartet has existed. This Quartet has been a playground for Danielssons work as a composer and arranger, which he has extended to include both Symphony Orchestra and Big Band music.
During the previous years in co-operation with Danmarks Radios Orchestra "RUO" (a Symphony Orchestra) as a composer, arranger and producer. Lars also performed with his own material as a leader for the Jazz Baltica Ensemble.
Extracts from Lars Danielssons Discography:
8 solo-albums since 1980 both with "Lars Danielssons Quartet" and guests such as Alex Acuna, John Abercrombie, Bill Evans and Niels Lan Doky.
Other notabilities whom Lars Danielsson has worked with:
Randy and Michael Brecker, John Scofield, Jack DeJohnette, Mike Stern, Billy Hart, Charles Lloyd, Terri Lyne Carrington, Joey Calderrazzo, Gino Vanelli and Dave Kikoski. Lars Danielsson has also been a member of the "Trilok Gurtu Group".
As a producer:
Lars Danielsson has been responsible for productions with Cæcilie Norby and The Danish Radio Orchestra "RUO" among others.
Ulf Wakenius | Guitar
Ulf Wakenius was born in Halmstad, Sweden on April 16, 1958. He began playing the guitar at the age of 11, inspired by other guitarists in the neighbourhood of his new hometown, Gothenburg.
In the late 1980s, Ulf began playing with the late great Danish bass giant Niels-Henning Ørstedt-Pedersen. Their collaboration was very fruitful, resulting in concerts all over the globe, several recordings, playing for the then-President of the United States, Bill Clinton, and numerous international TV-shows. In 2007 The Unforgettable NHØP Trio Live was released with Ulf Wakenius on guitar and Jonas Johansen on drums which features the legendary musician's last live recordings and is a unique reminder of a true jazz great.
In the early 1990s, Ulf started to work on different projects with top American and European musicians. He also started a collaboration with bass-icon Ray Brown. Ulf has 11 solo albums to his name and has recorded several albums as a sideman together with many jazz legends.
Ulf Wakenius has, for more than a decade, held one of the most coveted gigs in jazz: he was the “fourth man” in the Oscar Peterson quartet up until Peterson’s death in December 2007.
He has performed at such classic jazz venues as Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, the international Blue Note clubs, and played sold out shows with Oscar Peterson at the Royal Albert Hall, Chicago Symphony Hall, Palais des Congrés, Wiener Konzerthaus, Massey Hall, Teatro Colon-Buenos Aires, Stravinsky Hall-Montreux and Tokyo International Forum Hall. His concert with Oscar Peterson at Monterey International Jazzfestival was filmed by Clint Eastwood.
He has recorded two CDs with the great Ray Brown: "Seven Steps To Heaven" which became number one on the U.S. jazz charts, and "Summertime" which was voted as one of the top ten albums of ´98 in America.
He has played and recorded with the who's who in the jazz world including, among others: Oscar Peterson, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Ray Brown, Michael Brecker, Joe Henderson, Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Johnny Griffin, Toots Thielemans, Jack DeJohnette, Max Roach, Jim Hall, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, James Moody, Hank Jones, Roy Hargrove and Michel Legrand.
Jacob Karlsson | Piano
Jacob Karlzon (born 1970, Sweden) has established himself as one of Sweden's most personal and skillful pianists. He has a highly-developed and very impressive touch and technique, which has been favourably compared to pianists such as Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans and Jan Johansson.
After completing studies at the Malmö Academy of Music at Lund University he was soon engaged in a large variety of groups and projects. He has worked with such well known names as Billy Cobham, Bob Berg, Kenny Wheeler, Tim Hagans, Jeff Ballard, Norma Winstone, Viktoria Tolstoy, Cæcilie Norby, Nils Landgren, Silje Nergaard, Rigmor Gustafsson, Lina Nyberg, Trine-Lise Vaering, Anders Bergcrantz, Fredrik Lundin, Cennet Jönsson, Tomas Franck, Putte Wickman among others.
Jacob Karlzon is also a regular member of Tolvan Big Band. He composes and arranges music for Viktoria Tolstoy Group in which he has been a member since 1999.
As a leader, Jacob Karlzon has performed internationally, both with his trio and his quintet "Big5" at festivals and clubs in Mexico, Scotland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, England, Ireland and other countries.
Morten Lund | Drums
Morten Lund is one of the leading lights of scandinavian jazzdrumming! He's a Ben Webster prize winner of 2006, and a graduate from the Royal Academy of Music in 1999.
Morten is featured on more than a 100 Jazz Recordings and has toured all over the world. So far his career include performances and recordings with:
Mike Stern, Curtis Stigers, Cæcilie Norby, Lars Danielsson, Ulf Wakenius, Christian McBride, Avishai Cohen, Chris Minh Doky, Stefano Bollani, Enrico Rava, Paolo Fresu Silje Neergaard, Viktoria Tolstoy, Anders Jormin, Bobo Stensson, Lars Jansson, Bob Mintzer, Tom Harrel, Johnny Griffin, Phil Woods, James Moody, Søs Fenger, Sanne Salomonsen, Etta Cameron, NHØP, Mads Vinding, and many others.
Morten is also co-leading a trio with Stefano Bollani and Jesper Bodilsen - signed on ECM Records for a release in 2009.
Xavier Desandre-Navarre | Percussion
Xavier was born in Paris in 1961 and grew up in the Aix Province. In 1976 he spent a year in Aix en Provence, at the Music Conservatory of Percussion. Later on he studied at the University of Aix were he graduated in 1985 with a License Degree in Economics.
Since the age of 12 Xavier has played music. His artistic expression is instinctive and improvized, a mix from encounters with musicians from countries around the world; Brazil, Africa, Cuba, India, Turkey, Algeria, U.S., Scandinavia etc. He has played with Big Bands, performed a large number of solo concerts and in 1987 he went on tour with Gil Evans, just after settling in Paris.
Xavier mixes brazilian percussions with indian instruments, plays gongs and african drums, mixes acoustic with live electronics in his own and particular way. He has developed a drums n' percussion set for both live performances and recording sessions.
In 1991 Xavier was chosen to play with the french "Orchestre National de Jazz". He has played at live performances and on studio recordings with Michel Portal and with Charlie Haden, who requested Xavier for his "Liberation Orchestra". Xavier has also played with artists such as: Les Rita Mitsouko, Manu Dibango, Cheb Mami, Cæcilie Norby, Tania Maria to mention a few. Xavier has composed his own project: "Tribalmopolite Percussion Solo" which he has performed at various festivals.
"France does not have a strong tradition with percussion instruments" Xavier says, and claims his purpose is to obtain knowledge and insights about many foreign traditions. He then transcends the new sounds of percussion grooves and instruments into new musical concepts.
Since 1986 he has participated on roughly 90 cd recordings. He composes for bands and several movies - one being: "The Professional" by Luc Besson.
Xavier has also worked on projects with Niels Lan Doky, performed and recorded with Rick Margitza and also toured with Cæcilie Norby for the album: "London/Paris".
Carsten Dahl | Piano
Pianist Carsten Dahl has for several years been esteemed as one of Scandinavias most distinguished pianists. From marvelous solo-piano to soulful quartet play: His fascinating timing and musicality is distinctive.
Carsten Dahl has a wealth of good reviews, awards and CD-recordings in his repetoire both nationally and internationally. He's heard as the steady pianist on Cćcilie Norby's CD: "First Conversation".
Discography snippet:
4 solo albums since 1997. Including albums with Richard Boone, Thomas Blackman, Ed Thigpen, Palle Mikkelborg, etc.
Websites
Visit the official websites of the band members:
