Happy Birthday Duke! - Concert and show April 29th

Happy Birthday Duke! is a concert and show that you really should see. It's a concert that celebrates Duke Ellingtons 110th birthday. The concert features no less than three bands and orchestras: Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra, SweDukes and the Middlesex group.

But wait there's more. Way more. You will also see the swing dance troupe MessAround perform together with the bands. The will show off all kinds of swing dances: Lindy hop, balboa, shag, charleston and tap.

The concert takes place next Wednesday, April 29th, at Univeritetsaulan, at 19.30.
Tickets cost 130 kr (90 kr for students). If you got a UNT-card: 100 kr (70 kr for students). Buy tickets via UNT Biljett (018-478 10 70) or at Ticnet.

Invite all your friends to Happy Birthday Duke! on Facebook.

If you were at Cats Corner yesterday, you got a sneek peak of MessAround doing the charleston number Uppsala Stomp. The number was tight and had lots of energy.



Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra (UUJO) has got a new member: Claes Brodda on saxophone. The photo above is from Saturday when he played together with Jennie Löbel and the Swing Kings at Swingkattens dance at Grand. I look forward to hear more of him. (I'll post more about the Saturday night dance later).

The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to buy or license them.

Will you attend "Happy Birthday Duke!"? Please comment.

Blue Monday: Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra

This afternoon a new concert series will start in Uppsala: Blue Monday at Universitetsaulan.

First out in this attempt by Uppsala University to make mondays more fun is Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra which will play big band classics. The concert starts at 16.45 and lasts an hour. The concert is free of charge. Go there and listen!

The photo is taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to buy or license it.

What do you think of Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra? Please comment.

Jazz photography: Swinging Christmas with Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra.

Here are some photographs from the jazz concert Swinging Christmas with Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra.

The photo above shows the beautiful vocalist Ida Widberg.

The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to buy or license them.

Were you at the concert? What do you think of the photos? Please comment.

Swinging Christmas: Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra

The Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra has a concert tonight called Swinging Christmas.

The jazz concert features Bengt Feldreich and the Lucia of Uppsala: Anette Bodén.

The concert is in Missionskyrkan and starts at 19.00. Tickets cost 130 kr (90 kr for students).

The photo is taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to buy or license it.

What do you think of Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra? Please comment.

Time Is Essential: UUJO + Frode Kjekstad concert

Tomorrow Friday Oct 31st, Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra (UUJO) will give a concert, "Time is Essential", at the University Hall. The concert will feature the Norwegian guitar player Frode Kjekstad. The orchestra is led by Ulf Johansson Werre.

The concert in the University Hall starts at 19.00. The tickets costs 130 kr (90 kr for students. If you got a UNT card and books at the UNT office (018-470 10 70) the tickets costs 100 kr (70 kr for students).

The photo above is from their Big Band Bouquet concert this spring.

The photo is taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to buy or license it.

What do you think of the Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra? Please comment.

Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra: Exam concert photos

On May 29th Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra held its exam concert at Katedralskolan. There are two versions of the big band, a permanent big band and this version consisting of students that took the two semester course in big band music. I'm so proud that our univeersity can offer a course like that, ain't cool?

One part of the course is that the students make their own arrangments. I heard new arrangements of songs like "Some of these days" and "I can't give you anything but love". Band leader Ulf Johansson Werre had arranged many other of the songs: "Lullaby of Birdland", "Don't get around much anymore".


I don't know, but it could have been a first: Ulf's son Oscar Johansson Werre (age 12) played drums with the band.

I like that they played a version of "In the Mood" with Swedish lyrics and another arrangement by Gunnar Svensson called "Inte mod" (translates into "Not brave").

What do you think of the Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra? Please comment.

The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license them.

Swinging events this week

Swingkatten's regular event Cats Corner takes a break tonight as there are other things scheduled at Uplands nation but there are several other events this week:

• Tomorrow Wednesday: Swing Time Sextett featuring Margareta Nordlander at Katalin. Show by MessAround. Dance floor available. 20-22. 100 kr.
• Thursday: Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra: Exam concert at Katedralskolans aula. 19:00 - 20:15. Free.
• Friday: After Work Jazz. Concert with Kari Sjöstrand, tenor sax, flute and vocals, Daniel Lantz, Fender Rhodes and Henrik Voldsgaard Christensen, double bass. Where: The pub Pipes of Scotland/Hotel Uppsala (intersection of st. olofsg./kungsgatan) At 17.30. Free.
• Saturday: Outside dance at Kopphagens dansbana in Länna. Celebration of Lennakatten. Show by MessAround. 12:30 - 16:00. Swing dj: Henrik Eriksson (me!). Free. Read more.
• Sunday: Swe-dukes playes at Skarholmen. 15-18. 50 kr.

Wow. What a lineup of great events. Be sure to visit most of them!

I'll write more about them later on.

Which events are you going to? Tell me.

Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra: Concert photos from Big Band Bouquet

Yesterday Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra gave a concert called Big Band Bouquet at Universitetsaulan (The University Hall). The location is just magnificent with lots of golden ornaments.

The theme for the concert was Frank Sinatra songs but they also played a lot of other swinging jazz standards by jazz composers such as as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey.


The concert started with the song Cute in a Count Basie arrangement. Talking about Cute, you should really see the hilarious video clip with Jerry Lewis miming to Cute from the film Cinderfella. The band leader, Ulf Johansson Werre, played a solo version of I Get A Kick Out Of You.

Afterwards I had the chance to hang out with the band, what a nice bunch of people!

The next chance to see and hear the Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra will be in month or so when they do a Benny Goodman themed concert. I think you will enjoy that because the band is really swingin'. Keep an eye on this blog for further announcements.

The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license my jazz photos.

Did you visit the concert with Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra? What do you think of them? Tell me.

Big Band Bouquet by Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra

Tonight Thursday April 17th Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra will give a concert called Big Band Bouquet.

Big Band Bouquet celebrates the memory of Frank Sinatra who passed away 10 years ago. Besides playing some of the hits by Frank Sinatra, they will play big band classics by jazz legends as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Lars Gullin.



The Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra is led by one of my favorite jazz musicians: Ulf Johansson Werre.

The concert starts at 19.00 at Universitetsaulan (The University Hall). Tickets can be bought in the lobby from 18.00 and they cost 130 kr (90 kr if you're a student).

The pictures are taken by me at the orchestra's concert in December: Swingin' Christmas.

The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license them.

Have you heard Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra before? What do you think of them? Tell me.

Swinging Christmas with Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra

Tomorrow (Tuesday) you can hear Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra at Missionskyrkan in Uppsala when they perform their show: Swinging Christmas.

Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra will perform swinging arrangements of American Christmas songs. They will also play the songs composed by band leader Ulf Johansson Werre.

The band will feature the great clarinet player Antti Sarpila. Antti Sarpila is the best clarinet player I know.

Where: Missionskyrkan, St. Olofsgatan, Uppsala. When: Tuesday Dec 18th at 19:30. Cost: 120 kr (80 kr for students).

The photo is taken by me at a concert with Swedish Swing Society and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license it.

Are you going to the concert with swingin' Christmas songs performed by Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra (UUJO)? Tell me.

Kulturnatten in Uppsala/ Cultural night

Tonight it's "Kulturnatten" in Uppsala, which means "The Culture Night". Kulturnatten is a really big cultural event here in Uppsala, I haven't counted but I think there are over 400 different cultural activitives going on during the evening. There are lots and lots of music, dance, art and performances. I think there are like 60000 people out on the streets. Did I say this was big?

It's impossible to see everything you would like to see, so you have to scan the program and decide what you really want to do. See the whole program for Kulturnatten.

Visit Swingkatten at Forumtorget

I will be an busy organiser tonight for Swingkatten's, our swing dance society's, activities. We have a lot to offer if you take a trip down to Forumtorget: Two livebands: Sweet Emma & The Mood Swingers 18-19 and Palladium between 20-22. There will be dance performances at 20.00 and 21.00. Come visit us!
Read more about the program in Swedish at Swingkatten.

Jazz at Kulturnatten

Here is also some other jazz tips for Kulturnatten:

• 16.00-17.30 Lars Erstrand Four, Svava
• 18.00 Author Samuel Charters talks about jazz in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina.
• 18.00-19.30 Peter Lind and the Cabaret Band, Svava
• 19, 20, 21 Swing club, french style (Django?) jazz, Grand Hotell Hörnan
• 20.30–21.00 Canal Street Syncopators, Atrium Konferens & Bankett
• 20.30–21.00 Jazz standards with Sara Djärv and Anders Bromander, Domkyrkocentrum
• 21.00 -22.00 New Orleans jazz with Crescent City Four, Missionskyrkan
• 22.00 Jump dealers, Uplands nation
• 22.00 Sextett 60, Dance at the library, Stadsbiblioteket
• 22.00–22.30 Dixielandjazz, Fyris Jazz Band, Atrium Konferens & Bankett
• 22.30-23.30 Linné Swings in spring, Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra, Musicum
• 23.30–24.00 Radio Uppland Big Band, Atrium Konferens & Bankett

This is just a taste of the jazz part of the evening. Enjoy the evening!

What are your plans for Kulturnatten? What events is not to be missed? Tell me.

Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra: Graduation concert

A couple of days ago I mentioned the Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra (UUJO) when they played at Botan Brass & Fireworks. Actually it's not one orchestra but two, one consists of the students that take the course in big band music and the other is made up of more experienced jazz musicians.

Tonight, the student version of the orchestra gives their graduation concert at Musicum ( Kyrkogårdsgatan 4) at 19.00. There is no entrance fee.

The photo shows Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra at Botan Brass & Fireworks. Far right you can see Ulf Johansson Werre who leads the orchestra.

The photo is taken by me and may not be used elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to licence it.

Have you heard the Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra? What do you think? Tell me.

Botan Brass & Fireworks: Ulf Johansson Werre

The previous week has been full of activity since the whole city has been celebrating the 300th anniversary since Carl von Linne (aka Carolus Linnaeus) was born.

The festivities ended yesterday in the Botanical garden in Uppsala where several orchestras played music, both swing and other sorts of music.

One of the jazz orchestras that played was Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra, which is led by the great jazz musician Ulf Johansson Werre. Uppsala University actually has a course for those who want to study big band music history as well as learn to play in a jazz orchestra. The orchestra played Count Basie classics as Shorty George and Splanky.

The grand final of the night was a performance of "Botan Brass & Fireworks" composed by Ulf Johansson Werre. 80 or more musicians played the piece that was synchronized with a firework. The firework matched the music and was truly spectacular. The music gave associations to Star Wars and "2001: A Space Odyssey". Wow. I hope they do this more often.

Take a look at a video clip of the performance of Botan Brass & Fireworks.

The photo is taken by me and may not be used elsewhere without my permission.

Were you at Botan Brass & Fireworks? What did you think of it? Tell me.