Johan Christoffersson 4 at Katalin

If you like modern jazz, you should check out the band Johan Christoffersson 4 at Katalin today at 14. They won The Youth Jazz Contest 2007 arranged by Uppsala Jazz Club.

Johan Christoffersson 4 consists of Johan Christoffersson (saxophone), Filip Ekestubbe (piano), Petter Olofsson (bass) and Sebastian Ågren (drums).

The concert costs 100 kr (If you're younger than 25, you'll get in for free!)

And don't miss to come and see and dance to Palladium at Grand Swing Party tonight.

Have you heard Johan Christoffersson 4? What do you think of them? Tell me.

Youth Jazz Contest in Uppsala 2007: Photos

The Youth Jazz Contest in took place yesterday at Reginateatern in Uppsala. Young jazz musicians competed with their music. There were six groups who performed 2 songs each:

• Trio From Hell
• Yenny Alpsten Duo
• Jazzseptetten B13
• Johan Christoffersson 4
• Henrik & Anton Duo
• Future Sound Of Sweden
  
  

The winners of Youth Jazz Contest 2007 was Johan Christoffersson 4 which consists of Johan Christoffersson (saxophone), Filip Ekestubbe (piano), Petter Olofsson (bass) and Sebastian Ågren (drums).

I think the jury made the right choice because these guys were clearly the best group when it comes to musicianship and ensamble play. I really liked the way the bass player and drummer interacted, they were in the pocket and kept it swinging. Johan Christoffersson had the the best sound of all saxophone players. I'm looking forward to hearing them in the spring.

The winners played bop jazz but there were all kinds of jazz styles represented there, but unfortunatly no real swing music. Jazzseptetten B13 played the most swinging music which I liked. I also enjoyed the soft jazz with Henrik & Anton Duo, particulary the trumpet playing by Henrik Grim. Henrik won the jury's price for best individual performance.


Future Sound Of Sweden play jazz with a lot of influences from funk. They took third place. If there had been a price for entusiasm it should have been awarded to them too.

Second place was awarded to Yenny Alpsten Duo which played free jazz. I enjoy most forms of music, but free jazz is not one of them. I can't find anything in it that I appreciate. It must have a pulse, a rhythm or a melody. Free jazz, by definition, has none of that. If you are a fan of free jazz, would you please comment and tell me what attracts you to the music, I really like to know.

I missed the women in this competition, of all the contestant there were not a single one. Why is that? I hope there are young women playing jazz somewhere, even though they weren't in this competition.



Footnote:
The jury was instructed to rank the contestants with the following things in mind:

1. Group feeling/ ensemble play between the band members
2. Individual proficiency at their instruments
3. Feeling for the particular style of jazz they've chosen to play
4. Additional factors to consider: Joy of playing and originality in choice of music and arrangements

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

Were you at Youth Jazz Contest 2007? What do you think of it? Which group was your favorite? Tell me.

Youth Jazz Contest 2007

Tonight it's time for Youth Jazz Contest 2007 in Uppsala at Reginateatern where young jazz musicians compete. You might spot the jazz stars of tomorrow there. The concert/competition is FREE.

The event starts at 19 o'clock and is arranged by Uppsala Jazz Club. The winner gets to play at either Katalin or Uppsala Konsert & Kongress in the spring.

In the photo you can see Johanna Grim and Henrik Grim who competed in last years Youth Jazz Contest. The photo is taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license it.

Are you going to the Youth Jazz Contest? Tell me.

Nkiru at Katalin: Upcoming concert

The jazz group Nkiru will play at a concert at Katalin and all that jazz on Saturday the 24th, 14 o'clock.

Nkiru won the Youth Jazz Contest held by Uppsala Jazz Club in November last year and the first prize was a gig at Katalin.



The band plays in a modern jazz style and cites Wayne Shorter and Don Cherry as their inspiration.

Band members (left to right): Andreas Larsson (drums), Niklas Fernqvist (bass), Jakob Gustavsson (saxophone) and Alexander Zethson (piano).

This is not the kind of jazz I usually listen to, so attending the concert is a way to expand my horizon.

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

Have you heard them? What do you think? Tell me.

Uppsala Jazz Club: Program for spring 2007

Uppsala Jazz Club has just released its program for spring 2007 with concerts that will take place Saturdays at Katalin and all that jazz. It looks like it will be all kinds of jazz: traditional (hot) jazz with Fyris Jazz Band, 50's Basie style with Sandviken Big Band and Claes Jansson and also more modern jazz styles.

The first jazz concert of the season will be tomorrow Sat 10th, when Karl Olandersson Quartet plays. Karl Olandersson plays trumpet and sings. Also in the quartet: Mathias Algotsson (piano), Clas Lassbo (bass) and Mattias Puttonen (drums).

The concert starts at 14 o'clock. Tickets are bought at the door and costs 220 kr (190 kr if you are a member of Uppsala Jazz Club or has a UNT-card).

Some of you may recognize that one of my pictures of Nkiru from the Youth Jazz Contest is in the program. The first prize in the contest was a concert at Katalin. Nkiru will play Feb 24th.

I've been invited to report from all concerts so you can expect stories och photos all through the spring.

The picture of Karl Olandersson is taken from his website.

Youth Jazz Contest in Uppsala

In november last year Uppsala Jazz Club held a contest for young jazz musicians: Youth Jazz Contest.

The musicians were overall very talented. They played modern jazz styles and while I can appreciate that on an intellectual level it doesn't grab me as much as swing does. How do you encourage young muscians to start playing swing?

The winners of the competition was a group called Nkiru with members (left to right): Andreas Larsson (drums), Niklas Fernqvist (bass), Jakob Gustavsson (saxophone) and Alexander Zethson (piano).



Stina Hellberg played a unusual instrument in a jazz environment: a harp, but it really worked. In her trio were also Linus Fredin (bass), Wille Alin (drums) and Alexander Iberer (cello).

Silver Sextett

This band plays a lot of songs by Horace Silver.

From left to right: Christoffer Aldin (saxophone), Johanna Grim (trombone), Henrik Grim (trumpet) samt Per Björkling (bass) Also in the band but not in this picture were Joel Sandberg (drums) and Henrik Boseaus (piano).

Johanna won the jurys bonus price.



All pictures are taken by me and may not be used elsewhere without my permission.