While the
Tolvan Big Band
is comprised of Swedish musicians and all seven of the selections that they perform on
Code Red
are originals (by either leader-altoist
Helge Albin
, saxophonist
Cennet Jonsson
, or pianist
Jacob Karlzon
), the music can easily pass for modern and swinging American
big-band jazz
. The material is fresh and the solos are lively but there is nothing obviously Swedish or exotic about the music. The musicianship is top-notch and among the soloists are trumpeter
Peter Asplund
(probably the best known of the musicians outside Sweden), trombonist
Vincent Nilsson
, and
Jonsson
, who is showcased on bass clarinet during
"Subconscious C."
Albin
just takes one solo (on
"Cats and Dogs"
) but deserves congratulations for keeping the
together since 1979; it was considered a major orchestra in Sweden by 1983 and its music communicates very well to all
jazz
listeners. ~ Scott Yanow