WOODWINDS
Helge Albin - alto saxophone.flute,musical director
Ulf Holmström -alto saxophone,alto flute ( Fredrik Kronkvist on the album,A WALK IN THE CENTERPOINT)
Inge Petersson - Tenor saxophone,flute
Cennet Jönsson- Tenor and soprano saxophones,bass clarinet
Bernt Sjunnesson - baritone saxophone,flute
TROMBONES
Vincent Nilsson-
Olle Tull-
Ola Åkerman-
Ola Nordqvist-
Björn Hängsel - bass trombone
TRUMPETS AND FLUEGELHORNS
Anders Gustafsson-
Christer Gustafsson-
Roy Wall-
Fredrik Davidsson-
Peter Asplund-
RYTHM SECTION
Lennart Gruvsted - drums
Jacob Karlzon - piano
Patrik Albin - double bass
"Code Red" Tolvan Big Band"
Available in Sweden at: Click Here
International at: Click
Here
From southern Sweden and the area around the coastal town of Malmö, Tolvan Big Band has been developing to become a powerhouse organisation with an international reputation of the most up-to-date and ambitious Big Bands anywhere in the world. Since around 1979 its musical leader Helge Albin, creative Saxophonist, and composer and arranger has emerged to devote much of his time and energy to organising the band into a successful ensemble capable of a vide variety of musical situations. The proof of this success can be heard clearly in their recordings, sometimes in the company of very celebrated guests. And of course in their Live performances. Below is a list of some of the high spots in the life of the band starting at year 1983:
1983:______________________________________________
At the Kristianstad Jazzfestival in southern Sweden the band have a concert together with Dizzy Gillespie. Who was so amazed when he heard the band that he exclaimed " This is the best Big Band that i have played with since 1947!" One week later the band appeared at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. The concert was recorded and some of the music released on the LP "Tolvan Big Band: Montreaux and More"(Dragon Records DRLP61) This record was awarded the "Golden Disc" for the best jazz recording that year by the Swedish jazz magazine "Orkester Journalen". Another Festival appearance the summer of 1983 was in Wienne, France. A documentary programmme on Tolvan Big Band was filmed by the Swedish Television.
1985:______________________________________________
That year the band collaborated with Swedish artist-singer: Tommy Körberg which resulted in a TV- programme and an LP : "Tommy Körberg & Tolvan Big Band". Another important collaboration was with the outstanding American soprano saxophonist and composer David Liebman. They toured together and Swedish TV recorded perfomance at Malmö Concert House. Liebman had such a positive attitude working with the band that he returned som months later for a record date. An LP was also released on Dragon Records: "David Liebman&Tolvan Big Band-Guided Dreams".
1989:______________________________________________
Michael Brecker, concidered by many as perhaps the world's greatest modern saxophone player was a guest of the band. He remarked, "You can't find such a band as this even in New York" In the magazine: Media för Musiker he expressed the opinion: "This is a most unusual Big Band. The arrangements and compositions are done in a very imaginative way so as to do as much justice as possible to the sound of the band and the soloist. Very imaginative indeed. They went on a tour and Swedish TV broadcast one of the concerts.
1990:______________________________________________
A suite was commissioned by Swedish Radio and Helge Albin composed "Colours" which was recorded by Phono Suecia Records. The advanced writing and playing techniques of this work further establish Tolvan Big Band as a world-class orchestra and Helge Albin as a composer and arranger of stature. This production was nominated for a Swedish Grammy.
1991:______________________________________________
English composer-arranger-pianist Mike Westbrook visited Sweden together with his singer-wife Kate Westbrook for a tour together with Tolvan Big Band. The music was an unusual programme of music from Rossini operas arranged by Mike Westbrook.
1993:______________________________________________
Once again Tommy Körberg collaborated with the band and they appeared and recorded a CD in London called "Live in London". The material consisted of music composed by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
1995:______________________________________________
An almost unique occurance took place that year. Leader and saxophonist Helge Albin was honoured with the Swedish daily newspaper "Sydsvenska Dagbladet's Europapris", a prize for, among other things, "his resolute efforts in developing Tolvan Big Band to become a European institution of significance". The Europapris had previously only been awarded to politicians and scholars, one of these being the former Swedish prime minister Carl Bildt. In the same year the band recorded a CD titled: "The Touch". which was also nominated for a
Swedish "Grammy".
1996-1998:_________________________________________
The band makes the record. "Tolvan Big Band plays the Music of Helge Albin" 1997.
1999:______________________________________________
Tolvan Big Band gets nominated for US AFIM Award!
Tolvan Big Band touring Australia.
2000:_________________________________________
Tolvan Big Band performing the Grand Opening of Helge Albin's THETRIS
2001:_________________________________________
Tolvan Big Band touring Chile -South America.
2002::_________________________________________
The band makes the record. "A Walk in the Centerpoint".
2003-2006::_________________________________________
Tolvan Big Band touring Europe and Scandinavia frequently.
2007: _____________________________________________
The Band makes the record."Code Red". (Going to be released,sept.2007)
In August 2007, the band is recording the suite,THETRIS, together with Malmö Symphony Orchestra.
The suite was composed by by Helge Albin in 1999.
Hej! I kväll ons 23/4 spelar Fredrik Rixman Kvartett på Helsingborg Jazzklubb. Fredrik Rixman - git Björn Cedergren - sax Viktor Skokic - bas Chris Montgomery - dr
Ja just det. Grymt helt enkelt. Tänkte bjuda hem de där 40 stråkarna nån morgon, så de kan få väcka mig med första insatsen i balladen.....varje morgon blir bra. Helge: en eagle en regnig dag i november. Inte många som kan det. Bara du.
