JAZZIZ Travel is a new podcast series hosted by JAZZIZ online editor Matt Micucci that explores jazz and creative music in all four corners of the globe. In this series, you will hear conversations with artists and people talking about the significance of jazz as an art form, the influence of folk music traditions of different cultures and backgrounds, or simply sharing their thoughts, ideas and insight on their multicultural projects.
Today, we speak with pianist/composer Jan Lundgren, one of the main exponents of Swedish jazz today, as well as a major proponent of the emancipation of European jazz from American jazz. Lundgren is based in Ystad, a small picturesque coastal town in the South of Sweden, where he also founded the Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival, which returns this year on August 4-7.
His latest album, Into the Night, was recorded at last year’s edition of the festival and marks the debut of his new drummer-less piano trio with saxophonist Emile Parisien and bassist Lars Danielsson. The stirringly sensitive program features a healthy mix of originals and covers with stellar arrangements and captivating improvisation.
Listen to our conversation with Lars Lundgren via the player below. Into the Night will be released on August 27 via ACT Music and you can pre-order it HERE.
Featured photo: Steven Haberland
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