If you think that modern hard-swinging jazz and sentimental ballads rooted in tradition but still forward-looking with star soloists and refined arrangements sound exciting, then you’ve found the right band! In 2024, SJO celebrates its fortieth year as a jazz band. The band wants to present modern swinging big band jazz rooted in tradition with inspiration taken from today’s jazz music.
During these 40 years, large parts of the world have been visited, such as the USA, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, South Africa, England, Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Finland. Clubs such as Village Vanguard in New York, Ronnie Scott’s in London and festivals such as Copenhagen Jazzfestival, Skeppsholmen Jazzfestival, Festival International Cervantino in Guanajuato in Mexico among others have also been part of the band’s venues.
The band has previously released 18 albums and in February “Horizon” with music by Martin Sjöstedt was released on Ubuntu Records in England, which received rave reviews in the major jazz magazines in e.g. England. In September, a CD will be released with music by Göran Strandberg, number five in the collaboration between SJO and this great jazz personality in Sweden.
Countless radio recordings have been made over the years as the band basically functioned as a radio jazz group for several years. The guest list is long with names like Bob Brookmeyer, Bob Mintzer, Bob Florence, Mel Lewis, Jim McNeely, Maria Schneider, Bill Holman, Monica Zetterlund, Toots Thielemans, Susana Rinaldo, Juan-Jose Mosalini, Carlos Franzetti, Jan Allan, Stan Tracey, Norma Winstone, Dick Oatts, Gary Smulyan, Steve Slagle, Rigmor Gustafsson, YellowJackets to name a few.
In recent years, the band has played more music written and arranged by people in the band such as Martin Sjöstedt, Karl-Martin Almqvist, etc.
This evening the big band will play music that in some way sums up these 40 years and all the music that has been achieved.
Fredrik Norén, Karl Olandersson, Erik Tengholm, Magnus Broo – trumpets and flugelhorns,
Peter Dahlgren, Karin Hammar, Hannes Junestav, Anders Wiborg – tenor trombones and bass trombones,
Johan Hörlén, Fredrik Kronkvist, Robert Nordmark, Karl-Martin Almqvist, Fredrik Lindborg – saxophones and woodwinds,
Daniel Tilling – piano
Martin Sjöstedt – double bass
Adam Ross – drum kit
