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Tomas Janzon Trio

Los Angeles City Beat, October 16-22, 2003. Vol 1, No 19.
Jazz Critic's Choice

Ever since Dizzy took his band to Stockholm in 1947 and Chubby Jackson went there in '49 with his great quintet, the Swedes have been jazz-mad. (They still talk about Charlie Parker's '51 tour of Sweden over there.) Miles took a Swedish folk line, bebopped it, and titled it "Dear Old Stockholm," adding to the jazz repertory. Guitarist Tomas Janzon played Bach fugues on the cello in his native Stockholm, but he always improvised in his head. The first blues he heard was Charlie Parker's "Cool Blues" (cut in L.A.), and it connected with the melancholy and minor tonalities Janzon heard in Swedish music. He switched to guitar and came to L.A. in '91. His playing has the prolific, fleet inspiration found in Swedish folk fiddling as well as the minor-chord reflections. L.A. has allowed him to explore rhythm in a deep way, and his trio with swinging bassist Nedra Wheeler and equally funky drummer Frank Wilson has extended that aspect of his playing. They'll do two afternoon sets as part of downtown's American-Scandinavian Fall Festival.

-Kirk Silsbee
 

Rates from $750 to $1250