A Letter to Eje Thelin
Göteborg Jazz Orchestra & Nils Landgren
The vinyl record is available from November 7th
With the publication ”A Letter to Eje Thelin”, the Gothenburg Jazz Orchestra (GJO) has recreated the brilliant, Swedish trombonist Eje Thelin’s (1938-1990) final suite ”Raggruppamento” as it was intended – with the trombone in focus. Nils Landgren is executor in the present tense.
Nils Landgren, who today is one of Sweden’s foremost trombonists, participated as a young musician in the Radiojazzgruppen’s (RJG) premiere of the suite in 1989 in the trombone section. He had even taken trombone lessons from Eje Thelin and fondly remembers Eje who was present at the premiere, affected by illness and therefore prevented from playing himself. Eje’s voice was played at the premiere by guitarist Göran Klinghagen.
According to Eje’s son John Thelin, Nils Landgren is today the foremost interpreter of his father’s music and he can clearly hear the influences from Eje in Nils’ trombone playing.
The title track ”A Letter to Eje Thelin” was written for GJO and Nisse and with Eje in mind by his friend Georg Riedel – probably Georg’s last big band composition. The album otherwise consists entirely of Eje’s ”Raggruppamento”, carefully adapted to GJO’s setting, and which was composed for the Radiojazzgruppen as a kind of final statement of Eje’s musical life, according to son John.
In connection with the recording on 7–9 June 2024, an interview with Nils and John was also filmed, which is available as a bonus track on side D of this double album. To top it all off, the last day of recording, June 9, was Eje’s birthday. It felt like ”the planets had aligned” for this project which pays tribute to one of Sweden’s great jazz musicians.
In the movement Vision, Landgren develops his solo in the strong melody that John Thelin describes as ”poignant and almost ghostly”. The track Vision is the first single on the record.
In memoriam Eje Thelin 1938 – 1990
Göteborg Jazz Orchestra
is one of the most exciting movements in Swedish big band jazz right now. The band has had a meteoric career and in a short time established itself at the highest level. In their love for music and jazz, they eagerly seek new expressions, attract collaborations with the best nationally and internationally, and happily flirt across genre boundaries and with new formats. On the first Monday of every month, the Gothenburg Jazz Orchestra performs under the motto ”Jazz is fun!” GJO promotes jazz music in Gothenburg, always plays good music with great joy, encourages young talents and presents interesting guests and themes!
”Göteborg Jazz Orchestra is amazingly good!” (Mats Hallberg in OJ/JAZZ)
Pre-released records are avaliable for review listening – send an email to info@goteborgjazzorchestra.se
PRESS CONTACT
Christina Glaeser
+46-739-479851
christina.glaeser@gmail.com
Label: Prophone
Distribution: Naxos
Executive producer: Mats Eklund, Göteborg Jazz Orchestra
GJO: https://goteborgjazzorchestra.se/
Musician:
Nils Landgren
Nils Landgren: http://www.nilslandgren.com/contacts/
Göteborg Jazz Orchestra
Saxophes: Pontus Pohl, Martin Bjurek Svanström, Björn Cedergren, Andreas Hall, Andreas Thurfjell
Trombones: Jakob Sollerman, Fredrik Wiklund, Anders Carlsson, Ella Wennerberg
Trumpets: Robin Rydqvist, Patrik Janson, Jonathan Kronevik, Mats Eklund
Comp: Adam Ross (dr), Vanja Holm (perc), Simon Westman (pi), Erik Weissglas (git), Olli Rantala (b)
All compositions by Eje Thelin except “A Letter to Eje Thelin” (Georg Riedel 2022). Eje Thelin’s compositions has been adapted to Göteborg Jazz Orchestra by Ralph Soovik and Hans Hjortek.
Conductor, Co-producer: Ralph Soovik
Recording engineer, Co-producer and mastring: Per Sjösten
Assistant engineer: Tomas Ferngren, Moa Sjösten
Co-producer: Gustav Wiklund, Olli Rantala
Stereo mix: Åke Linton
Dolby Atmos mix: Per Sjösten
Producer: Mats Eklund
Special thanks to John Eje Thelin – Eje’s son – for presence and inspiration at the recording.
Grafic design: K-G Gyllensvärd
Photos: Magnus Bergström and with permission from John Thelin.
Audio
A Letter to Eje Thelin (Prophone)
Singles:
Vision – solo Nils Landgren trombone
One of the most poignant and strong ballads on the upcoming album ”A Letter to Eje Thelin” (double vinyl on Prophone). The song that Nils Landgren himself remembers most clearly from when he sat in the Radiojazzgruppen’s trombone section in the presence of Eje (marked by illness) during the first performance in 1989.
Then the melody was played by the guitarist Göran Klinghagen in Eje’s place. Now it is Nils himself who performs this strong melody that he himself and Eje’s son John describe as ”poignant and almost ghostly”, a feeling that has been carried over into a very expressive solo that builds.
With the publication ”A Letter to Eje Thelin”, the Gothenburg Jazz Orchestra has restored Eje’s last suite ”Raggruppamento” as it was intended – with the trombone as a feature and a very dignified performance by Nils. The most worthy interpreter of his father’s music and playing according to John.
Rain – solo Patrik Janson trumpet, Pontus Pohl altosax, Nils Landgren trombone
This song shows (to some extent) together with the previous single release ”Vision” the range of the upcoming record ”A Letter to Eje Thelin” (double vinyl on Prophone). Here, a melancholic introduction with a trumpet soloist (Patrik Janson) and parts of the song transitions into a tactful, funky and cool beat with an expressive orchestra. Solos also by Pontus Pohl (alto sax) and Nils Landgren.
With the publication ”A Letter to Eje Thelin”, the Gothenburg Jazz Orchestra has restored Eje’s last suite ”Raggruppamento” as it was intended – with the trombone as a feature and a very dignified performance by Nils. The most worthy interpreter of the father’s music and playing according to John Thelin. The title track ”A Letter to Eje Thelin” was written for GJO and Nisse with Eje in mind by friend Georg Riedel – probably Georg’s last big band composition.
Side A
Raggruppamento I – solo Andreas Hall tenorsax
Vision – solo Nils Landgren trombone
Gumption – solo Nils Landgren trombone, Simon Westman piano
Things – solo Olli Rantala bass, Nils Landgren trombone, Erik Weissglas guitar
Side B
Gloomy – solo Nils Landgren trombone, Simon Westman piano
Neoteny – solo Björn Cedergren tenorsax, Patrik Janson trumpet
Rain – solo Patrik Janson trumpet, Pontus Pohl altosax, Nils Landgren trombone
Jumnien – solo Nils Landgren trombone, Erik Weissglas guitar
Side C
Indeed – solo Simon Westman piano, Pontus Pohl alto sax
Poem – solo Martin Bjurek Svanström soprano sax
Raggruppamento II – solo Adam Ross drums, Vanja Holm percussion
A Letter to Eje Thelin – solo Nils Landgren trombone
Side D – Interview Nils Landgren & Eje Thelin (see film below)
Previous albums
2022
Slow (collaboration with Georg Riedel)
2021
Svenska Jazzhjältar withTomas von Brömssen
Intervju Nils Landgren & John Thelin (eng)
Filmed and editerad by Magnus Bergström. Interviewer: Mats Eklund
Press photos
Press quotes (swe)
“Storartad hyllning till en av våra främsta” – om konsert på Stora Teatern med med Georg Riedel, Albin Lee Meldau m fl 28/4-2022. Kulturbloggen
“Rungande bifall för Göteborg Jazz Orchestra” – om konsert med tema Eje Thelin 4/10-2021. Orkesterjournalen/JAZZ
“De hyllar jazzen i Göteborg med radiokonsert” – om konsert i SR P2 Jazz med Tomas von Brömssen 4/10-2019. Göteborg Direkt
Contact info GJO
Mats Eklund +46 70-864 88 96
info@goteborgjazzorchestra.se