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Scheen Jazzorkester & Fredrik Ljungkvist: Framat!

By Mark Corroto
June 8, 2025
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Scheen Jazzorkester & Fredrik Ljungkvist: Framat!

Scandinavian large ensembles have much to teach their more conservative American counterparts about reinventing the jazz orchestra for the 21st century. Fram?t! by Scheen Jazzorkester is a powerful affirmation of this idea. This Norwegian ensemble has consistently pushed the boundaries of large ensemble jazz, and Fram?ti—their tenth release since forming in 2010—is another compelling addition to their adventurous discography.

Preceding this album were two Thomas Johansson-led projects, As We See It (2019) and Frameworks (2014), both released on Clean Feed Records. The latter incorporates his dynamic quartet, Cortex. Like fellow Scandinavian powerhouses

Gard Nilssen

drums
b.1983

" data-original-title="" title="">Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra,

Per Texas Johansson

woodwinds

" data-original-title="" title="">Per Texas Johansson's Orkester Omnitonal,

Paal Nilssen-Love

drums
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Paal Nilssen-Love's Large Unit, and

Mats Gustafsson

woodwinds
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Mats Gustafsson's Fire! Orchestra. Scheen Jazzorkester boldly rejects tired traditions in favor of fresh, sonically rich approaches to orchestral jazz.

For Fram?t!, the ensemble commissioned Swedish saxophonist and composer

Fredrik Ljungkvist

saxophone, tenor
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Fredrik Ljungkvist to write an extended suite of music. A seasoned member of groups such as Atomic, as well as a regular collaborator in

Ken Vandermark

saxophone
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Ken Vandermark's projects and a guest in many of the aforementioned orchestras, Ljungkvist brings deep compositional insight and improvisational finesse. This live performance, recorded in November 2023 at Skiensjazzdraget and Ibsenhuset in Skien, Norway, captures a vivid portrait of his artistry in dialogue with a finely tuned ensemble.

With a 13-piece lineup, Scheen Jazzorkester navigates Ljungkvist's compositions with remarkable ease—or more accurately, with a graceful simplicity that belies the depth of the music. Though capable of dense and knotty writing, Ljungkvist shapes these arrangements specifically for this ensemble, favoring clarity and purpose over excess.

The album opens with "M?rk," which begins with a low trombone rumble before brightening into a lush orchestral passage. Trumpeter Thomas Johansson delivers a lyrical solo, gently supported by

Mattias Ståhl

vibraphone
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Mattias St?hl's shimmering vibraphone and

Audun Kleive

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Audun Kleive's delicately brushed drums. Ljungkvist uses the full breadth of the orchestra sparingly but effectively, ensuring each solo, duo or trio emerges organically within the flow of the music.

The title track, "Fram?t!," is a masterclass in elegance, featuring a sublime duo between Ljungkvist and trombonist

Mats Aleklint

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Mats Aleklint, their lines gracefully floating over a bed of twinkling vibraphone. On "B?gama och r?relsema," the first half features soft brushwork and the gentle interplay of clarinetists Line Bj?rner Rosland and Ljungkvist, evoking a childlike melody. The second half expands this motif into a rich orchestral tapestry, echoing the earlier intimacy on a grander scale.

"Glossolalia" lives up to its name ("speaking in tongues"), opening with a chaotic collage of percussive objects, vocalized textures and swirling horn effects. This abstraction eventually gives way to a Dolphy-esque stomp, with Rosland's bass clarinet anchoring a vibrant horn parade. The emotional centerpiece, "Leif H?kan," is a heartfelt tribute to Ljungkvist's late father—a tender, poignant melody rendered with ineffable beauty on clarinet, bringing the suite to an emotional and lyrical peak.

With Fram?t!, Scheen Jazzorkester and Fredrik Ljungkvist offer a shining example of what modern large ensemble jazz can be: inventive, emotionally rich and utterly unafraid to color outside the lines.

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Track Listing

M?rk; B?garna och r?relserna; Fram?t!; No Time To Lose; Glossolalia; Leif H?kon; Enhyllning Kerstin; Keijsers dans.

Personnel

Scheen Jazzorkester

band / ensemble / orchestra

Fredrik Ljungkvist

saxophone, tenor

Line Bj?rn?r Rosland

clarinet

Guttorm Guttormsen

saxophone, alto

Finn Arne Dahl Hanssen

trumpet

Thomas Johansson

trumpet

Mats Aleklint

trombone

Mattias St?hl

vibraphone

Jan Olav Renv?g

bass, acoustic

Audun Kleive

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Fredrik Ljungkvist: clarinet, compostions; Jon ?ystein Rosland: tenor saxophone; Andr�� Kassen: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone; Fr?ydis Aslesen: trombone; ?sgeir Grong: bass trombone.

Album information

Title: Framat! | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: Grong

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