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Jonas Kullhammar: Gentlemen

By Mark Corroto
January 31, 2015
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Swedish saxophonist

Jonas Kullhammar

saxophone
b.1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Jonas Kullhammar continues to capture the late-fifties and early-sixties Blue Note sound. That magic golden age of jazz, when legends roamed roamed the earth, and recorded their music at Rudy Van Gelder's studio. His music conjures names like

Joe Henderson

saxophone
1937 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Henderson,

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins, and

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane.

The twelve compositions recorded here are the motion picture soundtrack for Gentlemen, an adaptation of Klas ?stergren's novel, directed by Mikael Marcimain. The film features the club scenes of 1960s and 70s in Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Paris, all within Kullhammar's wheelhouse.

The saxophonist's quartet of trusted bassist

Torbjorn Zetterberg

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Torbjorn Zetterberg, pianist Carl Bagge, and Johan Holmegard (of Fire! Orchestra) opens the disc with the straight-up swinger "The Bear Quartet," Kullhammar's tenor chewing off pieces of

Dexter Gordon

saxophone, tenor
1923 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Dexter Gordon and some

Stanley Turrentine

saxophone, tenor
1934 - 2000

" data-original-title="" title="">Stanley Turrentine. He has the knack of capturing the jazz warmth that Alfred Lion pursued throughout his career. Switching to baritone on "So Long" summons Gil Mell��'s sound, and "Henry" is bathed in early-Coltrane classic quartet.

The discovery here, though, begins with "Danish Blow," one of four tracks with Swedish saxophone legend Bernt Rosengren. A veteran of

George Russell

composer / conductor
1923 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">George Russell,

Don Cherry

trumpet
1936 - 1995

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Cherry, and

Horace Parlan

piano
1931 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Horace Parlan's bands, his saxophone was heard on the soundtrack to Roman Polanski's (now-cult) film Knife In The Water (1962). Kulhammar and Rosengren entwine their horns on the rich "Copenhagen," the gorgeous "Ballad For Bill," and a throwback piece that caters to the European taste for the hot jazz of New Orleans, "Henry City Stompers."

The album progresses in time and style as the tracks count up. Kulhammar blows two horns as a tribute to a nearly forgotten Blue Note artist on "Hommage to George Braith." Next, with the aid of

Mattias Ståhl

vibraphone
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Mattias St?hl's vibraphone and Goran Kajfe? (Angles 9, Nacka Forum), the band shifts into mid-sixties Blue Note and the sounds of

Bobby Hutcherson

vibraphone
1941 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Hutcherson's Components (1965) on four tracks. Although the film may need an English translation, the music will not.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

The Bear Quartet; So long, Henry; Gazell; Danish Blow; Ballad for Bill; Copenhagen; Hommage to George Braith; Le Boulevardier; Paris Art Ensemble; Paris; Henry City Stompers.

Personnel

Jonas Kullhammar

saxophone

Jonas Kullhammar: tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, bass saxophone, stritch saxophone, saxello saxophone; Carl Bagge: piano; Torbj?rn Zetterberg: bass; Johan Holmegard: drums; Bernt Rosengren: tenor saxophone; Goran Kajfe?: cornet; Mattias St?hl: vibraphone.

Album information

Title: Gentlemen | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Moserobie

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