ACT FAMILY BAND — The Jubilee Concerts (2017) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Those who were fortunate enough to secure tickets for the grand ACT anniversary celebration at the Berlin Konzerthaus will not forget the evening. The British Jazzwise magazine said, "Everything pointed to a label at its zenith, embracing the new while respecting the old, nurturing both, and building stars; ACT is growing up—with a smile on its face and a proud pose." For those who missed this unique family gathering live, they can at least listen to it on CD now. ACT
Tracklist :
1        Send In The Clowns 5:12
Piano – Michael Wollny
Trombone, Vocals – Nils Landgren
Written-By – Stephen Sondheim
2        Walk Tall 5:44
Bass – Lars Danielsson
Drums – Wolfgang Haffner
Guitar – Ulf Wakenius
Piano – Michael Wollny
Trombone – Nils Landgren
Written-By – Esther Marrow, James Rein, Joe Zawinul
3        Savannah Samurai 6:25
Bass – Lars Danielsson
Written-By, Bass – Dieter Ilg
4        Suffering 9:25
Bass – Dieter Ilg
Guitar – Nguyên Lê
Piano – Iiro Rantala
Trombone – Nils Landgren
Written-By, Cello – Lars Danielsson
5        Missing A Page 6:43
Saxophone – Emile Parisien
Written-By, Piano – Joachim Kühn
6        Quo Vadis 10:18
Bass – Dieter Ilg
Drums – Eric Schaefer
Piano – Joachim Kühn
Violin – Adam Bałdych
Written-By – Zbigniew Seifert
7        B&H 12:15
Piano – Michael Wollny
Saxophone – Emile Parisien
Voice – Andreas Schaerer
Written-By, Accordion – Vincent Peirani
8        Dodge The Dodo 7:25
Bass – Lars Danielsson
Drums – Noa Svensson
Flute, Arranged By – Magnus Lindgren
Guitar – Ruben Svensson, Ulf Wakenius
Piano – Iiro Rantala
Trombone – Nils Landgren
Violin – Adam Bałdych
Written-By – Dan Berglund, Esbjörn Svensson, Magnus Öström
9        We Are Family 5:34
Accordion – Vincent Peirani
Bass – Dieter Ilg, Lars Danielsson
Drums – Morten Lund, Wolfgang Haffner
Guitar – Nguyên Lê, Ulf Wakenius
Lead Vocals – Ida Sand
Piano – Jan Lundgren, Michael Wollny
Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Joachim Kühn
Saxophone – Emile Parisien, Magnus Lindgren
Trombone – Nils Landgren
Violin – Adam Bałdych
Vocals – Andreas Schaerer, Cæcilie Norby, Viktoria Tolstoy
Written-By – Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers

VIKTORIA TOLSTOY — My Swedish Heart (2005) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

"Viktoria Tolstoy sings with dedication and warmth of heart." - (SPIEGEL) ACT
Tracklist :
1        Grandmas Song 4:08
Arranged By – Möller, Danielsson, Holknekt
Flute, Mandolin – Ale Möller
2        Mind If I 4:30
Written-By – Börje Fredriksson, Per Holknekt
3        From Above 4:30
Arranged By [Strings] – Lars Danielsson
4        Dialogue 3:11
Acoustic Bass – Christian Spering
Arranged By, Written-By – Esbjörn Svensson
Drums – Wolfgang Haffner
Grand Piano – Bror Falk
Vocals, Trombone – Nils Landgren
Written-By – Per Holknekt
5        You Gave Me The Flow 4:23
Written-By – Jacob Karlzon, Per Holknekt
6        Den Första Gang 4:37
 - Traditional
Arranged By – Bengt-Arne Wallin
Orchestra – Bohuslän Bigband
7        Dannys Dreaming 4:21
Written-By – Lars Gullin, Lina Nyberg
8        The Morning Of You 3:24
Written-By – Esbjörn Svensson, Per Holknekt
9        Mayday 3:45
Written-By – Anders Jormin, Lina Nyberg
10        I Hope It's Spring For You 4:41
Written-By – Chan Parker, Lars Gullin
11        Jag Yet En Dejlig Rosa 4:55
 - Traditional
Arranged By – Ulf Wakenius
Credits :
Viktoria Tolstoy – Vocals
Jacob Karlzon - Grand Piano
Lars Danielsson - Accoustic Bass, Cello
Peter Danemo – Drums, Percussion
Ulf Wakenius - Accoustic Guitar
Nils Landgren - Trombone

Special Guests:
Ale Möller – Mandola, Flute
Christian Spering - Accoustic Bass
Wolfgang Haffner – Drums
Bohuslän Bigband

LANDGREN | WOLLNY | DANIELSSON | HAFFNER — 4 Wheel Drive (2019) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 "Four top-league jazz musicians who just enjoy playing and who love good pop music," was how ZDF Heute Journal (German national TV news) introduced a feature about 4 Wheel Drive. “A jazz Olympics four," wrote the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. The group’s studio album spent four months at the top of the official German jazz charts, and now a new live album is being released.

Nils Landgren, Michael Wollny, Wolfgang Haffner and Lars Danielsson – any one of these four with his own band could have filled a concert hall such as the Prinzregententheater in Munich, the Alte Oper in Frankfurt or the Philharmonie in Berlin as part of an ACT JazzNights tour organized by Karsten Jahnke. So the combination of the four into a supergroup raised the kind of eager expectations that such encounters do not always fulfil, because great live performance is anything but a theoretical strategy game. Essentially, nothing is proven until it has actually happened in practice. And the extent to which this group really did come into its own in the concert hall can now be heard on "4 Wheel Drive Live", a recording of the last concert of the group’s eleven tour dates, on 19 April 2019, in front of a packed house at the Theaterhaus in Stuttgart.

Thomas Staiber of the Stuttgarter Zeitung was there and wrote: "In Stuttgart the supergroup exceeded all expectations. It was because the four were able to function so solidly with one another and to react with such instinctive understanding, that each of them had all the freedom he needed to stretch out fully as an improviser. [...] This musical four-cylinder engine with its four-wheel drive negotiated the rugged terrain of jazz and was equally at home in enjoyable pop music. They did both sensationally, and unleashed storms of genuine enthusiasm."

"The band just got better and better as it toured," says producer Siggi Loch, explaining the background to the release of this live CD as a follow-up to the original studio album. The original compositions plus cover versions of songs by Sting and Phil Collins took on a whole new identity on stage. As Oliver Hochkeppel from the Süddeutsche Zeitung stated enthusiastically after the Munich concert: "In the live context, the songs from their album gave these top-calibre jazz musicians just the right blank canvas to paint stunning pictures. […] And to witness how each musician picks up ideas from the others in a split second and creates new ones is to reach an understanding of why music is the most beautiful of all languages. Come to a concert like this feeling tired, and you will be enlivened by episodes when ferocity and sheer pace and power take over. And the special flair of these four is really evident in the rests, in the thoughts that are quietly interspersed, in filigree pianissimo tones and the gentlest of contact with the instruments."

When all of this coalesces, one experiences one of those very special concert evenings. And thanks to the live recording now issued as "4 Wheel Drive Live" this fleeting and precious moment will not be forgotten. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Polygon 3:44
Composed By – Michael Wollny
2    Another Day In Paradise 4:33
Composed By – Phil Collins
3    Lady Madonna 4:14
Composed By – John Lennon & Paul McCartney
4    Shadows In The Rain 3:53
Composed By – Gordon Sumner, Sting
5    Lobito 3:34
Composed By – Wolfgang Haffner
6    Maybe I‘m Amazed 3:46
Composed By – Paul McCartney
7    She‘s Always A Woman 5:44
Composed By – Billy Joel
8    Le Chat Sur Toit 5:28
Composed By – Nils Landgren
9    Just The Way You Are 4:00
Composed By – Billy Joel
10    If You Love Somebody Set Them Free 3:53
Composed By – Gordon Sumner, Sting
11    That‘s All 4:25
Composed By – Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins, Tony Banks
12    4WD 3:26
Composed By – Lars Danielsson
Credits :
Nils Landgren - Trombone & Vocals
Michael Wollny - Piano
Lars Danielsson - Bass & Cello
Wolfgang Haffner - Drums

LANDGREN | WOLLNY | DANIELSSON | HAFFNER — 4 Wheel Drive II (2023) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

More about the album:
Four is a winner: that was the unanimous opinion of critics and audiences alike on the first album from German-Swedish supergroup 4 Wheel Drive. The eponymous debut disc from this band of bandleaders went straight to the top spot as best-selling jazz album in Germany for2019. And the media didn’t hold back with their praise either: "Four first-league jazz musicians with pure joy of playing and a love of good pop music", said ZDF's “heute-journal” about this spirited and enjoyable group, which combines trombonist/singer Nils Landgren, pianist Michael Wollny, bassist/cellist Lars Danielsson and drummer Wolfgang Haffner. AllAboutJazz, a leading American jazz website, asked whether this album might be worth adding to a listener's collection, and answered the question succinctly:"4 sure".

The same is manifestly true of the quartet's second studio album (there was also a live concert recording "4 Wheel Drive Live" in between, released in October 2019). In "4 Wheel Drive II", it is evident that things have shifted up a gear right from the start, with the rocky, pulsating opening track "Chapter II", straight from Wollny's compositional workbench. Landgren likes to let his trombone roar like a sports car engine. In similarly dynamic vein are pieces like Danielsson's final track of the album "The Wheelers", which, thanks to Haffner's nimble brushwork, makes you think you're on a high-speed train, or indeed Wollny's powerfully swinging "Spring Dance".

Compared to the first album, there has been another change, an increase in the proportion of original compositions written by all of the participants, as Lars Danielsson, who has contributed a sensitive, poppy ballad to the new album "Just Another Hour", remarks. Interpretations of worldwide hit songs were a factor behind the huge success of the debut album, but the ratio to original compositions here is getting closer to 50:50. That said, the fuel powering 4 Wheel Drive has remained the same: this band is all about creating music from deep within, and with like-minded people whom you can absolutely and implicitly trust to be in the driving seat. "It just flows," enthuses drummer Haffner, "we're a group of close friends with nothing we need to prove, we can just go for it. I've had so many magic moments with this band, it really is incredible!"

4 Wheel Drive was officially born at the end of 2017, at a special winter concert of the Jazz Baltica Festival, and Nils Landgren has described its entire history as having been blessed by "mutual respect and mutual love.". In the new album "4 Wheel Drive II", listeners are treated to several new moments of pure magic, continuing 4 Wheel drive’s illustrious story. For example, their new instrumental version of the Simon & Garfunkel classic "Sound of Silence", has something mysteriously Nordic about it. Or their newly-cast version of the surprisingly infrequently covered Genesis ballad "Hold On My Heart" putting it into a jazz context. If there's anyone who can sing a Phil Collins number without it being embarrassing, it's Nils Landgren. That idea also applies to Elton John's "Your Song" or Paul Simon's "Still Crazy After All These Years". The courage to approach pop tunes that have become so ingrained in many people's minds from a completely different perspective pays off in full. Because within 4 Wheel Drive are four originals at work, each of whom can be recognised from the very first note they play or sing.

Michael Wollny doesn't see the playing of popular hits as a burden in any way, but rather as a freeing-up. "Songs that are so well-known give you the opportunity to be completely open to the moment," says the pianist. "In this band, the song selection allows us great freedom. It's like our concerts, where anything can happen. Drummer Haffner agrees: "There's nothing wrong with interpreting a great song in your own way. If you do it with deep conviction, you are always going to connect with people." ACT
Tracklist :
1    Chapter II 3:05
Written-By – Michael Wollny
2    Still Crazy After All These Years 5:26
Written-By – Paul Simon
3    Hold On My Heart 5:17
Written-By – Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins, Tony Banks
4    The Sound Of Silence 5:43
Written-By – Paul Simon
5    Just Another Minute 3:46
Written-By – Lars Danielsson, Nils Landgren
6    Sunrise 4:14
Written-By – Nils Landgren
7    Spring Dance 3:01
Written-By – Michael Wollny
8    Fields Of Gold 4:46
Written-By – Gordon M Sumner, Sting
9    April Rain 5:22
Written-By – Wolfgang Haffner
10    Your Song 4:41
Written-By – Elton John & Bernie Taupin
11    The Wheelers 4:25
Written-By – Lars Danielsson
Credits :
Nils Landgren - Trombone & Vocals
Michael Wollny - Piano
Lars Danielsson - Bass & Cello & Guitar (on 5)
Wolfgang Haffner - Drums

RIGMOR GUSTAFSSON with NILS LANDGREN and THE FLESHQUARTET — I Will Wait For You (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

"Her voice touches the heart" - (DER SPIEGEL) ACT
Tracklist :
1    Empty Hearts 3:57
Written-By – McDonald
2    Is It A Crime 4:10
Written-By – Hale, Adu, Matthewman
3    If You Go Away 4:49
Written-By – Brel, McKuen
4    Makin' Whoopee 3:59
Written-By – Kahn, Donaldson
5    Fire And Rain 4:00
Written-By – Taylor
6    It Never Entered My Mind 5:46
Written-By – Rodgers/Hart
7    Fever 3:47
Arranged By, Alto Flute – Magnus Lindgren
Written-By – Cooley, Davenport
8    The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress 4:33
Written-By – Webb
9    I Will Wait For You 4:20
Written-By – Demy, Legrand, Gimbel
10    It's Been So Long 4:42
Guitar – Rigmor Gustafsson
Written-By – Nyberg, Gustafsson
11    Black Coffee 5:21
Written-By – Webster, Burke
12    The More I See 5:07
Written-By – Norberg
Credits :
Rigmor Gustafsson – Vocals
Nils Landgren – Trombone & Vocals
Roberto Di Gioia - Piano
Lars Danielsson – Bass
Wolfgang Haffner – Drums

Guests:
Staffan Svensson - Trumpet
The FleshQuartet - Strings:
Jonas Lindgren, Örjan Högberg, Mattias Hellden, Sebastian Öberg, Chrille Olsson

TORSTEN GOODS — Love Comes to Town (2013) FLAC (tracks), lossless

With "Love Comes To Town", young star Torsten Goods exceeds expectations as both composer and performer. Funky summer evening soundtrack meets smoky jazz club swing. ACT
Tracklist :
1    You Wind Me Up 4:17
Written-By – Jan Miserre, Torsten Goods
2    When Love Comes To Town 4:01
Written-By – Adam Clayton, David Evans, Laurence Mullen, Paul D. Hewson
3    Freedom Every Day 4:09
Written-By – Nick Whitecross, Torsten Goods
4    Put It Where You Want It 5:26
Written-By – Alan E. Gorrie, Joe Sample
5    Unlucky Like Me 3:50
Written-By – James Bryan, Torsten Goods
6    Right Here Waiting 4:06
Written-By – Richard Marx
7    Brutal Truth 4:40
Written-By – Ida Sand
8    Weekend At The A-Trane 4:21
Written-By – Jan Miserre, Torsten Goods
9    Someone Like You 5:05
Written-By – Adele
10    Summer Lovin 4:48
Written-By – Jan Miserre, Lars Vegas, Torsten Goods
11    Outa Here 3:32
Written-By – Pete Vettese, Torsten Goods
12    Night Life 5:34
Written-By – Willie Nelson
13    They Can't Take That Away From Me 2:56
Written-By – George & Ira Gershwin
14    Berlin P.M. 3:47
Written-By – Jan Miserre, Torsten Goods
Credits :
Torsten Goods - Vocals & Guitar
Jan Miserre - Piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer
Christian von Kaphengst - Fender Jazz Bass, Acoustic Bass
Wolfgang Haffner - Drums

Horns:
Till Brönner - Trumpet
Nils Landgren - Trombone
Magnus Lindgren - Saxophone, Flute
Ingolf Burkhardt - Trumpet on 4, 9 & 11

Ida Sand - Vocals on Vocals on 2 & 7
Viktoria Tolstoy - Vocals on 10 & 13
Felix Lehrmann - Drums on 14

NILS LANDGREN WITH JANIS SIEGEL — Some Other Time : A Tribute To Leonard Bernstein (2016) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Just in time for Nils Landgren's 60th birthday, the most elaborate project of his remarkable career was released. Featuring music from musicals like "West Side Story" and a lineup that includes his outstanding All-Star Band, over 18 members of the Bochumer Symphoniker, and singer Janis Siegel from the legendary "The Manhattan Transfer," Landgren, along with conductor and arranger Vince Mendoza, pays tribute to the jazz enthusiast and great composer of the 20th century, Leonard Bernstein. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Nils Landgren–    Overture: América 0:42
Soloist, Trombone – Nils Landgren
2    Nils Landgren Quartet, Janis Siegel, Bochumer Symphoniker With Vince Mendoza–    Some Other Time    5:17
3    Nils Landgren Quartet–    Cool    3:40
4    Nils Landgren Quartet, Bochumer Symphoniker With Vince Mendoza–    Maria    3:13
5    Nils Landgren Quartet–    Somewhere    5:06
6    Siegel, Landgren, Ilg, Haffner, Bochumer Symphoniker With Vince Mendoza–    The Story Of My Life    4:22
7    Nils Landgren Quartet–    One Hand, One Heart    4:27
8    Nils Landgren Quartet, Janis Siegel, Bochumer Symphoniker With Vince Mendoza–    Something's Coming    3:54
9    Nils Landgren Quartet, Janis Siegel–    Lonely Town    4:39
10    Nils Landgren Quartet, Bochumer Symphoniker With Vince Mendoza–    A Quiet Girl    7:09
11    Nils Landgren, Janis Siegel, Jan Lundgren–    Lucky To Be Me    4:22
12    Nils Landgren Quartet, Bochumer Symphoniker With Vince Mendoza–    A Simple Song    5:40
Credits :
Nils Landgren - Trombone & Vocals
Janis Siegel - Vocals
Jan Lundgren - Piano
Dieter Ilg - Bass
Wolfgang Haffner - Drums

Members of the Bochumer Symphoniker
Arranged & Conducted by Vince Mendoza

NILS LANDGREN FUNK UNITY — Funky Abba (2004) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Nils Landgren isn’t a name only to be found among “the top rank of European jazz trombonists“ (Der Spiegel). He is also one of the wide-ranging set of artists to be found on the European jazz scene today. “A musical omnivore“ (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) and “a marvel of flexibility“ (Jazzthetik), whose interests and output cover many bases: whether the man with the red trombone is performing one of his frenetic concerts to enthusiastic fans with his grooving Funk Unit, singing with “hypnotic charm“ (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung), devoting himself, in collaboration with Esbjörn Svensson, to the reworking of Swedish folk songs, or celebrating kitschy chamber music or big band jazz – all reflect the many sides of the same person.

After a two-year self-imposed rest from performing funk, during which Nils Landgren has been busy producing and singing ballads on Sentimental Journey (ACT 9409-2) and on Rigmor Gustafsson’s album I Will Wait For You (ACT 9418-2), Mr Red Horn is now devoting his time once again to his Funk Unit, which ranks, quite undeniably, as “the best European funk band“ (Stereo Magazine).

Now, exactly 30 years after ABBA’s international breakthrough at the Eurovision Song Contest, he has undertaken a highly personal tribute to one of the greatest pop bands ever, working together with his grooving band, which “drives young people into a frenzy and yet also is taken seriously by the snobbish jazz lovers“ (Spiegel).

The new album is called FUNKY ABBA – and Nils can call it that with much justification, through his long-standing friendship with Benny Andersson. Twenty-five years ago, on the strength of his special trombone sound, Benny asked the fresh-faced Nils to join him in the studio to play on the ABBA song “Voulez-Vous“. This time it was the other way round: Benny couldn’t wait to take part on at least one track of FUNKY ABBA.

We’ll leave the rest to Nils Landgren to describe in his own words:
„When I first asked Benny Andersson for his blessing to make an album titled FUNKY ABBA’ he just said: ‚Is that possible?’
‚I think yes’ I replied.
‚OK, do it!’ Benny said with a smile and so ahead I went.
We booked the scene of the crime for this recording. The great Polar Studio A where all the ABBA songs were recorded to get the right vibe from that old tribe.
I tell you, it´s still in those walls:
all that great stuff that was once
produced in there.
What a challenge to dig
into this treasure, it was!
Thank you Björn & Benny for all the great songs!
If we succeeded to make them funky, it´s up to you friends
out there to decide. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Money, Money, Money 2:41
Written-By – Andersson / Ulvaeus
2    Knowing Me, Knowing You
Written-By – Andersson / Ulvaeus, Anderson
3    Voulez-Vous 4:57
Written-By – Andersson / Ulvaeus
4    Thank You For The Music 3:27
Written-By – Andersson / Ulvaeus
5    Super Trouper 4:28
Written-By – Andersson / Ulvaeus
6    Summer Night City 4:52
Written-By – Andersson / Ulvaeus
7    Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! 4:10
Written-By – Andersson / Ulvaeus
8    The Name Of The Game 5:11
Written-By – Andersson / Ulvaeus, Anderson
9    Dancing Queen 5:19
Written-By – Andersson / Ulvaeus, Anderson
10    Take A Chance On Me 4:01
Written-By – Andersson / Ulvaeus
11    SOS 4:38
Written-By – Andersson / Ulvaeus, Anderson
– BONUS TRACK –
12    When All Is Said And Done 3:41
Written-By – Andersson / Ulvaeus
Credits :
Artwork [Cover Art] – Max Neumann
Nils Landgren - Trombone and Vocals
Magnum Coltrane Price - Vocals, Microphone Poetry and Additional Synthesizers
Henrik Janson - Guitar
Jesper Nordenström, Roberto Di Gioia - Keyboards
Lars DK Danielsson – Fender Bass
Wolfgang Haffner - All Drums & Backing Vocals on SOS
Per Lindvall - Drums on #7, #11
Karl-Martin Almqvist – Tenor Saxophone

Special Guests:
Till Brönner - Trumpet and Additional Horn arrangement on #2
Sharon Dyall - Vocals on #3, #7
Viktoria Tolstoy - Vocals on #6, #12
Alex Papaconstantinou - Bouzouki on #3
Nimo - Co-flow on #8

Very Special Guest:
Benny Andersson - Piano on #12

NILS LANDGREN — Sentimental Journey (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Nils Landgren Sings Ballads
Diana Krall, Jane Monheit, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Natalie Cole - these are the stars that have caused a worldwide furore with their full-blown movement back to the "standards". It comes as no surprise that the interpretation of the well-known ballads that make up a large portion of "The Great American Songbook" has always been considered one of the highest disciplines in jazz.

At first glance Nils Landgren might seem a bit out of place in the midst of this illustrious group of women. Landgren - isn't that the guy with the fiery red trombone who continually brings the concert halls to the boiling point? Yah - that's him. But God knows the Swedish jazz trombonist has more to offer than rock-hard, groovy funk. When it comes to ballads, Nils Landgren is an old hand. And Nils could sing practically from when he could talk. Nils remembers with amusement that, "In school we had to sing a psalm every day, which definitely didn't arouse my enthusiasm for singing." It was a convincing performance in the best James Brown manner that got the 18-year old Landgren his first recording contract. Since then Nils Landgren has never completely stopped singing, regardless of all the success of his formidable band Funk Unit.

To the great surprise of those who know the music industry, Landgren's 1992 "Ballads" album (ACT 9268-2), which was brought onto the market without a lot of publicity, evolved into a real word-of-mouth hit. Almost 20,000 copies were sold - that speaks for itself - such a turnover is a more than respectful success in the jazz world. And so "Mr. Redhorn" once again gives way to his sensitive side and undertakes a trip to the land of emotions. "Sentimental Journey" - could there be a more appropriate title for an album from someone who is almost always speeding from one gig to the next, but who would like to shift down a gear? Nils declared that, "After all the hectic tours in this last period, it was simply the right time to do this album. I've always liked quiet songs that tell a story. It doesn't make much difference to me whether I tell that story with words or with my instrument."

And there is a whole list of such stories: "In a Sentimental Mood", breathed in the characteristic style of the greatest jazz musician of them all, Duke Ellington. Kurt Weill's "Speak Low", referring to the intimate moment of trusting togetherness. "Nature Boy", "My Foolish Heart", and the title song, "Sentimental Journey"; these are songs that belong to the standard repertoire of virtually every vocal interpreter in jazz. But Nils Landgren has also covered pop artists such as Sting, and it is clear that he has no reservations about tackling such country greats as Allison Krauss: "Fragile" and "Ghost in this House" are seamlessly added to the phalanx of song classics as if they had always belonged there.

A lot of heart went into the making of "Sentimental Journey"; it is a project that is worked down to the smallest detail. What is more boring than a record on which every piece sounds pretty much the same? That's not the case here. Every song has its own individual arrangement and stands alone in its beauty. Landgren is no friend of simple solutions - he's not content with getting his ideas ready-made. Instead of using the usual string ensemble for an adequate background, he opted for the original FleshQuartet out of his Swedish homeland. Landgren intoned, "It's damned hard to translate the ideas you have perpetually running around in your head into sounds, but I never thought it was possible that they could sound better in reality than the way I had painted them in my fantasy. I'll always be indebted to the Fleshquartet for their contribution to this recording."

Certainly not a bad choice. The Swedish pianist Anders Widmark is one of the most versatile of his profession. A while ago he made a recording of "Carmen" which caused quite a stir. Bassist Lars Danielsson is one of the most sought-after players on the European jazz scene, as is indicated by the many albums he has recorded, both as bandleader and accomplished accompanist. And drummer Wolfgang Haffner's biography could hardly be more colourful: alongside his work with his own formations, he is one of the most sought-after session drummers on the international scene. Besides this, the "special guests" include singers Rigmor Gustafsson and Viktoria Tolstoy, along with Nils' labelmate and friend, pianist Esbjörn Svensson. On the title song "Sentimental Journey" we also hear Nils Landgren with two of his students, trombonists Karin and Mimmi Hammar.

46-year-old Nils Landgren has travelled a long way before he could begin his "Sentimental Journey". He has been involved with more than 500 recording sessions (including ABBA), jazz workshops with some of the world's most renowned big bands, successful international tours with the Funk Unit, artistic director of the 2001 Berlin Jazz Festival - the list could go on and on. One thing that makes "Sentimental Journey" so convincing is that it resists the hectic hustle and bustle that can overwhelm the music. Nils says adamantly that, "This is my baby, at least for a while." And what a beautiful, sweet, sentimental baby it is. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Speak Low    4:32
2    Ghost In This House    4:43
3    This Masquerade    4:05
4    Nature Boy    5:04
5    Fragile 3:13
Vocals – Rigmor Gustafsson
6    In A Sentimental Mood    5:22
7    The Ballad Of The Sad Young Men    5:19
8    My Foolish Heart    4:40
9    Should I Care    4:10
10    Be There For You 4:01
Vocals – Viktoria Tolstoy
11    Sentimental Journey 4:40
Trombone – Karin Hammar, Mimmi Hammar
12    Everything Must Change 4:37
Bass – Chrille Olsson
13    I Will Survive 4:31
Bass – Magnum Coltrane Price
Drums – Janne Robertsson
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Esbjörn Svensson
Guitar – Robert Östlund
Credits :
Nils Landgren - Vocals and Trombone
Anders Widmark – Piano
Lars Danielsson – Bass
Wolfgang Haffner – Drums

FleshQuartet :
Jonas Lindgren – Violin
Örjan Högberg – Viola
Mattias Hellden – Cello
Sebastian Öberg - Cello
Chrille Olsson - Bass on “Everything must change”

WOLFGANG HAFFNER — Round Silence (2009) ACT : Nu Jazz Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

"In der Ruhe liegt die Kraft" (Jazzpodium): Round Silence is a contemplation of silence, one that doesn't pass by silently and should by no means be overlooked. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Round Silence 6:08
Featuring, Guitar [Uncredited] – Dominic Miller
2    Left Side Field    6:10
3    It's Not Safe 5:01
Featuring, Vocals [Uncredited] – Kim Sanders
4    Azul    5:06
5    Stadium Jazz 5:26
Featuring, Trombone [Uncredited] – Nils Landgren
6    Nightsong 8:04
Featuring, Guitar [Uncredited] – Chuck Loeb
7    The Space In Between    4:19
8    Tubes    4:41
9    Ride    5:16
10    Wordless    5:30
11    The Flow    5:10
Credits :
Wolfgang Haffner - Drums, Log Drum, Table Tubes
Hubert Nuss – Piano
Lars Danielsson - Double Bass, Cello
Sebastian Studnitzky - Trumpet, Piano, Fender Rhodes
Christian Diener - Electric Bass
Ernst Ströer - Percussion
Julian Haffner - Add. Percussion Programming (#2)
Fiete Felsch - Alto Flute
Lutz Büchner - Clarinet
Dan Gottschall - Trombone
Special Guests:
Dominic Miller – Guitar (#1)
Chuck Loeb – Guitar (#6)
Kim Sanders – Vocals (#3)
Nils Landgren – Trombone (#8)

WOLFGANG HAFFNER — Kind of Spain (2017) 24-48Hz | FLAC (tracks), lossless

"Kind of Spain" is, after the 50s-cool jazz and bop excursions on "Kind of Cool", Wolfgang Haffner's second ACT album with an acoustic band. The sextet creates introverted, warm, atmospheric soundscapes to which some might dream themselves onto a rooftop terrace in Granada at night. ACT
Tracklist :
1    For Vince & Arif 1:16
Composed By – Dell, Stelter, Lundgren, Danielsson, Studnitzky, Haffner
2    Pasodoble 4:22
Composed By – Lars Danielsson
3    El Faro 4:25
Composed By – Wolfgang Haffner
4    Children Of Sanchez 4:02
Composed By – Chuck Mangione
5    Tres Notas Para Decir Te Quiero 4:29
Composed By – Vicente Amigo
6    El Vito 4:21
 – Traditional
Arranged By – Lars Danielsson, Wolfgang Haffner
7    El Chaos 4:46
Composed By – Dell, Stelter, Lundgren, Danielsson, Studnitzky, Haffner
8    Concierto De Aranjuez 4:02
Composed By – Joaquín Rodrigo
9    Tàpies 1:12
Composed By – Daniel Stelter, Lars Danielsson, Wolfgang Haffner
10    Salinas 3:52
Composed By – Wolfgang Haffner
11    Recuerdos De La Alhambra 5:14
Composed By – Francisco Tárrega
12    Spain 2:43
Composed By – Chick Corea
13    Capricho Arabe 4:09
Composed By – Francisco Tárrega
Credits :
Bass – Lars Danielsson
Cover [Cover Art] – Gert & Uwe Tobias
Drums – Wolfgang Haffner
Guitar – Daniel Stelter
Piano – Jan Lundgren
Trumpet – Sebastian Studnitzky
Vibraphone – Christopher Dell

NILS LANDGREN FUNK UNIT — Licence To Funk (2007) FLAC (image+.cue) lossless

Licence to Funk is the eighth album by the Nils Landgren Funk Unit, and again, the Swedish trombonist reconfigures the band's personnel to keep things fresh. He keeps the rhythm section of German drummer Wolfgang Haffner and bassist Magnum Coltrane Price and adds reedman Magnus Lindgren, keyboardist and vocalist Ida Sand, and -- the biggest surprise here -- Detroit guitarist Ray Parker, Jr., author of the hit single "Ghostbusters," who had retired from music in the early '90s and then reappeared on Landgren's collaboration with pianist Joe Sample, Creole Love Call, in 2005. After the previous record's experimentation with ABBA tunes (Funky ABBA), Licence to Funk is basically an homage to various types of old-school '70s funk: the dry, hard-edged funk of James Brown's famous rhythm section is celebrated in an energetic cover of Fred Wesley's "House Party," another cover brings back the bouncy disco-funk of the Ashford & Simpson/Quincy Jones classic "Stuff Like That," and there are several nods toward the smooth soul-funk of the Crusaders -- for example, Landgren's own composition "24Hours," with its soft electric piano, relaxed background vocals, and sweet flute melody, or his near-instrumental "Capetown Shuffle" (not to mention a cover of Crusaders bassist Wilton Felder's "Brazos River Breakdown"). Despite the three cover tunes and the large number of comparisons the music brings to mind, Licence to Funk is neither a full retro album nor a slavish imitation of all those acts -- the Funk Unit is in top form, with tightly locked grooves and inspired soloing, and the record is an excellent showcase for a band that knows how to use a funk rhythm as a springboard to exciting interplay. While all of the musicians are great (and all, except for Lindgren, contribute original songs), Ray Parker, Jr.'s presence is what gives the group that something extra: listening to his opening guitar licks on "Freak U" and the bluesy "Secret" alone makes you glad he's back. The two songs he's written are among the album's highlights: the gritty, driving rhythm of "SampleRayT" inspires some soulful soloing by saxman Magnus Lindgren, and Parker even sings in his instantly recognizable voice on "For Those Who Like to Party." If the Nils Landgren Funk Unit continue to record albums this good, their title-giving licence will never be revoked. Christian Genzel

"With a top-class band, every track becomes fiery party music for jazz-rock fans." - AUDIO ACT
Tracklist :
1    House Party 5:05
Written-By – Fred Wesley
2    Freak U 4:35
Written-By – Magnum Coltrane Price
3    24Hours 4:30
Written-By – Nils Landgren
4    Stuff Like That 5:39
Written-By – Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson, Quincy Jones
5    Slowfoot 5:49
Written-By – Wolfgang Haffner
6    Capetown Shuffle 5:52
Written-By – Nils Landgren
7    At Home 5:22
Written-By – Magnum Coltrane Price, Wolfgang Haffner
8    Secret 4:40
Written-By – Ida Sandlund
9    SampleRayT 5:41
Written-By – Ray Parker Jr.
10    For Those Who Like To Party 4:25
Written-By – Ray Parker Jr.
11    Brazos River Breakdown 5:10
Written-By – Wilton Felder
12    Tomomis Tune 6:57
Written-By – Magnum Coltrane Price
Credits:
Bass, Vocals – Magnum Coltrane Price
Drums, Vocals – Wolfgang Haffner
Guitar, Vocals – Ray Parker Jr.
Keyboards, Vocals – Ida Sand
Trombone, Vocals – Nils Landgren
Woodwind, Vocals – Magnus Lindgren

JULIAN & ROMAN WASSERFUHR — Gravity (2011) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

After "Remeber Chet" and "Upgraded", another quantum leap in the career of these two exceptional talents: "The wonderful trumpeter Julian Wasserfuhr and his congenial pianist brother Roman succeed in directly conveying emotion beyond all the craftsmanship and instrumental virtuosity they possess anyway." Matthias Brandt (German actor) ACT
Tracklist :
1    Twinkle Eyes 4:52
Composed By – J. & R. Wasserfuhr
2    Englishman In New York 5:35
Composed By – Sumner
3    Interlude 1:28
Composed By – J. & R. Wasserfuhr
4    Love 5:17
Composed By – Kaempfert
5    Ramos Us 3:59
Composed By – J. & R. Wasserfuhr
6    Fool's Paradise 6:13
Composed By – J. & R. Wasserfuhr
7    Branca 6:14
Composed By – J. & R. Wasserfuhr
8    Gravity 2:49
Composed By – J. & R. Wasserfuhr
9    Midnight Walk 3:30
Composed By – J. & R. Wasserfuhr
10    If The Rain Comes 4:10
Composed By – Danielsson
11    Blue Desert 4:49
Composed By – J. & R. Wasserfuhr
12    Some Other Time 4:29
Composed By – Haffner
13    Theo 2:48
Composed By – J. & R. Wasserfuhr
Credits:
Bass, Cello, Guitar – Lars Danielsson
Drums – Wolfgang Haffner
Piano, Celesta, Synthesizer – Roman Wasserfuhr
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Julian Wasserfuhr

WOLFGANG HAFFNER — Kind of Tango (2020) 24-96Hz | FLAC (tracks), lossless

 “This isn’t about reproducing an original, it’s much more like a translation. When I absorb and adapt influences and when I write, I follow my own path – and that allows me to be myself. It’s a process from which something new and contemporary can emerge.” This is how Wolfgang Haffner describes the artistic approach in his “Kind of...” album trilogy, all of which have the unmistakable Haffner sound running right through them. After a first adventure in cool jazz, and then a search for musical traditions in Spain, his new destination is Buenos Aires: “From the moment Siggi Loch suggested tango as my third point of departure, I didn’t need any more convincing. Rhythm is the essence of tango, plus catchy melodies which can then be developed – and there’s so much emotion in it too.”

“Kind of Tango” is indeed a kaleidoscope of shifting emotions. Haffner’s conception of tango has drama and propulsion in it, but also melancholy and longing, with room for frenetic outbursts too. All this is unified by his inimitable groove and feel that commentators have called “an absolute dream”, “magical” and “profoundly relaxed”. Alongside trusted co-protagonists Christopher Dell and Lars Danielsson, he has two guests with him who defy all the clichés associated with tango: guitarist Ulf Wakenius cut his teeth musically in Oscar Peterson’s band, and his Swedish heritage always shines through in his playing. Vincent Peirani is one of the leading innovators on the accordion, and he finds new ways to define the instrument’s role in the tango. Young pianist Simon Oslender is making a first appearance with the band.

Jazz and tango find a natural yet constantly shifting equilibrium – to be heard particularly effectively on “Close Your Eyes And Listen” by Astor Piazzolla. In addition to compositions by Haffner himself and by his band members, pieces by the celebrated Argentinian bandoneon player and composer are the focal point of the album. Piazzolla’s innovations with the tango, such as bringing jazz into it, date from around 1955. Haffner and the tango seem perfectly matched to each other. Tango is no longer a fixed style nowadays, it is above all an attitude to playing and an attitude to life. Wolfgang Haffner’s approach to tango is both authentic and new. It is his and his alone. And it is irresistible. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Tango Magnifique 5:04
Composed By – Lars Danielsson
2    Tres Hermanos 3:32
Composed By – Wolfgang Haffner
3    La Cumparsita 3:23
Composed By – Gerardo Matos Rodríguez
4    El Gato 5:29
Composed By – Simon Oslender, Wolfgang Haffner
5    Close Your Eyes And Listen 4:17
Composed By – Astor Piazzolla
6    Libertango 4:06
Composed By – Astor Piazzolla
7    Dando Vueltas 4:34
Composed By – Wolfgang Haffner
8    Tango Córdoba 5:35
Composed By – Ulf Wakenius
9    Respiro 2:18
Composed By – Christopher Dell, Wolfgang Haffner
10    Chiquilín de Bachín 4:03
Composed By – Astor Piazzolla
11    Para Tito 3:16
Composed By – Wolfgang Haffner
12    Recuerdos 4:10
Composed By – Wolfgang Haffner
Credits:
Accordion – Vincent Peirani
Bass, Cello – Lars Danielsson
Cover – Gert & Uwe Tobias
Drums – Wolfgang Haffner
Flugelhorn – Lars Nilsson (tracks: 3)
Guitar – Ulf Wakenius
Piano – Simon Oslender

THE ACT FAMILY BAND — The ACT Jubilee Concert (2012) 2CD | FLAC (tracks), lossless

The live recording of the acclaimed concert in the Laeiszhalle Hamburg: "A world-class session" (Die Bunte) for the label's 20th birthday: "with booming tutti, various trios and quartets. great programme, great applause" (Die Welt). ACT
Tracklist 1 :
1    Pasodoble 4:56
Bass – Lars Danielsson
Piano – Leszek Możdżer
Written-By – Lars Danielsson
2    Sleep Safe And Warm 5:52
Piano – Leszek Możdżer
Written-By – Krzysztof Komeda
3    Svantetic 6:03
Piano – Leszek Możdżer, Michael Wollny
Written-By – Krzysztof Komeda
4    The Tears Of Billie Blue - Clair de Lune 6:37
Bass – Lars Danielsson
Drums – Wolfgang Haffner
Guitar – Nguyên Lê
Vocals – Cæcilie Norby
Written-By – Debussy, Norby
5    Stars In Your Eyes 6:45
Bass – Lars Danielsson
Drums – Wolfgang Haffner
Piano – Michael Wollny
Trombone – Nils Landgren
Written-By – Herbie Hancock
6    Hymn 7:00
Band – The ACT Family Band
Featuring – Cæcilie Norby
Written-By – Lars Danielsson
7    This One Goes In Four 11:23
Band – The ACT Family Band
Featuring – Verneri Pohjola
Written-By – Verneri Pohjola
Tracklist 2 :
1    Little Wing 7:49
Bass – Lars Danielsson
Guitar – Nguyên Lê
Written-By – Jimi Hendrix
2    Lonely Dancer 4:58
Baritone Saxophone – Céline Bonacina
Bass – Lars Danielsson
Piano – Michael Wollny
Written-By – Michael Wollny
3    ZigZag Blues 5:47
Band – The ACT Family Band
Featuring – Céline Bonacina
Written-By – Céline Bonacina
4    Silent Way 6:14
Bass – Lars Danielsson
Drums – Wolfgang Haffner
Piano – Michael Wollny
Trombone – Nils Landgren
Written-By – Wolfgang Haffner
5    Dodge The Dodo 8:50
Band – The ACT Family Band
Featuring – Nguyên Lê, Verneri Pohjola
Written-By – Esbjörn Svensson
6    Love Is Real 5:42
Band – The ACT Family Band
Featuring – Cæcilie Norby, Nils Landgren
Written-By – Esbjörn Svensson, Josh Haden
7    Purple Haze 15:26
Band – The ACT Family Band
Featuring – Cæcilie Norby, Céline Bonacina, Nguyên Lê, Wolfgang Haffner
Written-By – Jimi Hendrix
Credits:
Nils Landgren - Trombone & Vocals
Céline Bonacina - Baritone Sax
Verneri Pohjola - Trumpet
Michael Wollny - Piano
Nguyên Lê - Guitar
Lars Danielsson - Bass
Wolfgang Haffner - Drums

Special Guests:
Cæcilie Norby - Vocals
Leszek Możdżer - Piano

WOLFGANG HAFFNER — Kind Of Cool (2015) FLAC (tracks), lossless

On "Kind of Cool," Wolfgang Haffner moves between tradition and modernity, taking inspiration from Cool Jazz and the Great American Songbook. In the tradition of the legendary Modern Jazz Quartet and with the spirit of Cool, timeless jazz classics are elegantly performed. Incredibly relaxed, sophisticated, self-assured, and ultimately special. Three original compositions round out the album. It takes a true all-star band to make music sound as it does on "Kind of Cool": international jazz stars who have nothing left to prove, simply enjoying the pleasure of making these pieces sound like what they are: some of the most beautiful compositions produced by 20th-century music. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Hippie 5:39
Written-By – Wolfgang Haffner
2    So What 7:21
Written-By – Miles Davis
3    Piano Man 5:05
Written-By – Billy Eckstein, Sid Kuller
4    Autumn Leaves 4:05
Written-By – Jacques Enoch, Joseph Kosma
5    Tantricity 3:22
Written-By – Wolfgang Haffner
6    Summertime 5:24
Written-By – George Gershwin
7    My Funny Valentine 7:02
Written-By – Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart
8    One For Daddy O 6:26
Written-By – Nat Adderley
9    I Fall In Love Too Easily 5:57
Written-By – Jule Styne & Sammy Cahn
10    Django 5:02
Written-By – John Lewis
11    Remembrance 4:57
Written-By – Wolfgang Haffner
Credits :
Wolfgang Haffner - Drums
Christopher Dell - Vibraphone
Jan Lundgren - Piano
Dan Berglund - Bass
Dusko Goykovich - Trumpet
Jukka Perko - Alto Saxophone
Guests:
Max Mutzke - Vocals
Frank Chastenier - Piano
Christian von Kaphengst - Bass
Nils Landgren - Trombone

VIKTORIA TOLSTOY — Shining on You (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The great-great-grand-daughter of writer Leo Tolstoy, Viktoria Tolstoy had been a jazz singer in Scandinavia for over a decade when she recorded Shining on You. Tolstoy has a beautiful voice and can hold notes for a long period perfectly in-tune. This outing really does not give her much of a chance to sing jazz for the emphasis is on her interpretations of the lyrics. Her longtime musical partner Esbjörn Svensson wrote all of the music but, although some of the themes are memorable, it is the intelligent words and Tolstoy's straightforward interpretations (which often crossover into pop and folk music) that are of greatest interest. Highlights include "Upside Out," "Equilibrium" and "Things That Happen" although each song has its own interesting plot. There are touches of jazz provided by the rhythm section, a few Nils Landgren trombone solos, and a guest spot (on "No Regrets") for Toots Thielemans on harmonica. Shining on You is worth exploring by listeners who do not demand that singers always improvise. Scott Yanow

"Dreamily beautiful and intimate melodies" - (FONOFORUM) German Jazz Award 2004 ACT
Tracklist :
1    Upside Out 3:57
Lyrics By – Holknekt
2    Shining On You 4:03
Lyrics By – Larsson
3    Summer Calling 5:28
Lyrics By – Holknekt
4    Love Is Real 5:09
Lyrics By – Haden
5    Equilibrium 5:52
Lyrics By – Nyberg
6    Wake Up Song 3:09
Lyrics By – Holknekt
7    No Regrets 4:27
Lyrics By – Nyberg
8    Waltz For The Lonely Ones 4:06
Lyrics By – Nyberg
9    Some Day 2:26
Lyrics By – Holknekt
10    Wonder Why    4:10
11    Things That Happen 3:52
Lyrics By – Nyberg
12    Foreverly 5:44
Lyrics By – Holknekt
Credits :
Bass – Christian Spering (tracks: 2, 6, 11), Dan Berglund (tracks: 4)
Bass, Cello – Lars Danielsson (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7 to 10, 12)
Drums – Jonas Holgersson (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7 to 10, 12), Magnus Öström (tracks: 4), Wolfgang Haffner (tracks: 2, 6, 11)
Harmonica – Toots Thielemans (tracks: 7)
Music By – Esbjörn Svensson
Piano – Bror Falk, Daniel Karlsson (tracks: 4)
Strings – Stockholm Session Strings
Trombone, Backing Vocals, Producer – Nils Landgren
Vocals – Viktoria Tolstoy

WOLFGANG HAFFNER – Shapes (2005) Serie ACT : Nu Jazz | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 "The almost meditative instrumental music between jazz and lounge is addictive" (STERN)
Tracklist :
1    Faithless    7:23
2    Shapes    5:20
3    Crusin    4:59
4    New Life    3:36
5    Desire    4:23
6    Blue Bar    4:31
7    Ning    4:32
8    Space Calzone    8:35
9    Some Other Time    4:36
10    24 Hours    3:36
11    Tomorrow Never Knows    4:47
12    Silent Way    4:39
Credits :
Wolfgang Haffner – Drums, Keyboards, Programming
Nils Landgren – Trombone
Sebastian Studnitzky – Trumpet, Piano, Keyboards
Frank Kuruc – Acoustic & Electric Guitar
Lars Danielsson – Acoustic & Electric Bass, Cello