Hacke Bjorksten – All Star Sextet

Sweden had a pretty thriving modern jazz scene back in the fifties that produced a number of talented players. Many of the sessions recorded there by either visiting or expatriate US artists or local players were often recorded & performed to a high quality. I especially like the european penchant for releasing picture sleeve 45s & 7″ EPs, this offering by the Hacke Bjorksten All Star Sextet is a good example.

Recorded in Stockholm on April 12th, 1957; the personnel were some of the best swedish jazzmen ever: Hacke Bjorksten, tenor sax; Ake Persson, trombone; Rune Gustaffson, guitar; Rune Ofverman, piano; Stephan Landoff, bass & Svante Turesson, drums. The two songs are titled “Swanson On Holiday” & “Go Home Swanson”, it was released on the reasonably well known Sonet label. “On Holiday” finds the band in a somewhat “cool” mode, while “Go Home” is a more uptempo riff-based number.

Bjorksten has had a long career in jazz, first in his native Finland, then for much of his career in Sweden. He initially played clarinet but later expanded to include flute, alto & tenor. On this recording his tenor approach is similar to mid-fifties Stan Getz. He also recorded under his real name Gunnar Bjorksten & was featured on Tommy Potter’s “Hard Funk” sessions as “Woody Birch”.

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