Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren caught the tail end of West Coast jazz. At age 29 in 1995, Lundgren was recommended to Los Angeles producer Dick Bank by saxophonist Herb Geller. Herb, who had moved to Hamburg, Germany, in 1962, met Lundgren while touring in Sweden in 1994 and was mightily impressed.
At the time, Bank was preparing to record an album of Lester Young's music with tenor saxophonist Bill Perkins. A pianist was needed who was solid, intuitive and had the chops and sensitivity to play with the flavor of Count Basie and Teddy Wilson. Since Perkins had undergone surgery a short time earlier, the pianist chosen also needed to be spot-on—inspiring Perkins but not tiring him out with re-takes on the session. Lundgren was perfect.
Lundgren flew to Los Angeles from Stockholm, and they recorded Perk Plays Prez for Fresh Sound in June 1995. Between 1995 and 2003, 10 albums in all were recorded by Lundgren for the label, several of them featuring West Coast jazz musicians in their twilight years. The album list included Perk Plays Prez, Portrait of a Count with trumpeter Conte Candoli, Collaboration with pianist Pete Jolly, and You're Looking at Me with saxophonist Herb Geller. There also were several Lundgren trio albums recorded.
Now Fresh Sound has released Jan Lundgren: A Retrospective, an album featuring 12 tracks from the series Lundgren recorded for the label in L.A. Among the highlights are Shorty George from Perk Plays Prez, Rockin' Chair and On Green Dolphin Street from Portrait of a Count, I've Never Been in Love Before and You Stepped Out of a Dream with co-keyboardist Pete Jolly, and a sterling Angel Eyes (with Lundgren, Tom Warrington on bass and Joe La Barbera on drums) and Swedish Pastry (with Lundgren, bassist Dave Carpenter and drummer Paul Kreibich).
What's more, the liner notes for this set by Doug Ramsey, producer Dick Bank and Jan Lundgren are loving and comprehensive.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Jan Lundgren: A Retrospective here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Jan Lundgren and his trio playing Angel Eyes...
