"We Will Always Be Together"
Putte Wickman & Jan Lundgren
Putte Wickman, clarinet/ Jan Lundgren, piano/ Jesper Lundgaard, bass/
Alex Riel, drums
Gazell Records
Recorded May 17th & 18th 2004, Sun Studio, Copenhagen
…..Enter Putte Wickman. A rare bird, not only for his instrument, which
he´s been playing for more than sixty years, but for his unique
creativity, which – unbelievably as it may seem – is still undiminished
at an age when most so-called ordinary people have long retired.…..
Played piano as a kid (classical music), taking up clarinet at 16,
self-taught on clarinet. …..Became a professional musician in 1944 as a
member of Arthur Österwall´s quintet at the Nalen club. Later played
with the bands of Simon Brehm and Hasse Kahn and was a member of the
so-called Paris Orchestra, together with Arne Domnérus, Gösta Törner,
Alice Babs a.o., representing Swedish jazz at the 1949 Paris Jazz
Festival. Played for two nights with Charlie Parker in Stockholm in
1950…..”It was unequalled. He was in great shape, and a nice guy
besides”
…..Wickman is one of the very few prominent clarinetists who does
not play any type of saxophone. His basis is mainstream jazz, but his
stylistic conception is anything but narrow or restricted and he is a
marvellous improviser. Besides, his sound is appreciated for its very
distinct clarity, though not lacking in warmth, going from an acid bite
to the most tender sweetness.
Lundgren, Jan: Swedish pianist…..Played piano from age 5
(classical)…”I had classical training at the community music school
early on. Whatever technical skill I possess, I owe to that discipline,
I guess….” Moved to Ronneby and got interested in jazz through his
membership of a local youth big band. Played for several years at
Ronneby Jazz Festival, accompanying Benny Bailey, Bernt Rosengren,
Nisse Sandström, Arne Domnérus (who ´discovered` him) and many others.
Did five years of studying at Musikhögskolan in Malmö from 1986, also
joining Jörgen Nilsson´s Monday Night Big Band (including performances
at the Village Vanguard in New York). From the beginning inspired by
Oscar Peterson, Errol Garner, Bill Evans, Red Garland and McCoy Tyner:
“What´s all important is the communication, between the players,
mutually, and between the players and those who are listening”….”I
think it´s important to know your history. Whenever I want to learn
something, I want to do it from scratch.”
