Kjell Ohman: The Duke (2012)

Chris Mosey

CD/DVD Reviewer since 2008

Chris Mosey is a freelance writer living in France.

Recent articles (95 total)

Published: July 2, 2012

In the somewhat circumscribed world of Swedish popular music, Kjell Öhman has been there, done that and bought the T-shirt. The keyboard wizard, born in 1943, has worked as a studio musician on more than three thousand recordings, with stars ranging from keyboardist/singer Georgie Fame Georgie Fame
b.1943
keyboard to harmonicist Toots Thielemans Toots Thielemans
b.1922
harmonica , produced music for some of the country's top TV shows and, for 17 years, was musical director of a national institution, the televised summer sing-alongs at Skansen, Stockholm's outdoor museum.

Of late, he has become increasingly involved in jazz, notably playing Hammond organ with guitarist Erik Söderlind (born 1981), to recreate the sound of B3 hard bopper Jimmy Smith Jimmy Smith
1925 - 2005
organ, Hammond B3 . Now he's doing his own thing on an album of jazz standards, playing piano with Hans Backenroth, one of the best bassists on the Scandinavian scene, and drummer Joakim "Jocke" Ekberg—who, like Öhman, has hitherto worked primarily as a studio and TV musician.

The trio runs through seven jazz standards, two film numbers, Glenn Miller Glenn Miller
1904 - 1944
trombone 's 1939 chart-topper "Stairway To The Stars," and "Shanna," by Swedish bassist Georg Riedel, best known for his work with former Jazz At The Philharmonic pianist Jan Johansson Jan Johansson
1931 - 1968
piano .

They are extremely competent and the resulting music very listenable, but lacking what Whitney Balliett famously called "the sound of Surprise." In other words, it's all a trifle predictable.

Of the jazz standards, Öhman includes two by his idol, Oscar Peterson Oscar Peterson
1925 - 2007
piano —the up-tempo opener, "Kelly's Blues" and the ballad "When Summer Comes." Both allow Backenroth solo space in which to salute one of his own mentors, the late, great bassist Ray Brown Ray Brown
1926 - 2002
bass, acoustic , who played extensively with Peterson.

But the standout is the title track, Dave Brubeck Dave Brubeck
1920 - 2012
piano 's tribute to Duke Ellington Duke Ellington
1899 - 1974
piano . Melodic, verging on catchy, but by no means easy to play (Brubeck originally planned to call it "The Duke Meets Darius Milhaud"). Öhman & Co, undaunted by a welter of covers from some of the greatest names in jazz, makes a really good fist of this one.

Track Listing: Kelly's Blues; One For The Woofer; Stairway To The Stars; The Duke; Squatty Roo; Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?; When Summer Comes; The Best Things In Life Are Free; My Foolish Heart; Afternoon In Paris; Shanna.

Personnel: Kjell Öhman: piano; Hans Backenroth: bass; Joakim Ekberg: drums.

Record Label: Prophone Records