The band's name is a typical piece of shy Swedish understatement. Its two leaders, guitarist Erik Söderlind and saxophonist Andreas Gidlund, are anything but beginners; they have a great deal of experience on the local jazz scene.

Söderlind has attracted attention for his collaborations with veteran keyboards player Kjell Öhman and his studio work. Gidlund led soul singer Jennifer Brown's backing band and has played with the likes of guitarist Ulf Wakenius Ulf Wakenius
b.1958
guitar and saxophonist Scott Hamilton Scott Hamilton
b.1954
sax, tenor . Neither can pianist Martin Sjöstedt be labelled a novice, having accompanied such names as saxophonist Joe Lovano Joe Lovano
b.1952
saxophone , trumpeter Randy Brecker Randy Brecker
b.1945
trumpet and composer/arranger Jim McNeely Jim McNeely
b.1949
composer/conductor , not to mention singers Rigmor Gustafsson and Viktoria Tolstoy.

The album marks the second anniversary of the day Söderlind and Gidlund met and decided to put together a band. They recruited a rhythm section and began to meet regularly for practice sessions in a cellar in the Skanstull area of Stockholm.

All the numbers are originals. There are five by Gidlund and four by Söderlind: all straight ahead, post-bop, riff-based jazz, nothing too way out.

Proceedings kick off with Gidlund's up-tempo "Skanstull Serenade," featuring some fine guitar from Söderlind. He plays in the Wes Montgomery Wes Montgomery
1925 - 1968
guitar /George Benson George Benson
b.1943
guitar tradition, but now that he's escaped from the guitar/Hammond organ formula of his previous recordings, his own personality starts to come to the fore.

Although influenced by John Coltrane John Coltrane
1926 - 1967
saxophone , Gidlund avoids the tenor icon's experimental excess, notably on "Waltz for Maggie," which also features a meaty solo by Sjöstedt, before bassist Kristian Lind is given a chance to shine—but doesn't.

"Fyra" ("four" in Swedish) is by Söderlind and, with drummer Chris Montgomery prominent throughout, recalls the heyday of drummer Art Blakey Art Blakey
1919 - 1990
drums and the The Jazz Messengers The Jazz Messengers
. "Soda's Dream" is bluesy, with an excellent bass solo by Lind, far more interesting than his previous effort.

"Södermalm Runt" is Gidlund's tribute to Stockholm's once working class south island which has moved rapidly up-market in recent years. The Beginners' theme song, also written by him, ends inconclusively during a Sjöstedt solo.

Then there's "Deux Ans Après," the short but lyrical title song, for some reason. in French. A more exact translation would be "Deux Ans Plus Tard." Gidlund winds things up with some breathy blowing reminiscent of the late, great Ben Webster Ben Webster
1909 - 1973
sax, tenor .

An excellent album and one that puts paid to the myth that melancholia is a necessary ingredient of Nordic jazz.

Track Listing: Skanstull Serenade; Waltz For Maggie; Fyra; Soda's Dream; Södermalm Runt; The Beginners; As Usual; Blues For Keith; Deux Ans Après.

Personnel: Erik Söderlind: guitar; Andreas Gidlund: soprano and tenor saxophones; Martin Sjöstedt: piano; Kristian Lind: bass; Chris Montgomery: drums.

Record Label: Prophone Records

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