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Anders Bergcrantz

Anders Bergcrantz is one of a kind

About Me

Born 1961 in Malmo, Sweden into a musical family. Father Sven Bergcrantz (1931-1998) was a well known jazz pianist and composer in Sweden. Anders two older brothers, Hakan and Thomas used to play jazz as well. Anders talent as a trumpet player was early recognized and he started to perform already at the age of sixteen. After studies at the Music college in Malmo, one year at Berklee College of Music and two years at the Malmo Music Conservatory he became a full time musician and started to get a fantastic reputation as a trumpet soloist, performing nationally and internationally with steady bands and as a guest soloist and sideman with different constellations. Anders Bergcrantz formed his first own band in 1984, the Anders Bergcrantz Quintet, and soon after recorded his debut LP “OPINIONS” for Dragon Records. Two years after he recorded his second release “Touch”. Anders Bergcrantz was spending quite some time in NYC in the mid eighties to mid nineties where he got to know great musicians like Dave Liebman, Richie Beirach, Billy Hart a.o. Performed many times at the famous jazzclub SWEET BASIL in NYC where he also made his third recording as a bandleader “LIVE AT SWEET BASIL” with Rick Margitza, Richie Beirach, Ron McClure and Adam Nussbaum. Soon after (and after another visit at Sweet Basil) Anders recorded the fantastic cd “IN THIS TOGETHER” wich received the foremost Swedish jazz award “The Golden Record” in 1996. His quartet has made a few scandinavian tours and his cd “C” was recorded Live on one of these tours in 1996. The cd “TWENTYFOUR HOURS” includes two longer pieces for larger ensembles and was released in 2000. After not being recording in seven years! Anders Bergcrantz released in 2007 his (long waited for) new cd “ABOUT TIME” for Stunt Records. This cd received the formost Swedish jazz award “The Golden Record” in 2008! This is the second time Bergcrantz is awarded this great prize. Very rare! In 2009 Anders received the French/Swedish jazz award Django dÒr. Anders Bergcrantz has worked and performed with musicians like Billy Harper, Dave Liebman, Billy Hart, Victor Lewis, McCoy Tyner, Monica Zetterlund, Bobo Stenson, Palle Danielsson, Joe Locke among many others. Anders Bergcrantz is performing all over the world with own bands, as guest soloist and as sideman with the Ed Thigpen Quintet. Anders has received a great number of awards and prizes all along. In 2008 he received, (for the second time!), the foremost swedish jazz award, “THE GOLDEN RECORD” and was awarded ”JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR”. His latest cd “About Time” was voted “BEST CD OF THE YEAR” by The Swedish Radio's listeners. In September 2009 Anders received the fine Swedish/French jazz award, DJANGO d'OR. Received the Harry Arnold Award in Malmo, Sweden in 2010. More biographical information is to be found on his website www.andersbergcrantz.com or www.myspace.com/andersbergcrantz

My Jazz Story

‘…he is one of the top trumpet players in the world today…’ Richie Beirach ”Anders Bergcrantz may be the best trumpet player of my generation. His flawless technique matched by a fertile intellect make him the player I always want to hear. His playing has helped me develop as a trumpet player” ”… one of the all time great jazz trumpet players of our time.” Dr Michael A Missiras Professor of emeritus, Minnesota State University Moorhead ‘The only one playing that shit!’ Dave Liebman ‘..Bergcrantz -a master…” SDS, Alexander Agrell ‘..the wonderful Anders Bergcrantz…’ allaboutjazz.com, Jack Bowers ‘…Bergcrantz is worldclass…’ THE WIRE, Richard Cook ‘…(In a certain way he’s the man on the spot here. Given the sense of Miles’ ghost wafting through these proceedings, the brassman on hand better have something interesting to say. No worries here. Bergcrantz fills those shoes admirably). His blowing’s tough and lyrical with a gorgeous softball tone, burning or sighing as the music requires, and the knack for the right effect…’ CADENCE MAGAZINE, David Dupont ‘…Scandinavian trumpeter has rare talent..’ NEW JERSEY´S entertainment guide, Terrence James ‘…A formidable musician…’ Jyllandsposten, Per Calum ‘..flows with lovely long lines…’ JAZZ TIMES, Dave Burns ‘…You seldom hear knowledge, passion and concentration in such a delightful unity…’ Jyllandsposten, Per Calum ‘…Anders Bergcrantz is simply a complete trumpeter, with sounds, ideas, colours and an atmosphere for each tune and solo…’ SDS, Alexander Agrell ‘…He belongs to the great soloists of jazz, irrespective of what side of the Atlantic you look…’ OJ, Jörgen Östberg ‘…Irresistible, powerful…’ Göteborgs posten, Ulf Johansson ‘…Bergcrantz-Jazz soloist in the worldleague…’ Göteborgs posten, Ulf Johansson ‘..Anders Bergcrantz stood out in his strong idiomatic solos with a dark brassy ring to them…..’ CODA MAGAZINE, Marc Chenard ”…Most exciting soloist…” CODA MAGAZINE, John Norris ‘…His instrument suffer, makes love, rushes euphoricly, whispers, screams, flies like a bumblebee, changes tempo without exertion…’ Göteborgs posten, Ulf Johansson ‘…one impressive show by Anders Bergcrantz and his American quartet…’ Kvällsposten, Christer Borg ‘…one of the most eminent Jazztrumpeters in the world…’ Nya Norrland, ? ‘…Worldclass…’ Nya Norrland, ? ‘…He’s got an entirely beautiful trumpetsound and plays with an impressive technique…’ ELA, Gösta Jonsson ‘…Bergcrantz then: With an etchingly intensity in his playing, almost obsessed, a surplus rythmically and melodically……….”…It was incomparable…’ Politikken, Thorbjörn Sjögren ‘..Swede sound of new music…’ NEW YORK POST, Chip Deffaa ‘…Bergcrantz sincere, controlled trumpeting-emotionally rather cool-created a forloin, reigned mood…’ NEW YORK POST, Chip Deffaa ‘…Bergcrantz, poised and confident out front, plays with a clean and consistent tone and a high intensity, even on quieter tunes, that is matched by the band’s other members; Richie Beirach-Piano, Ron McClure-Bass and Adam Nussbaum-Drums…’ NEW JERSEY´S entertainment guide, Terrence James ‘…Incomparable playing..’ Berlingske, Thorbjörn Sjögren ‘..So let this be said, that there are not many trumpeters to be found, who can play at his level…’ Politikken, Boris Rabinowitsch ‘…He is a musician that we should be greatful to have among us…’ Politikken, Thorbjörn Sjögren