Mathias Algotsson: Home At Work

Mathias Algotsson takes his lead from Jan Johansson, probably the most influential jazz pianist ever in Sweden. Johansson, a brilliant accompanist who played with nearly all the greats from the States who visited Scandinavia in the post-war period, delighted in mixing genres, also playing folk songs and composing for film and television.

His album based on folk music, Jazz På Svenska (Jazz In Swedish) became a massive hit in Sweden at a time when the music was otherwise in decline and he also composed the infuriatingly catchy signature tune for the Pippi Långstrump (Pippi Longstocking) children's movies. This was neither jazz nor folk—just a rather silly jingle really—but you'd be hard put to this day to find a Swede who can't sing it to you.

Algotsson, jazz singer Carin Lundin's accompanist of choice, also writes music for the Gustaf Sjökvist and Sankt Görans chamber choirs and dabbles in blues and folk. He calls his latest album, featuring a drum-less quartet, Home At Work because it was recorded in his living room. It's a very friendly, creative but accessible affair.

"Odd Times" displays influences from his studies at the Stockholm Conservatory and allows saxophonist Klas Lindquist to stretch out over a curious, choppy rhythm. The title track is another unpredictable mix of jazz and choral influences, with trumpeter Klas Olandersson taking the leading role. "Nea" is a melodic ballad built on a simple but very effective theme that gives bassist Svante Söderqvist a chance to strut his stuff.

But it's with the quirky, catchy "Strollin,'" which Algotsson says popped into his head while walking in the woods, that most strongly hints that he may one day come up with a tune to rival Johansson's Här Kommer Pippi Långstrump in lodging definitively in the national consciousness.

Algotsson has a great gift for melody, best displayed on "Winter," where you can almost hear the snow falling outside, and on the closer, "All These Days," which he self-effacingly describes as "evergreenish." Olandersson's "growl" trumpet on the latter would make Bubber Miley feel proud.