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Helge Albin

About Me

Helge Albin Biography For over thirty years, Helge Albin has been working hard to turn the the small Swedish city of Malmo into an international destination for the best in forward-thinking jazz music. And he has a lot to show for it—The Tolvan Big Band, an 18-member ensemble dedicated to performing new music by Albin and others has toured in Europe, Australia and South America, and worked with jazz masters Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Liebman, and Michael Brecker, among many others. The ensemble has released twelve recordings, four of them featuring Albin’s music. All About Jazz said the most recent album of Albin’s music, Effortlessly, released in 2013 by the Swedish label Kopasetic, tells a “nuanced story full of twists and suspense” through the intricate details of the compositions. “I’ve always wanted the big band to play with the flexibility of a quartet,” Albin says about how he leads the band, “So, I chose players who play creatively even as they are reading sophisticated parts.” And it has paid off. The Tolvan Big Band performs polished ensemble music with the personality of a small group—they are light on their feet even when the band’s 18 members are playing at full power. Helge Albin has also built bridges to the classical music community. His four-movement suite “Thetris,” written in 2008 and featuring the Malmo Symphony Orchestra along with the Tolvan Big Band, is a collaboration on a grand scale. This concert-length suite asks the orchestra to provide a dynamic and challenging accompaniment to jazz improvisations— the orchestral musicians provide incisive counterpoint and constantly shifting colors that build on the foundation of Albin’s warm melodies and brilliant rhythms. This piece had its world premiere in Malmo on the summer of 2008, and was released by the Stockholm label Caprice Records. This veteran saxophonist, composer and bandleader is not slowing down. Since retiring from his professorship at Malmo Academy of Music, Albin has renewed his commitment to his creative work and continues to initiate new projects. And as he does, his warmth of personality, his finely-honed skill, and his enthusiasm for his art form will be at the core of everything this creative musician undertakes. THE HELGE ALBIN QUINTET Saxophonist and composer Helge Albin visits Fasching with his newly formed quintet consisFng of some of the leading musicians on the European jazz scene. The group will present newly wriJen music by Helge, wriJen directly for the group and its musicians, As arFsFc director of Tolvan Big Band, Helge has collaborated and played together with internaFonally recognized musicians such as Michael Brecker, David Liebman, Vince Mendoza and others. Helge Albin has been awarded several prizes Like, Sydsvenska Dagbladet's European award, the Jazz jug and the Guldnålen. Karl-MarFn Almqvist Almqvist, saxophonist and composer, is one of the most unique personal voices on the Swedish jazz scene today. Karl- MarFn is available both on record and in performance with a number of the finest groups and constellaFons worldwide. He has played extensively throughout Europe and also toured Mexico, LaFn America, Asia and the USA. Since September 2014, Karl-MarFn has been working in Copenhagen, Denmark, and is part of the Danish Radio Big Band. Jacob Karlzon, pianist and composer. Karlzon's playing style radiates technical brilliance, rhythmic and harmonic complexity with a perfect sense of form. His personal projects have received wide recogniFon. In 2010 he was awarded the Swedish Django d'Or and was named Jazz Musician of the Year. In 2012, he was added to Steinway's arFst list, an internaFonal recogniFon of excellence, and in 2015 was hailed as Jazz Group of the Year in Sveriges Radio's audience survey. Johnny Åman, is one of the most hired bass players in Sweden and has toured over large parts of the world. Johnny is part of a number of constellaFons and has also recorded records and toured with e.g. Jerry Bergonzi, Dave Liebman, Marcus Strickland, George Garzone. In 2021, he was awarded the Guldnålen award. Lennart Gruvstedt, drummer/percussionist, In addiFon to 10 years behind the drums in Danska Radion's Big Band and 40 years in Tolvan Big Band, Lennart has been part of several constellaFons and disc recordings such as Anders Bergcrantz's album, “About Time”, Palle Mikkelborg's group, “Entrance ,Miles Davis' album, “Aura”. In 2001, Lennart Gruvstedt was awarded a scholarship from SFcelsen Egil Johansens Minne.