Arne Domnerus Favourite Groups

Alto saxophonist and Swedish jazz institution who played with many of the greats in the 1950s & '60s.
A legendary production from 1981. With well-known prayer house songs in a jazz recording. Recorded in Gamle Aker church by Håkon Manheim with Erik Hillestad as producer. "Bred dina vida vingar", "Blott en dag", "Barnatro" and "Navnet Jesus blekner aldri" are among the most famous tracks.

Thomas Arne, (who wrote “Rule Britannia”) is underplayed. Practically everything I’ve heard by him is of interest on multiple levels, either as an original voice utilizing the harmonic and melodic materials of the English baroque style, or as an innovator, at least to my ears, conjuring novel expressions within those materials, or simply as a good tunesmith.

This is the first of four volumes that fully document a legendary engagement at the Pawnshop club in Stockholm, Sweden. Featured are Arne Domnerus (doubling on alto and clarinet), pianist Bengt Hallberg, vibraphonist Lars Erstrand, bassist Georg Riedel and drummer Egil Johansen. They mostly stick to swing standards, recalling the groups of Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton. Highlights include a heated "Limehouse Blues," the African folk song "High Life," "Lady Be Good" and Coleman Hawkins's "Stuffy." All of the volumes in this series are well worth getting by straightahead jazz fans, particularly those not familiar with Arne Domnerus's excellent playing.