Blue House Jazz – Bird and Beyond – Jazz with strings

Anyone familiar with jazz history knows that Charlie Parker in 1950 released two separate albums, both titled Charlie Parker with Strings, where he played jazz standards rather than his own compositions. These albums also became his best-selling records.

In other words, it’s no bad idea to revisit that concept – and that’s exactly what the American clarinettist and saxophonist Ken Peplowski and his ensemble do here. The versatile Peplowski has explored a wide range of musical genres, having collaborated with artists such as Mel Tormé, Peggy Lee, Madonna, Marianne Faithfull, and Woody Allen. The distinguished Swedish jazz musician Klas Lindquist has performed with a range of prominent musicians and bands, and his own nine-piece ensemble, the Klas Lindquist Nonet, had its latest album, Alternative Source of Energy (2023), named Jazz Album of the Year by the readers of OrkesterJournalen.

Most of the music performed consists of the original arrangements from Charlie Parker’s best-selling 1950 albums. The ensemble is led by Calle Rasmusson. Violin I: Conny Lindgren (concertmaster), Kristina Ebbersten, Tomas Ebrelius, Isabelle Andö, Hanna Boström, Dag Alin. Violin II: Zaida Ponthin, Martin Mårtensson, Lovisa Ehrenkrona, Mirjam Charas, Felicia Billerhag Hammarteg. Viola: Kim Hellgren, Victoria Nilsdotter, Lidija Radmilac, Linda Swedrup. Cello: Mattias Rodrick, Madeleine Johansson, Filip Graden. Double bass: Linnea Fredriksson, Sverker Rundqvist. Oboe: Johanna Orrje. Harp: Anna Jalkéus.