Sylvia Vrethammar – Back in Town

The long-awaited return of one of Sweden’s most international artists in a concert featuring jazz and pop

“The delight of the 2019 concert in Grünewald Hall is still palpable. Soon after that concert, we went through a key change as we entered isolation, cancelled live shows, and had the sudden sense that we were all in a waiting room. Now as the doors open again, my anticipation for the upcoming concert at Grünewald Hall feels like a child awaiting Christmas Eve.”

These are the words of Sylvia Vrethammar, one of Sweden’s most international artists with countless successful tours and guest performances in Scandinavia, Germany, England, Brasil, China and the US behind her.

Backing her at this concert are a traditional jazz quartet and a woodwind quintet. The musicians come from jazz and classical music scenes, and we recognise these songs as typical for Sylvia – with one exception! Brazil has made space for more jazz and pop. Naturally, composers include Vinicius de Moraes and Antonio Carlos Jobim alongside Cole Porter, Lennon/McCartney, George Gershwin and Stevie Wonder. Alexander Gietz and Sylvia herself contribute the composition Back in Town, which is also the title of the concert.

“A friend inspired the music with the phrase, ‘When you’re back in town, give me a call,’” says Sylvia. “Then this simple, swinging composition fell into place and I love to quote the line, ‘Stars shine from heaven when spring is here!’ With my new album, More Champagne, we’re going to celebrate this together.”