Jazz in Sweden – Anthology 1972-2010

“Jazz in Sweden” was an annual award bestowed by Caprice Records and Concert Sweden (Rikskonserter) in 1972 to 2010, to a young Swedish artist or band, to represent Swedish jazz music domestically and abroad. The award meant that the receiver, through extensive touring and the
release of a full album, got the opportunity to develop artistically, and create a seedbed for a future
career on the jazz music scene.

What was unique about Jazz in Sweden was that the appointed ensemble or artist was elected by a reference group consisting of around a dozen experts with great geographic and stylistic diversity, and with a good survey of interesting trends in Swedish jazz. This meant that artists from all corners of the country have received the award. Many of the leading jazz musicians of the last decades have participated, and several released their debut albums in the Jazz in Sweden series. The first recipient was Sevda in 1972, (Maffy Falay’s Turkish-Swedish band, with Bernt Rosengren et al.) and the 39th recording was made with Samuel Hällkvist Center in 2010.

In conjunction with Caprice making all 39 albums available digitally, this anthology is released to summarize the series, with one track from each album. A fantastic journey through four decades of Swedish jazz, a collection that excellently show the breadth, and simultaneously the great originality that has characterized jazz in this country. To read more about the 39 albums, check out Caprice’s website, under “series”.