Lasse Lindgren Big Constellation Plays in the Spirit of Maynard Ferguson

Swedish trumpeter  Lasse Lindgren pays tribute to one of his greatest idols, Maynard Ferguson who died last year, with a CD featuring a large jazz group that is a complete energy knockout, from the opening “Birdland”, the Joe Zawinul classic in an almost ecstatic version, to the conclusion with the Ferguson favourite “I Got The Spirit”.

And between these for instance was Ferguson’s hit ballad “Maria” from Bernstein’s “West Side Story”, in an ultra-cool interpretation with blues-soaked solo playing by Lindgren, with imaginatively arranged brass and wind parts.

In fact the brass and wind arrangements are an outstanding part of the whole production, colourful and hard driving, but at the same time very well disciplined in the elegant collective ensemble sound.

Equally remarkable are the solo contributions, often interwoven in the ensemble with maestro Lindgren in a central role. A powerful rhythm section and the extra spice of a Hammond organ hardly make things less appetising.

This is some of the best Swedish jazz by a large ensemble that I have heard in a long time.

Ulf Gustavsson/Uppsala Nya Tidning