This tribute to the music of
Duke Ellington and
Billy Strayhorn works quite well. Trumpeter
Rolf Ericson, who played with
Ellington for a short period, teams up with the swinging but lyrical saxophonist
Lennart Aberg (who is heard here on tenor, soprano and flute) plus pianist
Bobo Stenson, bassist Dan Berglund and drummer Egil Johansen. Their program emphasizes (but is not exclusively) ballads. Rose-Marie Aberg contributed haunting wordless vocals on "Serenade to Sweden" and "Lotus Blossom" and the latter tune also adds both Goran Klinghagen and
Max Schultz on guitars. At this late date,
Ericson's trumpet chops were still in good form and he blends in well with Aberg on this Swedish release. Among the better selections are "The Intimacy of the Blues," "Chelsea Bridge," Strayhorn's obscure "Portrait of a Silk-Thread" and the touching "Lotus Blossom." And it is particularly interesting to hear the usually sparse Stenson playing in this type of swinging setting. ~ Scott Yanow