”Vart går jazzen - framåt eller bakåt?”

Tendenser i svenskt jazzliv ca 1945-ca 1960

Abstract

Both the revival movement and bebop became known in Sweden around the end of the second world war, firstly from gramophone records but soon through American sidewalk musicians. In 1948 Dizzy Gillespie’s orchestra gave concerts in Gothenburg and Stockholm. A radio recording which has been preserved gives a certain impression of the music and of the excited atmosphere in the audience. When Charlie Parker, Stan Getz and Lee Konitz appeared in Sweden (1950 and 1951 respectively) they were accompanied by Swedish musicians. Cool jazz took root in Sweden in a few years with Lars Gullin as its most original exponent. Some of his compositions show an affinity with the national romantic strains from the turn of the last century while his improvisations were very varied in expression and richness of ideas. Different forms of jazz enjoyed widespread popularity as dance music. Stockholm and Gothenburg were the centers for Swedish jazz during the 50’s although there were activities at other places in the country. Through the help of the amusement park organization a lively tour activity was possible during the summers. There were many amatour bands. Interest in New Orleans jazz was specially great in certain schools in the Stockholm area. Many orchestral competitions were arranged in which more modern jazz was also represented. Jazz life both inside and outside of Sweden was primarily mirrored in two influential journals Orkester Journalen (founded 1933) and Estrad (founded 1939). These periodically contained numerous contributions to the debate for and against the ”old” jazz and the ”new”; the discussion also concerned the increasingly internationaly appreciated Swedish jazz and its relationship to American jazz. During the second half of the 1950’s change of climate occurred under the influence of the new black musicians Miles Davis, Art BIakey, Horace Silver, Sonny Rollins and many more. Older styles such as swing music and bigband music were also present during the whole decade but they were partly coloured by newer trends. With the arrival of the 1960’s, jazz began to lose its competitive power in comparison with the new youth music which had grown up during the second half of the 50’s (e.g. Elvis Presley, Tommy Steele etc.).