Mette Juul featuring Lars Danielsson & Mike Moreno – Celeste (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 42:28 minutes | 754 MB | Genre: Vocal Jazz, Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Prophone Records
Mette Juul, the accomplished Danish jazz singer, songwriter, and guitarist, is set to release her sixth release as a leader, “Celeste,” slated for November 10, 2023. Known for her unparalleled vocal prowess and heartfelt interpretations, Juul embarks on a musical journey that combines timeless American classics, modern compositions, and her own original songs. For this captivating endeavor, she collaborates with the renowned American guitarist Mike Moreno and the multi-talented Lars Danielsson, both of whom also graced Juul’s EP “New York – Copenhagen” in 2020.
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Nils Landgren, Michael Wollny, Lars Danielsson, Wolfgang Haffner – 4 Wheel Drive II (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 49:18 minutes | 981 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © ACT Music
After the extensive retrospective of his ACT years, which, in three albums (3 Generations), offered a magnificent overview of his innumerable talents through a series of prestigious collaborations, trombonist, singer, composer, producer, and conductor Nils Landgren returns to the stylistic unity of the supergroup that he’s been a part of since 2019. He’s joined by some of his most loyal companions from the label (Michael Wollny on piano and Wolfgang Haffner on drums, both German, as well as Swedish bassist Lars Danielsson) to record the second volume of their alliance, following 4 Wheel Drive.
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Nils Landgren, Michael Wollny, Wolfgang Haffner & Lars Danielsson – 4 Wheel Drive Live (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 56:22 minutes | 1,09 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © ACT Music
It scarcely feels necessary to mention the pre-eminent status of all four of these artists, because that is evident from hearing the music. When Nils Landgren brings such feeling to his own melody “Le chat sur le toit”, or when Michael Wollny dazzles with the blues-infused piano solo in “Lady Madonna”; when “Polygon” opens with a bass intro from Lars Danielsson, or when Wolfgang Haffner sets up the power groove to propel “4WD”, then it’s clear what’s happening: four leading figures in European jazz who know each other well and who have appreciated each other’s work for many years have now got together. True, their paths have crossed many times before, and in all kinds of configurations. The formidable duo of Landgren and Wollny comes to mind, for example, as does Haffner’s long-term role as an anchor in the Funk Unit, or Danielsson’s vivid bass presence in Haffner’s trio…but here for the very first time are the four friends as a quartet. They decided to record an album together at the Nilento Studio in Gothenburg: “4 Wheel Drive”.
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Nils Landgren, Michael Wollny, Lars Danielsson, Wolfgang Haffner – 4 Wheel Drive (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 50:41 minutes | 983 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © ACT Music
4 wheel-drives may cause pollution, but they go fast! Nils Landgren was keenly aware of this power when he decided to name his album 4 Wheel Drive. Alongside him, the record’s three other wheels are Michael Wollny (piano), Lars Danielsson (bass) and Wolfgang Haffner (drums). These musicians, who are some of the driving forces of today’s European jazz, play with impressive unity under the leadership of a charismatic yet never despotic leader, Swedish Nils Landgren, who plays trombone (and sings). They revisit hits of 4 major pop artists, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Phil Collins and Sting, whose songs comprise eight out of the twelve tracks on the record, choosing a fan-friendly repertoire while always adding a distinctive twist. These songs’ melodic strength in today’s collective unconscious is never weakening the band’s inspired improvisations. Even Landgren’s intimate and delicate vocals bring an innovative light. – Clotilde Maréchal
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Leszek Możdżer, Lars Danielsson & Zohar Fresco – Polska (2013)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 58:47 minutes | 1,20 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © ACT Music
Polish pianist Leszek Możdżer, a longtime star in his home country, spreads his fame worldwide with Polska, recorded with musical soulmates Lars Danielsson, one of the best jazz bassists in the world and Israeli percussionist Zohar Fresco. The sound on Polska is as much a product of these two musicians as creative mastermind Możdżer himself. Polska’s grand finale is a version of Jimi Hendrix’s Are You Experienced? featuring the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
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Leszek Możdżer, Lars Danielsson, Zohar Fresco & Atom String Quartet – Jazz At Berlin Philharmonic III (Live) (2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 01:05:38 minutes | 703 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © ACT Music
In May 2014, the innovative and inventive concert series Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic headed east on a musical journey to the jazz stronghold of Poland. Piano virtuoso Leszek Możdżer, revered like a pop star in his homeland, shines on this live recording as he is accompanied by a trio and the Atom String Quartet. Together, Możdżer and his bandmates conjure up a celebrated concert evening that once again shows that a mix of jazz, classical and folk music provides important impulses for the future of European jazz and Poland.
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Lars Danielsson, Marius Neset, Morten Lund – Sun Blowing (2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 44:06 minutes | 929 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © ACT Music
It happens so rarely nowadays. Three musicians, who all make their homes in Copenhagen, met for the very first time as a trio in a studio. That initial encounter was recorded, and an extremely fine record is the result. The instigator was Danish drummer Morten Lund. The seed was sown in a conversation with Norwegian-born saxophonist Marius Neset and Swedish bassist Lars Danielsson, when all three were travelling back by train to Copenhagen from Jazz Baltica in 2012. That encounter gave Lund the idea that a session like this could work. Danielsson and Lund were already familiar with each other from their work in groups led by Caecilie Norby and Ulf Wakenius. Marius Neset had hardly ever played with either the bassist or the drummer. “The saxophone/ bass /drums trio gives space and freedom”, says Lund. “I felt that the three of us…
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Lars Danielsson & Paolo Fresu – Summerwind (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 49:21 minutes | 898 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © ACT Music
Some people talk a lot, whereas others keep hold of what is important, and only need a few words to get to their point. The same is true in music. Lars Danielsson and Paolo Fresu, who have now teamed up, are two musicians who choose the notes they play with extreme care. “Summerwind”, their first joint studio project, brings the Swedish master bassist/cellist’s gorgeous sound on both instruments and his fine sense for simple and haunting melodies into a partnership with the bright, airy tones of one of Europe’s most lyrical trumpeters whose way of “playing it cool” has such distinctive expressiveness.
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Lars Danielsson – Tarantella (2009/2012)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 57:41 minutes | 1005 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © ACT Music
When a jazz improviser comes out with an album titled Tarantella, one cannot help but wonder if he is offering a fusion of jazz and southern Italian folk (the tarantella, after all, originated in Taranto, a coastal city in southeastern Italy, and became popular all over Campania, Calabria, and Sicily). But Tarantella, despite what its title implies, doesn’t have a strong Italian influence; there are no jazz arrangements of traditional Italian folk songs on this self-produced post-bop outing. Nonetheless, Tarantella does have its share of European influences, ranging from Euro-classical chamber music to traditional Scandinavian folk — and Swedish bassist/cellist Lars Danielsson incorporates all of those influences without being overly abstract or academic. In fact, the songs (most of which Danielsson wrote or co-wrote) are relatively accessible. That is not to say that contemplative, evocative offerings such as “Ballerina,” “Melody on Wood,” “The Madonna,” and “Across the Sun” are simplistic; these songs have a lot of depth, but at the same time, they aren’t terribly difficult to absorb — and Danielsson achieves this healthy balance of intellect and accessibility with a solid team that also includes trumpeter Mathias Eick, pianist Leszek Mozdzer, guitarist John Parricelli, and drummer/percussionist Eric Harland. Emotionally, Danielsson and his colleagues have a lot to say on this 58-minute CD, which was recorded in 2008 in Gothenburg, Sweden (a city that is known for its abundance of death metal bands but has many other types of music as well). Danielsson has often been described as a melodic player, and he lives up that reputation on the excellent Tarantella. ~ Alex Henderson
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Lars Danielsson with Grégory Privat, John Parricelli & Magnus Öström – Liberetto III (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 54:19 minutes | 1,07 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © ACT Music
‘Never change a winning team’ – The old sporting wisdom can also be applied to music: When soul mates and perfectly matched musicians find one another, they are well advised to stick together. ‘Liberetto II’ by the exceptional Swedish bassist and cellist Lars Danielsson is the living proof. Three years ago he found a quartet with the former e.s.t. drummer Magnus Öström, the British guitarist John Paricelli and most of all as a new dream team duo with Armenian pianist Tigran. It interpreted his compositions and realised his musical ideas more precisely than probably any ensemble before it.
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Lars Danielsson – Liberetto II (2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 50:14 minutes | 994 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © ACT Music
‘Never change a winning team’ – The old sporting wisdom can also be applied to music: When soul mates and perfectly matched musicians find one another, they are well advised to stick together. ‘Liberetto II’ by the exceptional Swedish bassist and cellist Lars Danielsson is the living proof. Three years ago he found a quartet with the former e.s.t. drummer Magnus Öström, the British guitarist John Paricelli and most of all as a new dream team duo with Armenian pianist Tigran. It interpreted his compositions and realised his musical ideas more precisely than probably any ensemble before it.
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Lars Danielsson – Libera Me (2004)
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST 2.0 & 5.1 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 63:53 minutes | Scans included | 3,65 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 1,19 GB
Features 2.0 Stereo and 5.1 multichannel surround sound | Label: ACT # SACD 9800-2
Lars Danielsson is one of the top jazz bass players in Sweden. This intriguing set features the compositions and bass playing of Lars Danielsson. The music is beautifully recorded, often sparse (à la ECM) and thoughtful. The instrumentation varies from track-to-track even if the mood tends to stay quiet and reflective. Soprano-saxophonist David Liebman is featured on “Libera Me,” singer Caecilie Norby has a guest pop vocal on “Newborne Broken,” and the Danish Radio Concert Orchestra is heard with their huge string section on a few numbers, sometimes sounding a little sleepy. Other than a few spots for Nils Petter Molvaer’s introspective trumpet, most of the other solos are by bassist Danielsson. This melodic set works well as both background music and for close listening although it develops slowly.
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Lars Danielsson & Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra – Lars Danielsson Symphonized (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:24:48 minutes | 1,53 GB | Genre: Classical, Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © ACT Music
Swedish bassist/cellist Lars Danielsson is a master improviser, who completely engages listeners by taking them on journeys of both pleasure and wonder, with themes which are always expressive and song-like. He is far too classy and refined a musician to indulge in superficial virtuosic display. Danielsson’s well-honed, naturally lyrical improvisational lines remain at the service of the flow of the music, something particularly noticeable when he steps forward and takes on the role of soloist. These core traits are also there in his extensive and much-praised work as arranger, composer and bandleader. With the group he leads, “Liberetto”, he has not only found a catchy name for the ideal band to realise his intentions, but also a formula for his approach: the word he has constructed contains “libretto”, a pointer towards the composed, quasi-classical nature of his writing, and also a link to opera and lyricism, whereas the Latin word “liber” refers to the freedom of improvisation, a core principle in jazz. And his unique talent is being increasingly recognized: the most recent Liberetto album from 2021, as Downbeat’s Brian Morton noted, “confirms Danielsson’s stature as a leader/composer”.
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Jan Lundgren, Emile Parisien, Lars Danielsson – Into the Night (Live) (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 45:12 minutes | 422 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © ACT Music
The trio format has always been something of an ideal for Jan Lundgren. That particular buzz when communication between the musicians in a trio is direct, immediate and ever-present…when the trio keeps a constant sense of forward motion and development…when the players collectively remain open to the inspiration of every millisecond. These are the virtues which Lundgren sees as the recipe for the kind of openness, freedom, subtlety and excellence of a trio at its best.
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Iiro Rantala, Lars Danielsson, Peter Erskine – Lost Heroes (2011)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 54:21 minutes | 412 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © ACT Music
Until now his name has been mainly associated with Trio Töykeät, one of the wildest, funniest and most visionary piano trios in the international jazz scene. Finnish pianist Iiro Rantala explored all possibilities of this classic line up – sometimes the ferocious player with boundless energy, other times the sensitive romantic or burlesque joker. His playing exceeded stylistic boundaries and was as uncompromising as it was entertaining, yet was always held together by the combination of limitless technique, a sense of humour and unmistakable good taste – qualities which Rantala preserved even after he dissolved Trio Töykeät in 2006. “My goodness! We’ve been doing this for 18 years now and given thousands of concerts. It’s time for a break,” he said at the time, choosing to concentrate on “Iiro at large” – his own show on Finnish television which can still be seen today – and his solo career.
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