Sweden in the ’60s was experiencing the serge of cool jazz (Tristano tradition) and saw young alto saxophonist Rolf Billberg emerged on the scene as one of its most talented practitioners.
Due to his premature death at age 35 ten months after this recording his name never made it to the stardom. This hitherto unknown album is one rare testimony to the state of Swedish jazz scene. It was recorded in November 1965 privately in the legendary live/rehearsal basement club Subland in Malmo.
The call of the wild bebop summoned this Swedish reed player away from a life of concert and military band activity in the early ’50s. Beginning in a military band in Uddevalla following the end of the second World War, Rolf Billberg was playing as a concert clarinetist when he first heard sides by Charlie Parker and Lennie Tristano, innovators in the new jazz styles.
By 1954 Billberg had found like-minded colleagues such as Simon Brehm and the extremely influential Lars Gullin. Billberg also crossed the bay to reach Copenhagen, where Danish boppers such as Ib Glindemann were happy to receive him. In all these contexts, Billberg blew tenor.
In 1957 he switched to the alto saxophone and began working in countries such as France and Germany, playing in clubs catering to fans of American jazz. Around this time he began collaborating with Carl-Henrik Norin, followed a few years later by gigs and recording with the pianist, arranger and composer Nils Lindberg.
Billberg has also been featured with American jazzmen visiting Scandanavia, soloing brilliantly on recordings Stan Kenton made with the Danish Radio Orchestra and coming off just as well on a good small combo session his buddy Gullin cut with the troublesome Chet Baker on trumpet. Billberg died soon after making the former recording.
1 Fobic 11:44
2 I Can’t Get Started 10:45
3 Topsy 09:38
4 Nursery Rhyme 08:12
5 There’ll Never Be Another You 08:22
6 Hi Beck 13:06
7 Yardbird Suite 10:20
Rolf Billberg: alto saxophone
Kjell Noren: guitar
Lucas Lindholm: bass
Lasse Lindstrom: drums
