artist : Nils Landgren
title : The Moon, The Stars And You
label : ACT Music
cat# : ACT95051
genre : Jazz
street date : 2011-08-24
tracks : 12
bitrate : 223 kbps avg. 44.1/Joint Stereo
size : 89.18 mb
source : CD
type : Retail
url : http://www.nilslandgren.com
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This album was nominated for a Swedish Grammy Award in the Jazz category.
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Jazz has always had a certain fascination for the moon. After love, it is
one of the more common topics for jazz standards, and for Nils Landgren is
no exception. For some time he has planned a ballad album as a sequel to
his highly successful ôSentimental Journeyö, which according to the
newspaper Die Welt ôstole the hearts of the audienceö.
ôThe moon and the stars are just wonderful to look at û especially with
someone special. The moon is closely connected with love,ö says Landgren,
showing his romantic side. ôI knew that there are so many good songs about
the moon to choose from.ö These songs include jazz standards, such as
Henry ManciniÆs ôMoon Riverö or Herbie HancockÆs ôStars in Your Eyesö, as
well as folk and pop songs like Kris KristoffersonÆs ôPlease DonÆt Tell Me
How The Story Endsö or ôMoonshadowö by Cat Stevens, and he also includes
his own compositions. As such, ôThe Moon, the Stars and Youö has grown
into a concept album with a whole spectrum of different moods -
meditative, longing, occasionally funky yet continuously inspired and
swinging.
Time after time, one is amazed how Landgren manages to find the ideal
moment and framework for his projects, considering the myriad of tasks he
has undertaken. Landgren is not only one of the best trombonists in the
world and a great singer with a unique voice, but he also serves the jazz
scene in many other roles: as a member and director of jazz orchestras,
such as the NDR Big Band or the BohuslΣn Big Band (with whom he recently
released ôDonÆt Fence Me In û The Music of Cole Porterö on ACT). He also
fronts his famous Funk Unit, collaborates with one of his many musical
colleagues and appears as a member of Joe SampleÆs Jazz Crusaders. He is
also artistic director of the JazzFest in Berlin, regularly plays at Jazz
Baltica, holds a professorship at the Hamburg University of Music and has
been the producer and mentor of many Swedish singers, serving as the
driving force behind the international breakthrough for artists such as
such as Rigmor Gustafsson, Viktoria Tolstoy and Ida Sand.
Landgren used all of his experiences and contacts on this journey to the
moon and stars. ôThis time it was quite a lot of work,ö he says. ôWhen IÆm
with musicians who IÆd like to do something with, I always try to take the
opportunity and record something together with them. It is great when
musicians you know and truly admire get excited about your project. One
example is Joe Sample - I am a member of his Jazz Crusaders and together
with him we released the album ôCreole Love Callö on ACT. When he was
composing a production for the NDR Big Band, I asked him if he wanted to
join in on a couple of songs û which he did, and he even brought his
drummer Steve Gadd along.ö
With ôThe Moon, the Stars and Youô, Landgren was able to fulfil some
wishes that he had long been waiting to realise. ôFor instance, IÆve been
keen on doing something together with Richard Galliano for a while, and
vice versa.ö GallianoÆs unmistakable accordion sound, occasionally
sounding like a blues harmonica, provides ôMoonshadowö and ôMoonriverö
with completely new musical shades. ôThe whole project started with
Richard and after that I knew I was headed in the right direction,ö
Landgren says. One by one, famous friends and colleagues joined in; Vince
Mendoza, who arranged Jimmy WebbÆs hymnic ôThe MoonÆs a Harsh Mistressö
for the NDR Big Band and Kurt WeillÆs ôLost in the Starsö for the
Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestraö; and Michael Wollny presents his
exceptional technical and improvisatory skills on eight tracks as an
accompanist.
When talking about a ballad album by Nils Landgren, it is almost
impossible not to think of Esbj÷rn Svensson. He is still almost
omnipresent in the arrangements of Swedish folk music he and Landgren did
together, as well as in LandgrenÆs deeply moving version of the deceased
pianistÆs ôLove Is Realö. That is why the album is explicitly dedicated to
Esbj÷rn SvenssonÆs memory û by his friend Nils Landgren, who defines his
role anew as the leading representative of Swedish jazz with each project.
ôThe Moon, the Stars and Youö proves this fact once again.
http://www.actmusic.com
http://www.nilslandgren.com
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01 Moonshadow 5:11
02 The Moon, The Stars And You 3:28
03 Oh You Crazy Moon 3:34
04 Joe's Moonblues 3:57
05 Angels Of Fortune 4:52
06 Moon River 4:32
07 Til' There Was You 3:18
08 Stars In Your Eyes 4:28
09 Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends 4:37
10 The Moon's A Harsh Mistress 4:45
11 Holofotes 5:27
12 Lost In The Stars 7:22
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