Nils Landgren (musician)

Career

Between 1972 and 1978 he studied classical trombone at the music college in Karlstad, Sweden and continued his education in the university in Arvika. After meeting the Swedish folk-jazz pioneer Bengt-Arne Wallin and trombonist Eje Thelin, Landgren was persuaded to move from his strict classical studies to improvisation and to begin the development of his own sound and approach to music.

After his graduation, Landgren moved to Stockholm to work as a professional trombone player. He was soon touring with the successful Swedish pop star, Björn Skifs. Skifs's band, Blue Swede, recorded a number one hit song in the U.S. pop charts with "Hooked on a Feeling". In 1981, Thad Jones invited Landgren to join his big band, called Ball of Fire, as the lead trombonist. Landgren has worked in many genres: jazz, rock, soul, hip hop, and big band. By his own reckoning, he has contributed to at least 500 albums by such international stars as ABBA, The Crusaders, Eddie Harris, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Wyclef Jean, and Herbie Hancock.

In 1983, he recorded and released his debut album as a solo artist. Planet Rock was followed by Streetfighter (1984), You Are My Number One (1985), Miles from Duke (1987) with Bengt-Arne Wallin, Chapter Two 1 (1987), Chapter Two 2 and Follow Your Heart (1989). Between 1985 and 1987, he performed as an actor, singer, trombonist, and dancer in over 360 performances of the Swedish "play of the year", SKÅL, and apperead in several TV-films as an actor.

In 1992, the first performances and recording of the Nils Landgren Unit took place. His breakthrough beyond Scandinavia occurred in 1994 at the Jazz Baltica Festival at Salzau, Germany. The "Unit" became the Nils Landgren Funk Unit. The album Live in Stockholm (ACT) was released that year and was the foundation for the collaboration with Siegfried Loch and his then nascent ACT label.

Awards and honors

Solo albums

Nils Landgren Funk Unit

Collaborative works