About Lennart

Lennart Axelsson, who is internationally renowned today as an outstanding lead and solo trumpeter, one of the few “high note players” and a brilliant jazz improviser, was born in Ludvika, Sweden, in 1941. He began playing the trumpet at the age of nine and got his first gig in 1952 at a New Year's Eve party. At the age of 13, he completed his first extended tour and played with various bands in his hometown.
In 1958, Lennart Axelsson began his musical training with the Swedish military, during which he studied at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm from 1965 to 1968, where he graduated. He remained with the Air Force Band in Uppsala until 1974.
Having played with many national and international artists (including Charles Aznavour, The Supremes, Diana Ross, Tom Jones, and Elton John) before and during his studies, Lennart Axelsson joined the Swedish Radio Big Band, made numerous radio and TV appearances, and was involved in many record recordings.

From 1963 to 1970, he was a member of the Putte Wickmann Big Band until 1970, when he founded the soul band “Die Dandies,” with which he toured Europe with a wide variety of artists. These included Lill Lindfors, Lill Babs, and many more. From 1973 to 1979, Lennart Axelsson toured the globe as one of the lead and solo trumpeters of the world-famous James Last Orchestra, contributing significantly to the band's great success with his unique playing style.

From 1974, he was permanently employed as lead and solo trumpeter with the Radio Big Band Zurich at DRS.

When the Zurich Big Band was disbanded in 1985, he received an offer from Norddeutscher Rundfunk in Hamburg. Lennart Axelsson became first trumpeter of the NDR Big Band, an ensemble that brought together such great international top musicians as Herb Geller, Wolfgang Schlüter, Howard Johnson, and Joe Gallardo to form a big band of the highest caliber.

In addition to his work in radio, Lennart Axelsson was soon appointed professor at the Hamburg University of Music and Theater, where he took over the training of trumpeters in the jazz department. This allowed him to begin passing on his experience and skills to subsequent generations of musicians.

During his long career as a musician, he worked with artists such as Chet Baker, Al Jarreau, Paquito de Rivera, Slide Hampton, Benny Bailey, Don Mensa, George Grunz, Kai Winding, Jiggs Whigham, Michael Mossman, Lionel Hampton, Oscar Stagnaro, Mark Walker, Aion Yavnai, Steve Gray, Arturo Sandoval, Michael Gibbs, Colin Townes, Albert Mangelsdorff, Ack van Rooyen, Chuck Israels, Peewee Ellis, Jimmy Smith, Peter Herbolzheimer, Bill Horman, Henry Mancini, Julie Andrews, Sal Nistico, Quincy Jones, Joe Pass, Michelle LeGrand, Etta Cameron, Charlie Mariano, Clark Terry, Phil Woods, Jimmy Napper, Ben Webster, Toots Thielemans, Peanuts Hacko, Gil Evans, and many more.

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"I heard of Lennart Axelsson several years before I met him because I knew several players who had played with him either in Sweden or in Zurich with radio big bands. They mostly spoke of two powerhouse lead trumpet players from Sweden. One was Ernie Englund (actually born in Chicago area but of Swedish lineage), and who had moved to Sweden from Las Vegas to play lead in the radio band in Gotland. The other was of course, Lennart Axelsson. Ernie Englund used to speak very highly of Lennart as well.

When I first met Lennart, he was playing lead with the NDR big band and sounding absolutely sparkling in setting the sound and feel of that wonderful band. How impressive! And THEN came the process of hanging out with him! Whew, quite an experience! His constant energyabout music, the  trumpet, and life in general were explosive yetfull of devilish humor and good times for everyone in his vicinity. I feel honored to have become his friend for the times that we worked together.

I am very pleased that he has finally put this book together for the world of trumpeters to explore. Most notable to me are his inclusion of the information about jazz and lead playing. Far too many books do not contain ANY information about this ever-so-important aspect of becoming not only a good trumpet player, but more so, a good MUSICIAN! Thank you, Lennart. I hope everyone has the good sense to purchase a copy!"