All The Things You Are (Album)

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The Big Band Lineup

Trumpets:
Benny Brown, Philipp Kacza, Gunnar Kockjoy, Florian Menzel

Trombone:
Joe Gallardo, Dan Gottshall, Ingo Lahme, Sebastian John

Saxophone:
Fiete Felsch, Lutz Büchner, Björn Berger, Stefan Maus, Sebastian Gille, Thomas Gramatzki

Rhythm:
Omar Rodriguez Calvo, Gerald Bartels, Sandra Hempel, Boris Netsvetaev, Thomas Altmann, Heinz Lichius, Ulrich Meletschus

Debut album by the former lead trumpeter of the NDR Big Band – at the age of 73

73-year-old Swede Lennart Axelsson is something of a rarity: he is releasing his debut album in May 2015, a good 62 years after his first paid gig at a New Year's Eve party in his hometown of Ludvika. The wonderful “All The Things You Are” is a labor of love for the former lead trumpeter of the NDR Bigband, who also often toured with the James Last Band.

The arrangements, stylishly blending Latin jazz and classic easy listening jazz, were handled by an old friend from his NDR days, Texas-raised trombonist Joe Gallardo, who has worked with Mongo Santamaria, Chet Baker, and Al Jarreau. This exceptional album is rounded off and perfected by twenty-one of the best young (and not so young) musicians from Hamburg, including Dan Gottshall, Fiete Felsch, Lutz Büchner, Omar Rodriguez Calvo (Tingvall Trio), Sandra Hempel, and Heinz Lichius.

With and for their leader Lennart, this top-class big band plays compositions by Sonny Rollins, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Johnny Mandel—never entirely classical, always classy, but above all of the highest artistic quality. Listening to this music makes you feel good; it caresses you like a warm breeze on a passionate afternoon by the sea. And you understand the advice of Lennart's American friend and colleague Bobby Shew when he says, “I hope everyone is sensible enough to buy this album.”

All the things you are

From Lennart Axelsson & Bigband

Presented by Michael Laages NDR Hamburg

The current CD swings in perfect harmony with Axelsson's favorite pieces (more precisely: those he most enjoys playing for his own wife!): from the title song “All the things you are” to ‘Doxy’ by Sonny Rollins to “Shadow of your smile,” as well as Latin classics and original compositions by Joe Gallardo. Stars from the current NDR Big Band, from Lutz Büchner, Fiete Felsch, and Sebastian Gille to Dan Gottshall and Ingo Lahme, Omar Rodriguez Calvo from the Tingvall Trio, “Hammerklavier” pianist Boris Netsvetaev, and guitarist Sandra Hempel support Axelsson, who for many has remained above all a good old friend.

Many people may get to know Lennart Axelsson in a whole new light—as an intelligent traditionalist who confidently balances ballads and fiery, sky-storming tunes, and who is still one of the most accomplished trumpeters in Europe. Many great jazz orchestras have benefited from his class, from Sweden's Harry Arnold to the recently deceased James Last to the big bands on Swiss radio and NDR. Now his solo career is beginning... good luck!