In 1972, the blind jazz saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk, who owes part of his fame to his ability to play several saxophones at the same time, released his album “Blacknuss”. Almost two decades later, drummer Martin Jonsson and Conny C. Lindström borrowed this title for a jam session at Stockholm’s Fasching jazz club – unaware of the consequences this event would have for everyone involved and the entire Swedish soul/jazz scene.
Originally, only a single Blacknuss evening was planned for October 1991. Martin Jonsson and bassist Christian Falk invite a few musician friends (including, coincidentally, some of Sweden’s most prominent jazz musicians) to the traditional club Fasching, where greats such as Ornette Coleman and Maceo Parker have already performed. They jam together, it’s fun … so much fun that weekly repetitions will soon be on the programme. The Blacknuss night becomes a permanent fixture on the Stockholm jazz scene and contributes greatly to the development of an awareness of soul music.
Jonsson and Falk form the hard core of the Blacknuss house band as the rhythm section. They are joined by illustrious guests, including Matthias Torell, Molando Gassama, Desmond Foster, David Nyström and Esbjörn Svensson. A strong emphasis is placed on the vocal lines; the vocalists include Titiyo, Viktoria Tolstoy, Lisa Nilsson, Jennifer Brown, but also rappers such as ADL and SwingFly.
The line-up and musical direction of Blacknuss are constantly changing. The initiators attach great importance to giving the individual artists room for creativity and personal development. As a result, different styles are constantly evolving, but one thing remains the same: the groove. Blacknuss make uninhibited use of disco, funk and fusion, integrating the jazz-orientated dance music of the early 90s into their repertoire as well as hip hop in the style of A Tribe Called Quest or current R’n’B. Cover versions (such as the disco classic “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life”, 1996) stand alongside their own material. It’s the mix that makes the difference, including the artists: old hands, including the top names on the Scandinavian jazz scene, meet young talent: The Swedish press was soon treating Blacknuss as a springboard for local musicians on their way to an international career.
In 1994, a good three years after the first jam session, the Blacknuss all-stars marched into the studio. The result “Made In Sweden” (1995) rides the currently fashionable acid jazz wave. Two more albums followed (“Allstars”, 1996, and “3”, 2000). Blacknuss work their way up to become the hottest live band in Sweden, which is ultimately honoured with the Swedish Grammy award in the category “Best Modern Dance Act”.
In July 2005, Blacknuss play as support act for Lauryn Hill at the Stuttgart Jazz Open and provide a foretaste of the German tour that follows in autumn. The best-of album “Gold – A Decade Of Soul, Funk & R’n’B” is released in August. (laut.de)
Made In Sweden is the first album by Blacknuss released in Sweden in 1994 on Diesel Music, and further in 1995 on Superstudio Orange and again in 1995 on Diesel Music for the European market.
A must for the Soul fan:
When you listen to this wonderful album you just cannot stop dancing – no wonder many of these songs are played in the oldest and most famous jazz club in Stockholm, Sweden: Fasching, where thay have soul nights almost every Saturday. If you like Curtis Mayfield, Aretha Franklin and Jackson Five, you will definitely love the Blacknuss. This album is a must for the soul fan! (by ab amazon customer)
And yes … a great cover !
Personnel:
Christian Falk (bass)
Malando Gassama (percussion)
Per “Ruskträsk” Johansson (saxophone, flute)
Martin Jonsson (drums)
Goran Kajfes (trumpet)
Joakim Milder (saxophone)
Pierre Swärd (organ)
Esbjörn Svensson (piano)
Kristoffer Wallman (keyboards, synthesizer)
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Lars Halapi (guitar on 02. + 11.)
Niklas Medin (keyboards on 03.)
Lisa Nilsson (vocals on 03.)
David Nyström (organ on 05.)
Sleepy (scatches on 08.)
Joe Watts (trombone on 08.)
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background vocals:
Desmond Foster – Lisa Nilsson – André De Lange – Jennifer Brown – Titiyo Jah
Tracklist:
01. Rising To The Top (Felder/Burke/Jean) 6.05
02. Freaky (Falk/Gassama/Johansson/Jonsson/Kajfes/Milder/Swärd/Svensson/Wallman/ADL/ Thomas /Leafnuts/Palapi/Thomas Beckford) 5.50
03. Looking Up To You (Ware/Grey) 4.39
04. Let’s Go Through The Motion (Elliot/Swing) 5.43
05. It Should Have Been You (Thompson) 4.05
06. I’m So Into You (Morgan) 7.46
07. Superbad (Brown) 5.37
08. Love No Limit (Hall/Greene) 6.42
09. Organisk 2 (Falk/Gassama/Johansson/Jonsson/Kajfes/Milder/Swärd/Svensson/Wallman) 8.12
10, Organisk 1 (Falk/Gassama/Johansson/Jonsson/Kajfes/Milder/Swärd/Svensson/Wallman) 7.25
11. Daddy (Falcon/ADL) 6.53
12. Rising To The Top (Remix) (Felder/Burke/Jean) 3.59
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