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Jakob Norgren

Jakob Norgren is a Swedish saxophonist, composer, arranger and big band leader. Main instruments are baritone sax, tenor sax, clarinet, bass clarinet and contra alto clarinet. He started his orchestra, initially named Jakob Norgren Big Band Splash, in 2004 and first released two albums that mixed contemporary jazz with soul/R&B. From 2010 Jakob let the band develop into a pure soul-jazz/R&B orchestra under the shortened name Big Band Splash, while introducing Jakob Norgren Jazz Orchestra (with almost the same members) where he could refine his contemporary jazz writing. Jakob Norgren is the arranger and producer of all his albums. Jakob also used processed samples from his own big band recordings to produce collage-jazz/electronica under artist name The Emersons. Jakob Norgren has released the following albums on his own label Wime Records: • Jakob Norgren Big Band Splash – "Wide Meadow Soul" (2005) • Jakob Norgren Big Band Splash – "East of The Arctic Circle" (2007) • Big Band Splash – "Another Apple" (2010). • The Emersons – "Mollow" (2014) • Jakob Norgren Jazz Orchestra – "Pathfinding" (2015) (feat. Jonas Kullhammar) • Big Band Splash – "Volume 5" (2017) • Jakob Norgren Jazz Orchestra – "Creations & Transformations" (release October 4, 2019)

On digital platforms, all albums can be found under artist name Jakob Norgren.

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8
Album Review

Big Band Splash: Volume 5

Read "Volume 5" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Although Swedish-born and --based saxophonist Jakob Norgren's orchestra has been making waves for several years, Volume 5 is only the second of its recordings to churn up the waters in this estuary. And churn them it does, even though Norgren's blend of R&B, soul, pop, blues and funk far outweighs the album's minimal jazz content. Norgren's charts, we are told, encompass songs associated with Otis Redding, Beyonce, Etta James, O.V. Wright, Otis Rush and B.B. King, among ...

20
Album Review

Jakob Norgren Jazz Orchestra: Pathfinding

Read "Pathfinding" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Although he has been a fixture on the Swedish jazz scene for some years now, Jakob Norgren is more closely associated with soul, blues, funk and R&B than with contemporary big-band jazz. That perception may change with the release of Pathfinding, the debut recording by Norgren's impressive Jazz Orchestra, on which he proves to be a topnotch composer / arranger in a straight-ahead vein. And if the relatively youthful JNJO isn't the most proficient big band Sweden has to offer, ...

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“A true north path to superb, sophisticated ensemble music that leave the old traditions behind and charts a new path for big band jazz.” All About Jazz (USA) – Edward Blanco

“A topnotch composer / arranger. — Norgren (and his teammates) earn high marks for Pathfinding, which one hopes may be the first of many recordings by this superb ensemble.” All About Jazz (USA) – Jack Bowers

”An outstanding CD, with top-notch modern big band writing from leader and baritone saxophonist Jakob Norgren and superior performances from his Jazz Orchestra.” Cadence Magazine (USA) – Don Lerman

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

För kännedom

Behind The Beat
2018

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Volume 5

Wime Records
2017

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Pathfinding

Wime Records
2015

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Videos

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