New York Label to Embrace Scandinavian Artists

NEW YORK — In the 1950s, the Scandinavian countries Denmark, Sweden and Norway were frequently visited by some of our prime jazz icons. Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones, Bud Powell, Ella Fitzgerald and others were welcomed with open arms to these northern countries. It didn't take long before a flock of local jazz greats emerged. These included Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen, Lars Gullin and Bengt Hallberg, and later Jan Garbarek, Palle Danielsson, Terje Rypdal and Edward Vesala.

Scandinavia has long been a fertile ground for creative music. The scene has successfully adopted the core meaning of jazz, and combined its own folkloric peregrinations as a topping. Recent emerging artists such as Eeppi Ursin, The Daughters of the Wolf, and the more seasoned Mika Pohjola and Rigmor Gustafsson have produced a fearless amalgam, echoing openness and globalism, reflecting today's anytime-anywhere approach.

In that sense, America and Scandinavia stand closer than ever. On the other side, finding the gold in the vast amount of sand has become an exhaustive challenge. The latest bright promoter for Scandinavia comes surprisingly from a New York based label, Blue Music Group, which represents a handful of top Scandinavian artists on its fairly large quality roster.

It would not be fair to say that the tables have turned, but that the audience, wherever present, now can find quality art irrespective of geographic origin.