Sean Nowell (tenor saxophone), Fredrik Olsson (guitar), Leo Lindberg (piano), Lars Ekman (bass), Joe Abba (drums)

2011 Posi-Tone

Stockholm Swingin’ is the result of a tour through Sweden by New York-based saxophonist Sean Nowell with fellow American, drummer Joe Abba. The pair performed a series of concerts with a trio of Swedish musicians, guitarist Fredrik Olsson, pianist Leo Lindberg and bassist Lars Ekman, resulting in this exciting live release recorded at the Glen Miller Café in Stockholm.

Nowell’s biting tenor leads this charged-up quintet. The Alabama native devours the blues on McCoy Tyner’s “Blues on the Corner” and the up-tempo flavor of his own composition “NY Vibe.” Not the least bit bashful of his willingness to swing, Nowell rides gracefully through Billy Strayhorn’s “Chelsea Bridge.”

Abba and Ekman build up unrelenting grooves, especially on Abba’s Latin-type tune “Walking the Path.” Lindberg and Olsson contribute searing solo turns to this all around high-energy, swingin’ affair.