Berndt Egerbladh Trio – Schizo

Released on Swe Disc label 1965. Recorded on December 8, 1964.

Liner notes:

Berndt Egerbladh is a remarkable man in Swedish jazz. He is working with his music only in his spare time, while his professional occupation is the history teachers. This of economical reasons. In his home town, he is also known for his bowling, as well as for his music. He is one of the best bowling- and billiard players in the northern parts of Sweden.

Each time famous jazz soloists like Dexter Gordon, Idrees Sulieman, Kenny Dorham, Leo Wright and Lars Guilin has visited Umeå, they have all been very surprised and enthusiastic over Berndt Egerbladhs trio.

- Europes best rhythm section, said Leo Wright
- I wish I could play with this trio all the time, Idrees Sulieman said with a sigh.

When Berndt Egerbladh was going to make this record, it was a sure thing, that the drummer would be Sten Öberg. They have been playing together for many years and they automatically follow eachothers fancy ideas. But to pick out a bass player, was more difficult. Berndt Egerbladh decided that Bjorn Alice was the man, in spite of the fact that they had never played together be-fore. When you hear the record you really understand that Alke was the right pick. He fills his place in the group perfectly. The three musicians are on the same "wave-length" and are following each other with a telepathic sureness.

Sten Öberg 26, as well as Egerbladh, plays jazz only in his spare time. He is a very sensitive and spiritual drummer. The English Magazin "Jazz Monthly" was overwhelmed after hearing him on an LP with Lars Lystedt Quintet and wrote: "Sten Öberg is one of the most exciting drummers to emerge from any European country for some time".

Björn Alke 26, is the only one in the group that supports himself on his music. Right now he is playing with Lars Guilin and has earlier played with different modern Swedish groups, He has studied violin, piano and harmonics for three years at The Academy of Music. He intends to continue his studies to become a violin pedagogue. And that he knows how to treat a bow you can hear from his fantastic solo in "Our Delight".

Berndt Egerbledh 32, started to play 1949. Then he started to paint. Colorful and abstract. He and two of his friends had an exhibition and the critics were very enthusiastic. He is still painting, but now with notes instead of pastel crayons. - I want to create a different effect. Fine jazz - rough jazz.

His ability to change between different musical moods is showing very much in two of his own compositions. The wonderful meditative mood in "Sarek" is in sharp contrast to the pushing and nervous "Schizo".

Still Egerbladh is showing a decided musical profile. In his music, whether it is "Sarek" or "Schizo" there is a distinctive beauty.

"Mr Idrees" is a bop-theme and it could easily have been written by Thelonius Monk. The remaining originals "Monique" and "Eva" is two beautiful pieces of music, which he has dedicated to his two little girls, 6 and 8 years old.

Berndt Egerbladh says: I once read about a writer who picked up his notebook and wrote down ideas he got, while doing something else, and it did not matter where he was, at the moment, I am not exactly composing while walking on the street, but seldom sit down to write music. I just get ideas while I am playing, while I amen a wonderful mood.

These wonderful "moods" are kept in his compositions and in his playing as well. Listen to the fantastic beautiful "Sarek" or to the trios wonderful versions of the ballades "My one and only love" and "Days of wine and roses". I am pretty sure that you would be just as impressed by the way this group is playing as Dexter Gordon, Leo Wright and Kenny Dorham were.

Or maybe you will be even more impressed!!

Ronny Nygren