Bo Sundström "Det kanske händer" (2021)

Det kanske händer

release date: Feb. 19, 2021

format: vinyl / cd

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,72]

producer: Jonas Kullhammar

label: Columbia / Sony Music - nationality: Sweden

3rd solo album by Bo Sundström and the follow-up to his acclaimed 2018 vocal jazz album Mitt dumma jag - svensk jazz is much of a second coming to an established formula. The title track ['It Might Happen'] is a free translation of classic "It Could Happen to You" written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke. It's all predominantly old vocal jazz classics in new arrangements with translated lyrics to a common tone to make one coherent whole of originals covering a wider range of genres and styles, and once again, it's a sheer pleasure to listen to Sundström and his hand-picked backing band. One original track by Sundström has also found its way to another mighty fine acchievement, and in this outing, I think Sundström acchieves more at a time when Bo Kaspers Orkester appears to have lost some steam. We only have to see if he will take some of this new-found success back to the band playground and perhaps introduce us to a full circle with BKO returning to bolder jazz influence. I for one, would like to see that instead of a band who appears too eager to follow contemporary patterns. But that aside, there's an ocean of classic folk, standards and vocal jazz songs to rewrite, re-arrange and to release as future solo albums, and I'm pretty convinced there will be a growing audience for this 'cause Sundström just seems to have found his way.

Recommended.

Bo sundström "Mitt dumma jag - svensk jazz" (2018)

Mitt dumma jag - svensk jazz

release date: Jan. 26, 2018

format: vinyl / cd

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]

producer: Jonas Kullhammar

label: Columbia / Sony Music / Mr RADAR - nationality: Sweden

Second solo album by lead vocalist Bo (Sigvard) Sundström of Swedish band Bo Kaspers Orkester. His solo debut Skåne was released as early as 2005 and that showed an artist trying out pop ballads with various stylistic influences, but this is something entirely different as indicated in the subtitle "svensk jazz" ['Swedish jazz']. All ten songs are old staples from vocal jazz with new lyrics - mostly by Sundström. The end result is a new take on the world of classic jazz and with lyrics in Swedish combined with Sundström's gift for jazz pop as heard on several albums with his usual band and this turns out as a most welcome album. The subtitle delicately hints as the legendary Swedish jazz album of them all: Jazz på svenska by Jan Johansson, and it's in this light you should listen to Mitt dumma jag. All compositions have been handed Swedish titles - only on the back cover the original titles are added, and it's quality titles like "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons", "The Way You Look Tonight", "Once Upon a Summertime",... "My Foolish Heart", the latter translated to "Mitt dumma jag" (track #5). There's also "Waltz for Debby" translated to "Monicas vals" of course in memory of Monica Zetterlund, who made that song an international hit with Bill Evans, and then there's the end-track "Danny's Dream", originally a 1954 Swedish jazz instrumental by Lars Gullin - here with the addition of lyrics written by contemporary Swedish pop diva Lisa Nilsson.

The album is no less than a truly positive surprise. It's not the jazz pop, as some would expect, neither is it pop / rock-styled but instead genuine contemporary vocal jazz in a Swedish tradition that goes hand in hand with jazz greats of former ages.

Recommended.

Bo Kaspers Orkester "Du borde tycka om mig" (2012)

Du borde tycka om mig
release date: Oct. 31, 2012
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Christian Walz (1-4, 7, 8, 10); Bo Kaspers Orkester (5, 6, 9)
label: Columbia / Sony Music Entertainment - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Festen" - 2. "Världens ände" (4 / 5) (live) - 3. "Längre upp i bergen" (4 / 5) - 5. "Utan dig" (4 / 5) - 7. "Vilket år" - 8. "Jag är vacker ikväll" - 9. "Mitt rätta jag" - 10. "Kom" (4 / 5)

10th studio album by Bo Kaspers Orkester is the 10th studio album in 20 years. The album has generally been met with positive reviews, and it appears to be one of the band's stylistic changes. I still find it a bit difficult to digest as a Bo Kaspers Orkester release but the production is pretty fine just like the total picture. Some tracks are mere jazz pop compositions but the majority of tracks are smooth, laid back music, which has references to lounge but not in the way the band has played with that style before and on its earliest albums. Instead, this is a modern version of lounge, which is more in family with synth-pop - a genre BKO never has excelled in. Without coping they play in a way that makes me think of The Killers on their most recent albums and two other great Scandinavian bands, the Danish band Love Shop and the greatest band in Sweden as well as all Nordic countries: Kent. It's not bad, not at all. I'm just not really ready to embrace it as great, but it seems like one of the band's better studio releases.

<  show lyrics >

~ ~ ~
"Utan dig"

"Utan dig, utan dig
Är det jag har framför mig
Tar ett steg utan att veta
Utan dig famlar jag
Än en gång, än en dag
Ensam kvar ska jag leta
Jag ångrar ingenting
Jag skulle göra det igen
Sakta vandra hem
Och börja där vi var
En gång för länge sen
Med tiden som fanns kvar
Och om jag vetat då
Vad som skulle hända sen...
Jag skulle göra det igen

Utan dig är jag fri
Vandra bort, inget bli
Somna om, släppa taget
Dom frågar hur det går
Om jag vill hitta nå'n att håll om
Att livet är så stort
De skulle glömma och förstå
För tiden går så fort
Jag älskade henne då
Och jag älskar henne än
Jag skulle göra det igen

Jag ångrar ingenting
Jag skulle göra det igen
Jag skulle göra det igen
Och börja där vi var
En gång för länge sen
Jag skulle göra det igen
Men om jag vetat då
Vad som skulle hända sen
Jag skulle göra det igen
Jag skulle göra det igen
Utan dig
Utan dig
Utan dig"

~ ~ ~

Bo Kaspers Orkester "New Orleans" (2010)

New Orleans
release date: Oct. 18, 2010
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,34]
producer: Bo Kaspers Orkester
label: Columbia / Sony - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 2. "Låt mig komma in" - 4. "Ännu en dag" - 5. "Tiden läker ingenting" (4 / 5) - 6. "En sländas andetag" - 7. "Stället som jag kommer från" - 9. "Vad vi än gör"

9th studio album by Bo Kaspers Orkester is almost as usual produced by the band and released through Columbia Records / Sony Music Entertainment. The album was recorded in New Orleans and is characterized by American folk pop influences intertwined with americana, jazz pop, rhythm & blues - a bit like on their best album Vilka tror vi att vi är (2003), and although, I don't find it as great as that, I find it more than just fine. Compared to the band's previous three albums, this is quieter, more delicate, and more... 'naked'. The songs are not over-produced with strings, horns and other fine arrangements but appear as more simple songs with fewer instruments. The album reached #1 on the Swedish album chart list.

Bo Kaspers Orkester "8" (2008)

8
release date: Sep. 24, 2008
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Bo Kaspers Orkester
label: Columbia / Sony - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Stunder som den här" - 2. "Innan allt försvinner" - 7. "Det blir bättre sen" - 8. "Människor är djur" - 10. "Tack för konserten (din jävel)"

8th studio album by Bo Kaspers Orkester. The title refers to both year and album number. The music is a bit of a return to a more jazz pop universe than the two (fine) previous studio albums. I've always found this a bit of a dull album. Apparently, the track "Tack för konserten (din jävel)" is a tribute song to Swedish singer / songwriter Håkon Hellström whom Bo Sundström had just witnessed at a concert and then felt urged to write this song. The album is okay but not really recommendable. I just don't find obvious great tracks here. Several songs sound as older compositions by the band or are just too much alike other tracks on the album. The album reached number #2 on the Swedish album chart list.

Bo Kaspers Orkester "Hund" (2006)

Hund
release date: Sep. 20, 2006
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,55]
producer: Bo Kaspers Orkester
label: Sony / Columbia - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Hund" - 2. "En man du tyckte om" (4 / 5) - 3. "I samma bil" (live) - 5. "Leende med kniv" - 6. "En dag att bli kär på" (4 / 5) - 7. "Som du - som jag" - 11. "Den enda som ser"

7th studio album release by the Bo Kasper Orkester marks a change of sound after the wonderful Vilka tror vi att vi är (2003), which I consider the band's best album ever. The sound is not only the sophisticated jazz pop but it's also a more raw and clean pop / rock release with some blues rock or rhythm and blues elements. The best tracks, however, still has a more subtle and soft folk pop and jazz pop style, which really suits this band the best. The track "I samma bil" is a funny and happy-go-lucky pop track, which was released as a rather successful single, but the best track is "En dag att bli kär på". The album contains some great tracks but the overall impression is an album that points in so many directions that it's not very homogeneous and may require many attempts listening to it as a whole. I like it - it's good. Hund is probably the second best selling album in the Nordic countries as it was ranked 11 on the Danish album charts, 6 on both the Finnish and Norwegian lists, and it reached #1 in Sweden, just like the 2003 album release.

Bo Kaspers Orkester "Vilka tror vi att vi är" (2003)

Vilka tror vi att vi är
release date: Sep. 24, 2003
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,08]
producer: Bo Kaspers Orkester
label: Columbia Records - nationality: Sweden

Tracklist: 1. "När du klär av dig" (4 / 5) - 2. "Vilka tror vi att vi är" (5 / 5) - 3. "Långsamt" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "Sockerdricka och sprit" - 5. "Dansa på min grav" - 6. "Lycka till" - 7. "Väljer dig" (4 / 5) - 8. "Bara för din skull" - 9. "Ont" - 10. "Allt är som förut"

6th studio album by Bo Kaspers Orkester. The band continues its style change from Kaos (2001) which introduced a more complex combination of styles making this the band's most clear pop / rock styled album with hints of various sub genres and styles. Aside from having several guest musicians featuring on the album including Johan Lindström who also appeared on the previous album, this is the first album also to have Bo Kasper playing guitar and not just singing. On the album charts list, the album made it to the top in Sweden, number #2 in Finland, number #7 in Denmark, and number #8 in Norway.
To me this is the band's most delightful and warmest album and my all-time favorite by Bo Kaspers Orkester.

2003 Favourite releases: 1. Sun Kil Moon Ghosts of the Great Highway - 2. Rufus Wainwright Want One - 3. Bo Kaspers Orkester Vilka tror vi att vi är

Bo Kaspers Orkester "Kaos" (2001)

Kaos
release date: Sep. 17, 2001
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,73]
producer: Bo Kaspers Orkester
label: Columbia / Sony Music Entertainment - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Människor som ingen vill se" - 2. "Ett fullkomligt kaos" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "Ett ögonblick i sänder" - 4. "Det smartaste jag gjort" (4 / 5) (live) - 5. "Kasta något tungt" (4 / 5) - 9. "Det är inte mig det är fel på" - 10. "Innan klockan slagit tolv"

5th studio album release by Bo Kaspers Orkester. The album is released 3 years since I centrum (1998) and it shows a new direction of the band now playing with folk pop. The band has evolved from it's primarily jazz pop universe to embrace hints of chamber pop and americana, and the album is clearly the band's best studio album so far. The Swedish composer and steel-guitarist Johan Lindström both plays guitar and has arranged string sections on the album. Another "guest" musician is Wille Crafoord who wrote the lyrics for tracks #2 and #8, and the near-title track #2. "Ett fullkomligt kaos" is the album's best track with its wonderful warm jazz pop chamber pop tune with perfect balanced strings, jazz guitar and piano accompanied by the gentle and pure singing voice of Bo Kasper. The album topped the Swedish albums chart list just like its predecessor.

Bo Kaspers Orkester "Hittills" (1999)

Hittills (compilation)
release date: 1999
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Bo Kaspers Orkester et al
label: Columbia / Sony - nationality: Sweden

First best of compilation album by Bo Kaspers Orkester. This was actually the first album I heard with the band, and I played it a lot for a time, thinking of it as pretty fine. I was surprised about the high quality of songs from an artist I hadn't even heard of. Except from the first track "Svårt att säga nej" (feat. Lisa Ekdahl), all tracks are compiled from the bands first four albums and what really makes it such a fine album is how the single tracks go so well hand in hand together. What that also shows is the little progress the band has been through in those first 5 years. Anyway, this album is definitely a very good place to start if you don't know the band.

Bo Kaspers Orkester "I centrum" (1998)

I centrum
release date: Sep. 28, 1998
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: Bo Kaspers Orkester
label: Sony / Columbia - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Allt ljus på mig" - 2. "En jävel vid mitt öra" - 3. "Undantag" - 5. "Vissa har det" - 7. "Fyrarättersmål"

4th studio album by Bo Kaspers Orkester is yet another smooth and jazzy album, much on par with its predecessor Amerika (1996). The style is almost identical, only here the band introduces bossa nova inspired tracks. It's hard really to put a finger on exactly what it is, and despite a couple of rather fine tracks (#1 and #3), I just find it only slightly above average. This is the first album without former guitarist Lars Halapi, and now keyboardist Mats Asplén also plays guitar.
The album was well-received in Sweden where it was the band's first album to top the albums chart list, a position it copied in Norway.

Bo Kaspers Orkester ""Amerika" (1996)

Amerika
release date: Sep. 20, 1996
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: Bo Kaspers Orkester, Kaj Erixon
label: Sony / Columbia - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Vi kommer aldrig att dö" (4 / 5) - 3. "Ett & noll"

3rd studio album by Bo Kaspers Orkester introduces a slight change of style to music with more lounge and / or easy listening and sophisti-pop thanks to a more noticeable incorporation of horn sections, violins, and backing vocals, but it's also a warmer and more spacial production compared to the band's first two albums. At first I found it a boring and mediocre release but I have come to see it as a better release, though not really great. This was the last album to feature founding guitarist Lars Halapi. It was the band's so far most successful studio album in Sweden reaching number #3 on the national albums chart list.

Bo Kaspers Orkester "På hotell" (1994)

På hotell
release date: Sep. 26, 1994
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: Bo Kaspers Orkester, Fabian Torsson, Johan Vävare
label: Sony / Columbia - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Ingenting alls" - 4. "Puss" - 5. "Hon är så söt" (live) - 10. "Vi tar in på hotell"

2nd studio album by Bo Kaspers Orkester is very much the same as the band's debut from '93, which means a combination of jazz pop, lounge, and sophisti-pop. Perhaps this is slightly more uneven with both tracks pointing to a more pop-founded sound but also to more traditional jazz. The band members' list remains the same. Still, Bo Kasper only writes most of the lyrics and sings, whereas he on later albums contributes on keyboards as well.

Bo Kaspers Orkester "Söndag i sängen" (1993)

Söndag i sängen [debut]
release date: Nov. 25, 1993
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: Michael Malmgren
label: Cupol - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Det går en man omkring i mina skor" - 2. "Söndag i sängen" - 3. "Köpenhamn" - 5. "I botten på glaset"

Studio debut album by Swedish band Bo Kaspers Orkester consisting of Bo (Sigvard) Sundström [aka Bo Kasper] on vocal, Lars Halapi on guitar, Fredrik Dahl on drums, Michael Malmgren on bass, and with Mats Asplén on piano, and organ. The album is nice and warm, and shows the band when it's most jazz-influenced. Some tracks are lounge and more sophisti-pop-balanced with a trip-hop and neo-soul sound.