Fredrik Kronkvist - New York Elements (2012)

Swedish alto saxophonist Fredrik Kronkvist grew up in a household immersed in the sounds of bebop: His father, Rolf, was a jazz musician who played with Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt and Kenny Dorham. Fredrik Kronkvist is considered one of Europe’s finest alto saxophonists - a powerful and soulful player, with great composing and improvisational skills, that have made him into one of Sweden’s international jazz stars. For this swinging date, his first in the Big Apple, Kronkvist recruited esteemed New Yorkers Aaron Goldberg on piano, Reuben Rogers on bass and Gregory Hutchinson on drums. His pungent alto sails with rhythmic assuredness and fire on potent originals like the boppish “Connected Souls,” the modernist modal burner “Woody’s World” (for Woody Shaw) and the urgent Elvin Jones tribute “Earthtones.” And Kronkvist reveals a talent for ballads on the hauntingly beautiful “Piece of Time” and “Divine.” There’s also a challenging new arrangement of Wayne Shorter’s “Footprints” with pianist Goldberg stretching on a superb solo. Kronkvist composed all the material (expect one track) for this album, ‘New York Elements’, and his strong, creative spirit combined with a profound knowledge of jazz and the alto shine through. He is a combination of Cannonball Adderley and John Coltrane, but with a clear individual style, rooted in be-bop with contemporary references. ~ Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes

Tracklist:

01. Connected Souls
02. Interlude / Wind
03. Woody's World
04. Piece of Time
05. Earthtones
06. Interlude / Earth
07. Footprints
08. Divine
09. First Sight
10. Interlude / Water
11. Perspectives
12. Instant Bag
13. Outro / Fire

Personnel:

Fredrik Kronkvist – alto saxophone
Aaron Goldberg – piano
Reuben Rogers – bass
Gregory Hutchinson - drums