Bobo Stenson (born Bo Gustav Stenson; 4 August 1944) is a Swedish

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

pianist. The Bobo Stenson Trio, formed in collaboration with Anders Jormin (bass) and Jon Fält (drums), has been in existence for over five decades.

Career

For 15 years, starting at the age of eight, Stenson studied with pianist and professor Werner Wolf Glaser, a Jewish refugee from Cologne. In 1963, Stenson emerged from the local scene in

Västerås Västerås () is a city in central Sweden on the shore of Mälaren, Lake Mälaren in the province of Västmanland, west of Stockholm. The city had a population of 127,799 at the end of 2019, out of the municipal total of 158,653, over 100,000 mo ...

and began playing frequently in

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

, where he accompanied a long line of visiting American players, including

Sonny Rollins Walter Theodore "Sonny" Rollins (born September 7, 1930) is an American retired jazz tenor saxophonist who is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. In a seven-decade career, Rollins recorded over sixt ...

Stan Getz Stan Getz (born Stanley Gayetski; February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with his prime influence being the wis ...

and

Gary Burton Gary Burton (born January 23, 1943) is an American jazz Vibraphone, vibraphonist, composer, and educator. Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the prevailing two-mallet technique. This approach caused ...

. He also worked closely with

Don Cherry Donald Stewart Cherry (born February 5, 1934) is a Canadian former ice hockey player, coach, and television commentator. He played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins. After concluding a playing career in the A ...

from the beginning of the trumpeter's residency in Scandinavia. The 1970s was an intensive period for Stenson, who played in many groups, including the long-standing band

Rena Rama Rena Rama was a Swedish jazz band formed in 1971, noted for mixing jazz, unusual time signatures, and African and Asian folk themes. Its original personnel included Lennart Åberg (saxophone, flute), Bobo Stenson (piano), Palle Danielsson (bass), ...

with

Palle Danielsson Nils Paul "Palle" Danielsson (15 October 1946 – 18 May 2024) was a Swedish jazz double bassist born in Stockholm, Sweden. From 1974 to 1979, he was a member of Keith Jarrett's quartet. He was the brother of pianist Monica Dominique. Daniels ...

, and a trio with

Arild Andersen Arild Andersen (born 27 October 1945) is a Norwegian jazz musician bassist, known as the most famous Norwegian bass player in the international jazz scene. Career Andersen was born at Strømmen, Norway. He started his musical career as jazz g ...

and Jon Christensen. Later he played with

Jan Garbarek Jan Garbarek () (born 4 March 1947) is a Norwegian jazz saxophonist, who is also active in classical music and world music. Garbarek was born in Mysen, Østfold, southeastern Norway, the only child of a former Polish prisoner of war, Czesław Gar ...

. In 1988, Stenson joined the Charles Lloyd quartet. Since 1996 Stenson has appeared at major jazz festivals with

Tomasz Stańko Tomasz Ludwik Stańko (; 11 July 1942 – 29 July 2018) was a Polish trumpeter and composer associated with free jazz and the avant-garde. In 1962, Tomasz Stańko formed his first band, the Jazz Darings, with saxophonist Janusz Muniak, pianist ...

's septet and sextet.

Discography

As leader

*''

Underwear Underwear, underclothing, or undergarments are items of clothing worn beneath outer clothes, usually in direct contact with the skin, although they may comprise more than a single layer. They serve to keep outer clothing from being soiled ...

'' (ECM, 1971) *''

Witchi-Tai-To Jim Gilbert Pepper II (June 18, 1941 – February 10, 1992) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer and singer of Kaw and Muscogee heritage. He moved to New York City in 1964, where he came to prominence in the late 1960s as a member of The ...

'' (ECM, 1973) – co-led with

* ''

Dansere ''Dansere'' ( Norwegian: "Dancers") is the second album credited to the Jan Garbarek–Bobo Stenson Quartet, recorded in November 1975 and released on ECM the following year. The quartet features rhythm section Palle Danielsson and Jon Christens ...

'' (ECM, 1975) – co-led with

*'' The Sounds Around the House'' (Caprice, 1983) *''Very Early'' (Dragon, 1986) *'' Reflections'' (ECM, 1993) *'' War Orphans'' (ECM, 1997) *'' Serenity'' (ECM, 1999) *''

Goodbye Goodbye, Good bye, or Good-bye is a parting phrase and may refer to: Film * ''Goodbye'' (1918 film), a British drama directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Goodbye'' (1995 film) (''Tot Ziens!''), a Dutch film directed by Heddy Honigmann * ''Goodbye'' ( ...

'' (ECM, 2005) *'' Cantando'' (ECM, 2007) *'' Indicum'' (ECM, 2012) *''

Contra la Indecisión Contra may refer to: Places * Contra, Virginia * Contra Costa Canal, an aqueduct in the U.S. state of California * Contra Costa County, California * Tenero-Contra, a municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerlan ...

'' (ECM, 2018) *''Sphere'' (ECM, 2023)

As sideman

With

* '' Dona Nostra'' (ECM, 1993) With

* ''

Sart Sart is a name for the settled inhabitants of Central Asia which has had shifting meanings over the centuries. According to Great Soviet Encyclopedia, before the October Revolution of 1917, the name “Sart” was used in ...

'' (ECM, 1971) With Charles Lloyd * ''

Fish Out of Water Fish out of water is an idiom used to refer to a person who is in unfamiliar, and often uncomfortable, surroundings. Fish out of water may also refer to: Film and television * ''Fish Out of Water'' (1993 film), a Danish film * ''Fish Out of ...

'' (ECM, 1989) * '' Notes from Big Sur'' (ECM, 1991) * '' The Call'' (ECM, 1993) * '' All My Relations'' (ECM, 1994) * ''

Canto The canto () is a principal form of division in medieval and modern long poetry. Etymology and equivalent terms The word ''canto'' is derived from the Italian word for "song" or "singing", which comes from the Latin ''cantus'', "song", from th ...

'' (ECM, 1996) With

Red Mitchell Keith Moore "Red" Mitchell (September 20, 1927 – November 8, 1992) was an American jazz double-bassist, composer, lyricist, and poet. Biography Mitchell was born in New York City. His younger brother, Whitey Mitchell, also became a jazz ...

* '' One Long String'' ( Mercury, 1969) With

* ''Jazz I Sverige'' (Caprice, 1973) * ''Landscapes'' ( JAPO, 1977) * ''Inside – Outside'' (Caprice, 1979) * ''Live'' (Organic, 1983) * ''New Album'' (

Dragon A dragon is a Magic (supernatural), magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but European dragon, dragons in Western cultures since the Hi ...

, 1986) * ''Rena Rama with

Marilyn Mazur Marilyn Mazur (born January 18, 1955) is an American-born Danish percussionist. Since 1975, she has worked as a percussionist with various groups, among them Six Winds with Alex Riel. Mazur is primarily an autodidact, but she has a degree in ...

'' (Dragon, 1989) * ''The Lost Tapes'' (Amigo, 1998) with

Kenny Wheeler Kenneth Vincent John Wheeler, Order of Canada, OC (14 January 1930 – 18 September 2014) was a Canadian composer and trumpet and flugelhorn player, based in the U.K. from the 1950s onwards. Most of his performances were rooted in jazz, but he w ...

Billy Hart Billy Hart (born November 29, 1940) is an American jazz drumming, jazz drummer and educator. He is known internationally for his work with Herbie Hancock's "Mwandishi" band in the early 1970s, as well as with Shirley Horn, Stan Getz, and Quest (b ...

With George Russell * ''

Listen to the Silence ''Listen to the Silence'' is a live album by George Russell originally recorded in 1971 and released on the Concept label in 1973, featuring a performance by Russell with Stanton Davis, Jan Garbarek, Terje Rypdal, Arild Andersen, and Jon Christ ...

'' (

Soul Note Black Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz. History Black S ...

, 1971) With

Terje Rypdal Terje Rypdal (born 23 August 1947) is a Norwegian guitarist and composer. He has been an important member in the Norwegian jazz community, and has also given show concerts with guitarists Ronni Le Tekrø and Mads Eriksen as "N3". Career Rypd ...

* ''

'' (ECM, 1971) With

Tomasz Stanko Tomasz is a Polish given name, the equivalent of Thomas in English. Notable people with the given name include: * Tomasz Adamek (born 1976), Polish heavyweight boxer * Tomasz Arciszewski (1877–1955), Polish socialist politician and Prime M ...

* '' Bossanova and Other Ballads'' (Gowi, 1993) * '' Matka Joanna'' (ECM, 1994) * '' Leosia'' (ECM, 1996) * '' Litania: Music of Krzysztof Komeda'' (ECM, 1997) * With

Thomas Strønen Thomas Pohlitz Strønen (born 7 December 1972) is a Norwegian jazz drummer who has recorded more than 70 albums. He has worked with Iain Ballamy, Arve Henriksen, Mats Eilertsen, Ashley Slater, Eivind Aarset, Christian Fennesz, Nils Petter Molva ...

Rica - Challenge Records (2004) Parish- ECM Records (2005) With Others * ''Agram'' (Moller/Willemark) * ''Xieyi'' (Jormin) * ''Change of Heart'' (Speake) * ''Parish'' (Stronen) * ''La Nuit de Wounded Knee'' ( Doudou Gouirand)

References

External links

Bobo Stenson video interview at Allaboutjazz.com

Bobo Stenson on ECM Records

Bobo Stenson discography at Discogs
1944 births Living people People from Västerås ECM Records artists Swedish jazz pianists Litteris et Artibus recipients 21st-century Swedish pianists 21st-century Swedish male musicians Swedish male jazz musicians Rena Rama members {{jazz-pianist-stub