Victor Rydström Quartet - Be an Artist (2021)

When guitarist and composer Victor Rydström returns with new music in the summer of 2021, it is a mixture of self-written material and gold nuggets carefully selected from the American standard repertoire. Together with his quartet, the music is performed in the classical setting guitar, piano, drums and bass.
Here we meet a guitarist with a clean tone, well-balanced phrasing, focus on clear lines and an effort to put music first. "Before this record, I have chosen to mix my own written music, composed especially for this quartet, with standard songs I have stuck to a little extra in recent years," says Victor. öMy previous record consisted of music I wrote and collected for a long time and which was then recorded with guitar, hammond organ, drums and saxophone. This album I chose to compose music especially for this particular quartet and the participating musicians. A rewarding and challenging process that has given me more taste to work in this way! Ö
Very nice album! Since Victor came to the west coast a few years ago, the future of the jazz guitar has been secured! / Rolf Jardemark
In the band behind Victor Rydström is the pianist Axel Liliedahl who with focus plays beautiful melodies and dreamy sounds. Daniel Andersson behind the bass delivers a steady and driving groove together with drummer Christian Martinsson who with his playful playing gives the music life and unexpected twists.
The album consists of a total of eight tracks where five of the songs are written by Victor Rydström and the remaining tracks are classic jazz songs from the American standard repertoire interpreted by the quartet.