The Jan Lundgren Quartet - California Connection (1996)

Bebop is spoken throughout this excellent set. Two Swedish musicians (pianist Jan Lundgren and trumpeter Peter Asplund) meet up with a couple of Americans (bassist Dave Carpenter and drummer Paul Kreibich) on a variety of superior standards, plus a couple of jazz interpretations of obscure Swedish songs. Asplund has a bright sound in the Clifford Brown tradition; Lundgren looks toward Bud Powell; and the Americans are quite supportive of the lead voices. To break up the strict quartet format, Barney Kessel's "Swedish Pastry" is taken by the rhythm trio; Lundgren and Asplund play a duet version of "Sodermalm"; Lundgren is absent on "I Hear a Rhapsody"; and "How Deep Is the Ocean" is a piano-bass duet. Other highlights include "Au Privave," "What Is This Thing Called Love," and "When It's Sleepy Time Down South." Easily recommended to bebop collectors.