Hudik Big Band - Jul med Ellington (2023) Hi Res

The previous record with the Hudik Big Band was recorded live from the jazz festival in Montreux in 1983 and last year they thought it was time for a new one. The choice of the church program, Christmas with Ellington, was perhaps not the smartest given the time-bound repertoire. Hearing Prepared Way for the Lord one moment and Jingle bells and White Christmas the next doesn't feel right.

But Anna Högberg and Helén Tanzborn sing together with gusto. One of the orchestra's main soloists is the trumpeter Olle Brynhammar, who brings out the typical Ellington mood in The shepherd. The band's sounds are magnificent and the rhythm section with Edward Mika on the drums stands for a well-functioning comp.