NEWS THE BAND PROJECTS EVENTS/TOURS MUSIC GUESTBOOK   Stockholm JazzOrchestra plays Stockholm JazzOrchestra Music written by bandmembers featuring themselves as soloists is our new project. Toparrangers like Jim McNeely, Bob MIntzer,Göran Strandberg and some of the bands own arrangers will take care of the presentation of the music. Trumpeters Peter Asplund, Magnus Broo and Gustavo Bergalli , tromboneplayer Bertil Strandberg, saxophoneplayers Karl-Martin Almkvist, Johan Hörlén and rythmplayers Jukkis Uotila,drums and Martin Sjöstedt on bass will be the composers and soloists. You´ll likely hear some of the other soloists in the band as well. This project will bring forward all the exceptional talents in the band without to much help from outside. Two exceptions being the incredible Bob Mintzer and the legendary Jim McNeely. We have a long history togehter with both and we think they are the best arrangers in the world. We remember Jaco feat. Jukkis Uotila Music by basslegend Jaco Pastorius arranged by Jukkis Uotila and others. Jukkis,normally the drummer of the band, plays piano and conducts the band in this project. We also feature Timo Hirvonen on bass and Jussi Lehtonen on drums, two outstanding young finnish jazzplayers. This project presents the fantastic and beautiful compositions of Jaco played with high energy and burning solos. We also feature the incredible percussionist Rafael Sida in the programe. Hommage a Thad Jones and Mel Lewis featuring Dick Oatts and Gary Smulyan Three tours in Sweden and two CD:s are the result of this project. We play the music of Thad Jones in the style of the Thad Jones -Mel Lewis big band. We get the right sound in the saxsection by bringing in leadalto Dick Oatts and baritoneplayer Gary Smulyan,both longtime members of the Jones-Lewis Big Band. Besides contributing soundwise these gentlemen are "monster" soloists among the jazzgreats in the world. Our concerts and CD:s has been praised all over the jazzworld. Be prepared for some swinging music with lots of great solos. SJO plays Göran Strandberg Göran Strandberg has been one of the most personal swedish jazzsoloists for a long time. When he all of a sudden started to write music for a large jazzensemble, he kept his very personal way of hearing jazz. This music is especially written for the SJO and the specific soloists you will hear. Just like Duke Ellington, Göran is very influenced by the bands personal soloists in his writing. His music combines swing,sound and rtyrhm into a very pleasent listening excperience. Tango Tangomusic and bigbandjazz combined, written direct for the band by Carlos Franzetti. Carlo,originally from Buenos Aires, is now living in New York and is an established composer/arranger in many different fields. This music is released on the american label DMP and has gotten a lot of attention and good reviews all over. It features trumpeter Gustavo Bergalli, a swedish jazzstar, now living in Buenos Aires. The Bandoneonpart has been played by Walter Rios, Juan-José Mosalini and Victor Villena. SJO and Jim McNeely Jim McNeely and the SJO has a long history together that starts 1989. Since then we´ve done many tours and concerts togehter all over the world. We´ve also recorded two CD :s on the swedish Dragon Label, "Jigsaw" and " Soundbites". In our minds Jim is the best jazzcomposer/arranger in the world. He combines tradition and a new ways of thinking and writing for a big jazzensemble. There´s always a lot of space for solos inbetween the fantastic and creative ensemblewriting. This is modern swinging big band music at its best. Big band Flamenco Fusion This is one of the more exciting projects we´ve done. This a fusion between Erik Steens Flamencofusion group and the SJO. It´s flamencomusic with dancers and singers played by a combined flamenco and big band orchestra. Extremely dynamic and full of passion this concert will guarantee you something to remember for a long time.