Lars Danielsson

Lars Danielsson ranks among Sweden’s leading jazz bassists. His richly melodic approach has deepened recordings and performances by an international roster of artists that includes vocalist Caecilie Norby, saxophonist Rick Margitza, guitarist John Abercrombie, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, and percussionist Trilok Gurtu. He also appears on albums by Lars Jansson’s Trio 84 and the Eternal Now as well as the Lars Jansson Trio. As a member of Hans Ulrik’s Jazzpar 99 Combo—whose lineup included guitarist John Scofield and drummer Peter Erskine—he later joined Carsten Dahl’s Jazzpar 2000 Combo alongside saxophone and clarinet player Tony Coe.

Danielsson has earned widespread recognition leading his own ensembles. The 1994 release Far North enlisted soprano saxophonist David Liebman, pianist Bobo Stenson, and drummer Jon Christensen. Two years afterward, Origo documented sessions with guitarist John Abercrombie and drummer Adam Nussbaum. In 2005 the austere and reflective Libera Me incorporated the Danish Radio Concert Orchestra, while Pasodoble from 2007 leaned on the agile touch of Polish pianist Leszek Mozdzer. Tarantella, issued in 2009, traversed multiple idioms that encompassed Euro-classical chamber works and traditional Scandinavian folk music.