Nils Landgren

Born in Degerfors, in Värmland, Sweden, Nils Landgren initially trained on the classical trombone before turning to jazz in the late 1970s, then moving to Stockholm where his professional career began. Trombonist and singer, Landgren develops a language situated between jazz, funk, soul, fusion and a more intimate melodic repertoire, with a flexible, highly articulated playing and a vocal presence regularly integrated into his projects. After studio and stage collaborations with artists such as Thad Jones, ABBA, The Crusaders, Eddie Harris or Herbie Hancock, he released his first solo albums in the 1980s, including Planet Rock (1983) and Streetfighter (1984). In 1992, Landgren founded the ensemble that would become the Nils Landgren Funk Unit, a central formation of his career, with which he established a sound blending tight grooves, brass, jazz improvisation and funk energy, notably on Live in Stockholm (1994), Paint It Blue (1996), 5000 Miles (1999) and Raw - Celebrating 30 Years (2024). At the same time, Landgren pursued a more acoustic and lyrical side, visible on Ballads (1992), Sentimental Journey (2002), as well as in projects with Rigmor Gustafsson, Jan Lundgren, Michael Wollny or Esbjörn Svensson. Also present in the big band circuit, notably with the NDR Bigband, Landgren has also worked as a producer, artistic director of a festival and educator in Hamburg.