
As artistic director of Tolvan Big Band, Helge Albin has collaborated with some of the world’s most acclaimed jazz musicians – including Michael Brecker, David Liebman, and Vince Mendoza. Over the course of his career, he has received numerous prestigious awards, among them Sydsvenska Dagbladet’s Europe Prize, Jazzkannan, Guldnålen, and in 2024 the Royal Swedish Academy of Music’s Medal “For the Promotion of the Art of Music in Sweden.”
Karl-Martin Almqvist, saxophonist and composer, is one of the most distinctive and personal voices on today’s Swedish jazz scene. He is heard both on record and in concert with some of the world’s foremost groups, and has toured extensively throughout Europe, Mexico, Latin America, Asia, South Africa, and the USA. Since 2014, he has been based in Copenhagen as a member of the Danish Radio Big Band.
Jacob Karlzon, pianist and composer, is a virtuosic musician whose playing radiates technical brilliance, rhythmic vitality, and a strong sense of form. His personal projects have been widely acclaimed both nationally and internationally, and he has been honored with awards including Svenska Django d’Or (Jazz Musician of the Year, 2010). In 2012 he was added to the exclusive Steinway Artist Roster, and in 2015 his group was voted Jazz Group of the Year in a Sveriges Radio audience poll.
Johnny Åman is one of Sweden’s most sought-after bassists, renowned for his versatility and broad international experience. He has toured extensively worldwide and performed with the likes of Jerry Bergonzi, Dave Liebman, Marcus Strickland, and George Garzone. In 2021 he was awarded the prestigious Guldnålen.
Lennart Gruvstedt has, in addition to ten years behind the drums with the Danish Radio Big Band and forty years with Tolvan Big Band, been part of numerous ensembles and contributed to several recordings, including Anders Bergcrantz’s album About Time, Palle Mikkelborg’s group Entrance, and Miles Davis’s album Aura. In 2001, Lennart Gruvstedt was awarded a scholarship from the Egil Johansen Memorial Society.
On stage:
Helge Albin – saxophone
Karl-Martin Almqvist – saxophone
Jacob Karlzon – piano
Johnny Åman – bass
Lennart Gruvstedt – drums and percussion
As artistic director of Tolvan Big Band, Helge Albin has collaborated with some of the world’s most acclaimed jazz musicians – including Michael Brecker, David Liebman, and Vince Mendoza. Over the course of his career, he has received numerous prestigious awards, among them Sydsvenska Dagbladet’s Europe Prize, Jazzkannan, Guldnålen, and in 2024 the Royal Swedish Academy of Music’s Medal “For the Promotion of the Art of Music in Sweden.”
Karl-Martin Almqvist, saxophonist and composer, is one of the most distinctive and personal voices on today’s Swedish jazz scene. He is heard both on record and in concert with some of the world’s foremost groups, and has toured extensively throughout Europe, Mexico, Latin America, Asia, South Africa, and the USA. Since 2014, he has been based in Copenhagen as a member of the Danish Radio Big Band.
Jacob Karlzon, pianist and composer, is a virtuosic musician whose playing radiates technical brilliance, rhythmic vitality, and a strong sense of form. His personal projects have been widely acclaimed both nationally and internationally, and he has been honored with awards including Svenska Django d’Or (Jazz Musician of the Year, 2010). In 2012 he was added to the exclusive Steinway Artist Roster, and in 2015 his group was voted Jazz Group of the Year in a Sveriges Radio audience poll.
Johnny Åman is one of Sweden’s most sought-after bassists, renowned for his versatility and broad international experience. He has toured extensively worldwide and performed with the likes of Jerry Bergonzi, Dave Liebman, Marcus Strickland, and George Garzone. In 2021 he was awarded the prestigious Guldnålen.
Lennart Gruvstedt has, in addition to ten years behind the drums with the Danish Radio Big Band and forty years with Tolvan Big Band, been part of numerous ensembles and contributed to several recordings, including Anders Bergcrantz’s album About Time, Palle Mikkelborg’s group Entrance, and Miles Davis’s album Aura. In 2001, Lennart Gruvstedt was awarded a scholarship from the Egil Johansen Memorial Society.
On stage:
Helge Albin – saxophone
Karl-Martin Almqvist – saxophone
Jacob Karlzon – piano
Johnny Åman – bass
Lennart Gruvstedt – drums and percussion