Trumpets: Antonio Gaček,
Darko Sedak Benčić, Zvonimir Bajević
Trombones: Marin Ferketin, Miron Hauser
Saxophones: Andreas Marinello, alto saxophone
Mario Bačić, Vojkan Jocić, tenor saxophone
Damir Horvat, baritone saxophone
DavorDedić / Ivan Aleksijević, piano, keyboards
Goran Rukavina, double bass, bass guitar
Bruno Domiter, drums
Lasse Lindgren Big Constellation
Swedish trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist Lasse Lindgren (www.lasselindgren.se) is considered in European circles a synonym for great performing energy, exceptional mastery on the instrument, a brilliant band leader, whose every new project brings audiences on their feet however reserved they might be! Several years ago, together with his peer musicians from Sweden gathered in the Lasse Lindgren Big Constellation, he recorded the album Spirits featuring original arrangements and compositions by Maynard Ferguson, paying tribute, in his unrepeatable and typical way, to one of the greatest trumpet players in the history of jazz, who used to attract attention of wider musical circles with his broad musical views. In the recent years, Lasse Lindgren has been working as a freelance artist, while leading his own projects and groups such as: the Lasse Lindgren Hip Bop Constellation, the Lasse Lindgren Quartet Constellation, the Lasse Lindgren Big Constellation with which he has recorded four albums (Lindgren spelar Lindgren, Walkin’ Around, 1999, In The Mood For Standards, 2006, and Spirits, 2008).
In the recent years, Lindgren has been focusing on studying the music and, more generally, creative heritage of great Maynard Ferguson as well as Don Ellis, the two trumpet wizards who left a great mark on entire generations of jazz trumpeters, as well as other jazz musicians. In this context, the album Spirits, released three years ago, is of a great importance to Lindgren. The idea for the album came from Lindgren himself, who was fascinated by Ferguson’s playing and musical achievements since Lindgren’s beginnings on the trumpet. After this jazz great’s death in 2006, Lindgren, together with Erni Garside, Ferguson’s manager from 1967 to 1976 (the golden age of his career), came to the idea to record the album. Garside, who was responsible for Ferguson’s career after his relocation to Great Britain, was in the possession of the original arrangements as well as his trumpet which can be heard on some of his most famousalbums, but he did not have a man who could be trusted with performing it. He found such a person in Lindgren and the thing was settled, and the Lasse Lindgren Big Constellation recorded a dynamic and exciting album following in the footsteps of Maynard’s musical vision. Today, Lasse Lindgren is one of leading European jazz trumpet players, who is equally good when playing solo and as a lead trumpeter in big band context. As a soloist, he covers a wide range of styles, with an expression which reflects influences of the trumpet greats such as Dizzy Gilespie, Clark Terry, Roy Eldridge, Arturo Sandoval, Maynard Ferguson, and others.
Over the years, his regular visits and cooperation with Croatian, Slovenian and Italian jazz musicians of the younger generation led, in mid-2011, to the idea of joining forces to cherish and perform the music of great Maynard Ferguson. More than 150 arrangements he left in legacy for the future generations are now in Lasse Lindgren’s possession, who has found new enthusiasm for their presentation and further research in the 12 musicians from Zagreb, Ljubljana, Belgrade, Bolzano, Maribor, Varaždin, Osijek and Koprivnica gathered in the Lasse Lindgren Big Constellation: Antonio Gaček, Darko Sedak Benčić, Zvonimir Bajević, trumpets, Marin Ferketin, Miron Hauser, trombones, Andreas Marinello, alto saxophone, Mario Bočić, Vojkan Jocić, tenor saxophone, Mihael Gyoerek, baritone saxophone, Davor Dedić (Ivan Aleksijević), piano, keyboards, Goran Rukavina, double bass, bass guitar, Bruno Domiter, drums.
In one year of its existence, the band has appeared at: the Jazz Festival in Kranj (SLO), Jazz Fair in Čakovec (CRO), Club Slamič in Ljubljana, Club Katranin Zagreb and Club JazzTimes in Ravensburg (GER). They are preparing their first CD with the never recorded and released compositions that Maynard Ferguson originally wrote for his band, but due to circumstances the band never recorded. The album was recorded in June in Zagreb and is to be released soon.