I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that my favorite recording by trumpeter Art Farmer was his stunning 1964 album To Sweden With Love (Atlantic), a lyrical quartet session inspired by a tour his group took through the country mentioned in the album’s title. I’ve read differing accounts about where the concept came from—either a producer suggested it, or Farmer himself conceived the notion of playing Swedish folk songs in a jazz mode, after hearing some local players do just that while he was touring there—but in the end it hardly matters. Joined by a superb band including guitarist Jim Hall, bassist Steve Swallow, and drummer Pete LaRoca, Farmer—always an excellent, supermelodic balladeer—found a perfect repertoire for his sensual, pretty improvising, and his cohorts masterfully balanced swinging propulsion and lean, precise harmonic execution.
Today’s playlist:
