I want to spotlight one of my favorite musicians, trombonist Nils Landgren. Nils is a consummate artist, both as an instrumentalist and musical innovator. His musical organizations are highly original: Funk Unit is anything but funky, and New Eyes On Baroque is a really innovative approach to classical traditions that I’m sure Bach and his contemporaries would approve of.

Nils’ trombone playing is characterized by purity of sound reminiscent of the classic ballad players of bygone eras, spot-on intonation, liquid-smooth legato and a gorgeous vocal-like vibrato. As an introduction, watch his encore arrangement of the traditional Swedish folk song “Ack Värmeland du Sköna.”

The Nils Landgren Funk Unit has recorded 12 albums to great critical acclaim since 1992. The ensemble, which Stereo Magazine called “the best funk band in Europe,” has won the German Jazz Award (Deutsche Jazzpreis), and tours extensively around the world. In 2009, Funk Unit formed a partnership with Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) to support efforts in Kibera, Kenya and Soweto, South Africa. In addition to regular visits to those locations, Funk Unit recorded an album, “Funk for Life,” to generate funds to further support the projects.

Nils has also recorded numerous albums that present him in musical landscapes other than funk and jazz. For instance, New Eyes on Baroque is a collaboration with soprano Jeanette Köhn that celebrates the commonalities between jazz and baroque styles. While maintaining the utmost respect for the source material, Nils and the ensemble expand its vocabulary and offer a new perspective on late 18th-century repertoire.

Nils has continued recording during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, he recorded the album Kristallen with pianist Jan Lundgren.

His most recent album, Nature Boy, is a solo project accompanied only by the resonance of the church in which he recorded.

In addition to his inventive ensembles and solo performances, Nils is the Artistic Director of the Jazz Baltica Festival in Timmendorfer Strand-Niendorf and a professor at Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hamburg. He previously served as Artistic Advisor of the NDR Big Band in Hamburg, Artistic Director of the Jazzfest Berlin, and Artistic Director of the Bohuslän Big Band in Gothenburg.

Before pursuing his career as an improviser, Nils studied classical trombone in Karlstad with David Maytan, and at the University in Arvika with Ingemar Roos.

Being a musician and teacher you gradually understand and appreciate that you are just a part of a great musical eco system.All the input is filtered through oneself and comes out as a product, hopefully needed at that point. The process continues through your students in the same way.
One of my biggest and most important influences comes from my studies with Jay Friedman. He gave me so many tools and concepts I have used ever since, both as a musician and as a teacher.

I was lucky to get Nils Landgren as a student. He had the ability to absorb everything you suggested and immediately use it in his playing. Everything seemed to be easy and natural. In another word; talent! We worked on making music, and what tools would help to improve that. It was so great to see that some of the many things I got from Jay Friedman — such as pure sound, centered sound, clean beginning of sound popping out of the horn and, when needed, ping attacks. also having all that when you are playing really soft — Nils just got it all and has developed it over the years in a fantastic way.

Nils has always been a free spirit in the best sense of the word, and I am glad I managed to save him from being expelled from the college. Some of the teachers thought he didn’t pay enough attention to their subjects as he did the trombone.

Over the years teacher, student relations sometimes develop into great friendship. Thank you for that both Jay and Nils! Life has so much to offer!

Ingemar Roos

My studies with Ingemar saved my professional career. First of all, he was and is a truly great teacher, who has also become a dear friend. He taught me to be myself and to find my own way and on top of that, he actually saved me from getting expelled from the conservatory. Long story short, I did not do everything by the book. The teachers wanted me out. Ingemar stated that it would be a mistake to throw a talented, if somewhat lost, young man out. I stayed. 

As I went another direction, more towards jazz and improvisation, I had to learn all that myself — but through Ingemar, I was given a solid foundation and that has helped me immensely throughout my entire life as a musician.

Nils Landgren