Simon Toldams oktet: Georg Riedel (DK)

Tribute to Georg Riedel by Simon Toldams Octet

This concert is a tribute to the great Swedish bassist and composer Georg Riedel, who died in 2024. Riedel is best known for his collaborations with pianist Jan Johansson - not least the iconic album Jazz på svenska (1964). He has also written music for Astrid Lindgren's stories, ballet music, choral music, children's songs, and, of course, many jazz compositions.

Simon Toldam, who had the pleasure of playing with Riedel in his later years, says:

"Georg Riedel died six months ago and he was a fantastic composer and musician. He played on my album Tak For Dit Brev and I'm very grateful to have known him. He was very inspiring - both as a person and as a musician. We talked a lot on the phone and he would always ask me if I had heard any music that he didn't know about. He was curious, full of music, warmth, and smiles - right to the end.

The concert presents a special group of Swedish and Danish musicians who will celebrate Riedel's musical legacy.

Musical Program:
The repertoire includes "Paroxysmer for syv" - a suite composed by Georg Riedel - as well as selected children's songs, music written in collaboration with Cornelis Vreeswijk, and some tribute compositions by Christina von Bülow and Simon Toldam.

Formation:
Christina von Bülow (a-sax, fl), Nils Berg (t-sax, fl), Tobias Wiklund (cor), Jonas Westergaard (b), Kresten Osgood (drm), Hein Westgaard (g), Qarin Wikström (voc), Simon Toldam (p)