While the
Tolvan Big Band is comprised of Swedish musicians and all seven of the selections that they perform on
Code Red are originals (by either leader-altoist
Helge Albin, saxophonist
Cennet Jonsson, or pianist
Jacob Karlzon), the music can easily pass for modern and swinging American big-band jazz. The material is fresh and the solos are lively but there is nothing obviously Swedish or exotic about the music. The musicianship is top-notch and among the soloists are trumpeter
Peter Asplund (probably the best known of the musicians outside Sweden), trombonist
Vincent Nilsson, and
Jonsson, who is showcased on bass clarinet during "Subconscious C."
Albin just takes one solo (on "Cats and Dogs") but deserves congratulations for keeping the
Tolvan Big Band together since 1979; it was considered a major orchestra in Sweden by 1983 and its music communicates very well to all jazz listeners.