wela records
wela records
Distribution: Plugged Sweden AB
www.plugged.se
Tel +46 8 31 91 15
E-mail: info@plugged.se
Wela Records is a record label started in January 2010 by Sven Larsson and
Cecilia Wennerström with the aim to produce CDs with our different jazz and
music projects. The record label Wela Records is an imprint of Wela Förlag which is a small book
publishing company owned by Cecilia Wennerström. It will now extend to CD
publishing in close cooperation with Wela Musikservice that is owned by Sven
Larsson.
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 WELACX2 |
WELACX2 / Salamander / In the Darkest Month Recorded December 1982. Photo: Sune Jonsson. Original release 1983 Dragon Records DRLP45. Remastered October 2020. Digital re-release November 2020 courtesy of Dragon Records. Zugspitze / Dagsmeja / Lingaka / Timbuktu / In the Darkest Month. Cecilia Wennerström - tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, Susanna Lindeborg - piano, Stig Boström - double bass, Vanja Holm - drums, Lelle Kullgren - guitar (on Timbuktu). Engineer: Åke Linton. Remastered by Lars Rosin. Total playing time ca 39 min. Salamander was started by Cecilia Wennerström in 1979 in Göteborg. At this time a nearly all-female group caught a lot of attention, and Salamander had tremendous success with its music that was a blend of free jazz and experimental. The group toured a lot in 1980-1984 in Sweden and Europe. In 1983 Salamander released its second LP "In the Darkest Month" with a quartet line up and with the late guitar player Lennart (Lelle) Kullgren appearing as a guest. The cover photo, that corresponds so well with the music, was given to Salamander by Sune Jonsson, one of Sweden's most celebrated photographers. "Salamanders musik är rik på upplevelser, storslagen i sina uttryck. Det är en musik att leva med." Erik Centerwall, SvD 1983. "Abgesehen davon,das Salamander in Susanna Lindeborg über eine hochqualifizierte Pianistin verfügt, die auch solistisch ihren Weg gehen wird, bietet diese Platte immerhin zwei sehr bemerkenswerte Ensembleleistungen, das erwähnte "Lingaka" und "In the darkest month". Gerade in letztgenannten Titel gerät die unterkühlte Ekstase zu zwingender Expressivität und inspiriert alle Beteiligten zu überzeugenden Leistungen, solistisch und in der Gruppe." Ulrich Vanek, Jazz Podium 1983. |
 WELACX1 |
WELACX1 / KG Johansson / Beethoven's Great Fugue Recorded 2018-2020. Digital release November 2020. Ludwig van Beethoven: Grosse Fuge / Maurice Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte / Benjamin Britten: Nocturnal After John Dowland. Guitar: KG Johansson. Produced by Erik Weissglas. Recorded by Jonas Lindström and Thomas Johannesson, mixed by Jonas Lindström and mastered by Claes Persson. Total playing time 43 min. KG Johansson studied Spanish guitar at Framnäs Folkhögskola in northern Sweden 1972–77. He then worked at the School of Music at Luleå University of Technology, mainly teaching rock music and electric guitar. Still, the Spanish guitar was always there. Beethoven’s Grosse Fuge was originally the last movement of String Quartet 13 (1825), but was also published separately. The piece is bold and harsh in several ways and didn’t win recognition until the 1900’s. It’s hard to master even for string quartets, and the reduction and arrangement for solo guitar was an "impossible project" with many months of work. Maurice Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte was originally written for piano (1899) and later orchestrated. There are several arrangements for solo guitar; this one is by Alan Gubbay (1969). Benjamin Britten’s Nocturnal, a variation piece built on a song by John Dowland, was premiered by Julian Bream in 1964. The variations are in “reverse order”, beginning far from the theme and presenting this as an ending. Dowland’s song is named Come, Heavy Sleepe, and Britten’s piece may be seen as representing a person falling asleep. |
 WELACD 007 |
WELACD 007 / Oktetten Lars 8 / Heritage Recorded May 2018. Released January 2019. Produced by NOToTON prod. www.nototon.com. Satisfaction guaranteed / Nice and Different / Päronet i Monticello / Sergel / Happy Again / Dyningar / The Secret of Swinging / Silhouette / Rune C / Farfars vals / Vännen Werner / Heritage / Cirklar och trioler / The Best Things in Life are Free. Total playing time ca 59 min. Christian Rosenberg - sång, Ulf Adåker - trumpet, Svenne Larsson - trombone, Ulf Andersson - alto saxophone, Cecilia Wennerström - tenor saxophone, Rune Stålspets - baritone saxophone and leader, Claes von Heijne - piano, Jan Adefelt - bass / Mårten Korkman - bass, Bo Söderberg - drums. Oktetten Lars 8 - nio musiker inkl vokalist - spelar jazzkompositioner och originalarrangemang av framför allt Lars Gullin, men även av Lars Sjösten, Lars Färnlöf och Lars Werner. Samtliga dessa kompositörer är ikoner inom den svenska jazzen, där i synnerhet Lars Gullin förde vidare ett musikaliskt arv baserat på ett nordiskt, romantiskt tonspråk. Flera av musikerna i Lars 8 har arbetat regelbundet och nära med en eller flera av ovanstående "Larsar" under årens lopp på såväl inspelningar som konserter. I oktettens repertoar ingår även originalarr och låtar av bandets egna medlemmar. "Ett hyllningsband till 1950- och 60-talsgiganterna med Lars i dopnamn ... Kan det vara nåt? Ja, och det är Oktetten Lars 8 som står för det nostalgiska återblickandet ..." Magnus Östnäs, Lira. Läs hela Liras recension av Heritage "Har lyssnat några gånger på den nu och tycker om den och blir glad." Dick Idestam-Almquist om Heritage "Utförandet är genomgående härligt rufsigt ... Musiken har i sin helhet en hög temperatur där kvicksilvret ofta slår i taket." Leif Wigh, Orkester Journalen. Läs hela recensionen i OJ av Heritage |
 WELACD 006 |
WELACD 006 / Salamander / Live at Northsea Jazz
Festival Recorded July 1981. Original release Dragon Records DRLP31. Remastered September 2017. Re-released October 2017 courtesy of Dragon Records. Andra kvällar / Tango hysteri / Korridor med sidogångar / Vaggsång för havet / Ekorrhjulet. Katarina Karlsson - alto saxophone, vocals, Cecilia Wennerström - tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, Susanna Lindeborg - piano, Stig Boström - double bass, Vanja Holm - drums. Remastered by Lars Rosin. Total playing time 40.28. Salamander was started by Cecilia Wennerström in 1979 in Göteborg. At this time a nearly all-female group caught a lot of attention, and Salamander had tremendous success with its music that was a blend of free jazz and experimental. In 1981 Salamander was invited to Women's Jazz festival in Kansas City and gave a concert that made the legendary jazz writer Leonard Feather write a long review praising the band in the Los Angeles Times. Salamander was also invited to the head quarters of Warner Brothers in New York for a possible record deal. In July the same year Salamander was invited to Northsea Jazz Festival, and the response was so overwhelming that the band was engaged for an extra concert the following day. This concert was recorded and released on Dragon Records. Now is the time to let new generations hear this music. "All the musicians are at the top of their game ... Enjoy the seamless shifts from freelt cast heterophony to eyes-upturned, harmonically pitched lyrical reflection in the often fiercely swinging Evenings ... A fine and valuable issue." Michael Tucker, Jazz Journal **** "En högst välkommen nyutgåva av blixtrande jazz som kan vara både samlad, ömsint smekande och fritt, brutalt konfrontativ. ... Salamanders musik är lika välkomnande i repris som den alltid har varit." Peter Sjöblom, Mono Magasin "Musiken är helt överväldigande och det fräschaste "återhörande" som nått mina öron på bra länge! Vilka musiker, vilken musik! Här samsas frijazz med tango, innerlig och expressiv jazz med vackra och underfundiga melodier ... Musiken har heller inte åldrats trots åren som gått ..." Roger Bergner, Orkesterjournalen 2017/6 "Salamander spelar rytmiskt spänstig musik med melodi och humor skymtande. Med friskt engagemang från samtliga medverkande och med solisten flygande högt ovanför grundmelodin. Skall man nämna någon stilistiskt likartad är samtida Willem Breukers Kollektif närmast." Thord Ehnberg, DigJazz (betyg 5 av 5) ●●●●● |
 WELACD 005 |
WELACD 005 /
Cecilia Wennerström / Lydian Mars Recorded May 2013 Released August 2013 Released with financial support from the Swedish Arts Council Broken Silence / Five Winds / Lydian Mars / Reflection / Min nisch / Mirnya / Olympus Mons. Total playing time 56.12. Cecilia Wennerström - tenor saxophone, alto flute, Maria Kvist - piano, Filip Augustson - double bass, Jonas Holgersson - drums. Lydian Mars is Cecilia Wennerström's fourth solo CD. Seven original compositions are performed in a style that could be described as mainstream jazz characterized by cool integrity. In this new quartet Wennerström uses both new and earlier composed music, with complex harmonic and rhythmic structure. "Wennerström plays lyrical tenor with a hard edge ... a good, wholesome sound in the tradition of early Coltrane and Rollins with contemporary flourishes ... Maria Kvist is an equally impressive talent with flowing, light-touch piano lines ... Augustson on bass and Jonas Holgersson on drums support splendidly, making this a most impressive quartet of music for today and now." Derek Ansell, Jazz Journal **** "Gives the windmills of your mind a thorough sweep through. Soothing sounds, gentle sax and close accompaniment." Editor's comments of the song Reflection that was 'Download of the day' in July 2013 at All About Jazz **** "Kvartetten har utfört en cd med vacker och samtidigt spännande musik utan alltför dramatiskt utspel. Ett spel som sker på djupet och inte på ytan." Leif Wigh, OrkesterJournalen ●●●● "Den fjärde plattan som bär Cecilia Wennerströms namn lyckas imponera med extremt välutförda saxofonsolon och tack vare samspelet med Maria Kvist, Filip Augustson och Jonas Holgersson är det svårt att inte uppskatta Lydian Mars." André Stray, NorrbottensKuriren "Långa solon med en massa bra idéer får sig lyssnaren till livs ... Gediget spel rakt igenom i sju originalkompositioner." Andreas Lagercrantz, Lira "Sju kompositioner blir till en välbalanserad CD med musik som lever" Lennart Götesson, Dalademokraten "Saxofonisten Cecilia Wennerström har jag gillat sedan 80-talet då hon ledde gruppen Salamander." Torbjörn Lyrhed, Folkbladet "Saxofonisten Cecilia Wennerström tillhör veteranerna nu för tiden. Hon fortsätter oförtrutet att leverera högklassig musik på albumet Lydian Mars, denna gång med sin egen kvartett." Björn G Stenberg, Uppsala Nya Tidning |
 WELACD 004 |
WELACD 004 /
Maria Kvist / Superficial Recorded June 2012 Released May 2013 Superficial / Chicken Feathers / Missing E / Autumn in New York / My one and only love / Mellotron Waltz / Symphonics / Disco Girl / I'll buy me a little happiness Maria Kvist - piano, vocals, mellotrone, trumpet, Linus Kåse - alto & soprano saxophone, Kristian Lind - double bass, Isak Andersson - drums, percussion.
Maria Kvist
has been referred to as a Swedish, unsentimental
Diana Krall. After several tours in Hong Kong,
China, Italy and Sweden her third solo album is
now released on Wela Records. Maria’s music
relies on a strong jazz foundation but also
blends various influences, as lyrical and
natural as urban. |
 WELACD 003 |
WELACD 003 / Wennerström
Larsson Explicity / Tussilago Recorded May 2011 Released September 2011 Tussilago / Impellent / Kaleidoscope / Second opening / Immersion / Implicity / Wind Song / Please tell me about it / Snacks / Sincerely Yours. Total playing time 60.44. Sven Larsson - bass trombone, didgeridoo, Cecilia Wennerström - tenor saxophone, alto flute, Filip Augustson - double bass, Henrik Wartel - drums, didgeridoo. Sven Larsson and Cecilia Wennerström have been exploring sounds and melodies for some years in their experimental Duo Wela. Now the couple felt that the time had come to extend the duo into a quartet. Unlike Duo Wela that plays all kinds of music, the new quartet is more explicitly freejazzy and therefore is named Explicity. "The music on this CD is both enjoyable and memorable. Sven Larsson and Cecilia Wennerström have produced a product that is highly creative and inspiring." Clarence Hines, ITA Journal "This is surprising music on a good and finely worked-through cd." Leif Wigh, Orkesterjournalen ●●●● "It's exciting to hear how easily this awkward instrument actually comes forward in his hands. He plays several very fine solos, for example in "Second Opening"" Magnus Nygren, Sound of Music "They all have something interesting to say" Lennart Olausson, Lira "free dialogue and unexpected ideas" Peter Bornemar, Dig Jazz |
 WELACD 002 |
WELACD
002 / Cecilia Wennerström / Minor Stomp Recorded June 1997 Re-released Febr 2011 Summertime / It might as well be spring / Minor stomp / Come rain or come shine / Behave yourself / You go to my head / Softly as in a morning sunrise. Total playing time 61.53. Cecilia Wennerström - baritone saxophone, Ann Blom - piano, Filip Augustson - double bass, Henrik Wartel - drums. This is Cecilia Wennerström's first recording in her own name. It was first released in 1997 on Four Leaf Records as FLCCD 157. It is now sold out at Four Leaf Clover, so Wela Records has made a re-release with sound files from the original master. "This is exhilarating contemporary jazz performed by four musicians with unfamiliar names but world-class credentials." Jack Bowers, All About Jazz 1999. Read the whole review! "... her routine and knowledge, mixed with obvious inspiration, serves her well" Leif Wigh, Orkesterjournalen 1997 |
 WELACD 001 |
WELACD
001 / Cecilia Wennerström / Fafner Recorded Nov 2009 Released Febr 2010 Walk with Dragons / Soria Moria / Pattern for Priscilla / Tribute to Don / Persistent Suggestion / Backyard Soul / For Fafner. Total playing time 51.29. All titles by Cecilia Wennerström except Tribute to Don by Bernt Rosengren. Cecilia Wennerström - tenor saxophone, Amanda Sedgwick - alto saxophone, Carl Bagge - piano, Kenji Rabson - double bass, Moussa Fadera - drums. In her new quintet Cecilia Wennerström combines tradition and renewal with fresh and newly written material in a perfect blend. Together with the elite of young Swedish jazz musicians she creates modern hard bop with a voice of her own. "It simply is good quintet jazz, and an enjoyable jazz with straight melodies that are easy to listen to." Lennart Götesson, Dalademokraten.  |
