Bert Dahlander | Skål: Bert Dahlander And His Swedish Jazz—Verve MG V-8253
Tracks: How Do You Do; Johnson’s Wax; When Lights Are Low; Hip Soup; But Not For Me; Room 608; Medley—Everything Happens To Me, Moonlight In Vermont, Flamingo.
Personnel: Bert Dahlander, drums; Howard Roberts, guitar; Curtis Counce, bass; Victor Feldman, vibes.
Rating: ★★★1/2
Review: A very pleasant, and often stimulating set of tunes in varying tempos is gathered here by a compatible group with drummer Dahlander (also known as Bert Dale) at the helm. Although Feldman is not so credited, he is probably the pianist heard at times. The overall mood of the set matches the atmosphere set up by Red Norvo in his small group sessions. There is a similar quietly polished sense of direction. I particularly liked Feldman’s vibes on Room 608, and the fine comping of Roberts throughout. Counce is steady and affirmative, and the leader does something curious for a drummer: keeps himself subordinated as a soloist to the group sound. – Dom Cerulli
Ehsan: Americanised as Bert Dale, Bert Dahlander was a Gothenburg, Sweden native who started playing and recording jazz in the early 1950s. In 1954, Dale moved to the US for two years, working not necessarily as a drummer but also as Terry Gibbs's driver. Between his driving gigs, the Swedish drummer played for Sonnys (Rollins and Stitt), Wardell Gray, and even Lester Young. I don't hear any of that edgy, lyrical saxophonism here. This is cool, often cold, sometimes frozen music. However, his second US visit, which involved playing for – and not driving – Gibbs and Teddy Wilson, could have been a more visible influence on this Californian session from September 1957. The true stars are Feldman on the vibes and Roberts on the guitar. In fact, Fresh Sound Records in Spain has packaged this with some other Howard Roberts LPs and EPs and released them on CD as The Swingin' Groove of Howard Roberts. My rating: ★★1/2
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