A Smörgåsbord of Sound

A Smörgåsbord of Sound is a survey of modern jazz in Scandinavia between the years 1949 and 1980. Its main section is an A-Z of 76 musicians and bands from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and America who helped to establish and develop the music in the region. Key recordings are assessed and the principal aim is to argue for the music's significance and pleasure-giving potential in the current age. A central claim is that Scandinavian jazz eventually departed from the American model and created its own highly distinctive forms. A Smörgåsbord of Sound is written in an accessible style with little in the way of complex terminology and is aimed at experienced modern jazz fans as well as younger readers wishing to get a handle on the music. It concludes with a list of 52 essential albums.