Från öst till väst i kammarmusikalisk folkton

Half the music on this disc is Swedish folk music in delicate and ingenious arrangements by Hans Wahlgren (1930 - 1974). Not only was Wahlgren an accomplished accordionist, bass player and arranger but he was also leader and director/conductor of Sveriges Radios underhållningsorkester (Swedish Radio's Entertainment Orchestra). The other half of the repertoire comprises newly written compositions and arrangements by the Trio's accordionist Tommy Nilsson. By supplementing and combining Swedish tunes with other folk idioms from around the world, Trio GPS substantiates the value of broadening and developing the repertoire. Tommy has always been interested in different musical styles so it's no surprise that Wahlgren's arrangements inspired him to produce new, cross-border music for the Trio - principally tunes with eastern-European influences and with humorous undertones. Two professional musicians from the Swedish Chamber Orchestra in Örebro complete the Trio helping preserve the cultural inheritance and keep this musical genre alive.

Musicians: Cecilia Bukovinszky – violin, Kjell Nytting – clarinet, Tommy Nilsson - accordion

"A two-piece album where every other song is Swedish from different parts of the country and each other is songs from other European countries, mostly from the east. The Swedish songs are arranged by HansWahlgren (1930-1974), accordionist and bassist, but also orchestra leader and conductor. It turns out to be a treasure trick picked up, very well-written arrangements where folk music gets a run of classical music. Other songs have been picked up by the accordionist Tommy Nilsson, and he has also written some of the songs. Even these are delicately arranged. The two co-stars Kjell Nytting on clarinet and Cecilia Bukovinszky on violin play elsewhere in the Swedish Chamber Orchestra in Örebro. The disc consists of cross-fertilizing meetings between musicians from different traditions and music from widely different directions and the result has become outstanding. The musicians' interplay leaves nothing to be desired and the songs offer a variety of styles: tango and klezmer's side at side-by-side gangs and poles and more. A very lovely disc. "
Andreas Lagercranz LIRA