Smilin Eyes (2011)
was born and raised in Vastervik, Sweden. After high school he moved to the United States on a scholarship to study at the University of North Texas. He graduated in 1991 with a Master s Degree in jazz studies. In 1990, Stefan signed a three-cd recording contract with Justice Records Houston, Texas. His latter two recordings were a great success on the national jazz radio charts, GAVIN and R&R, with a first place, on both charts, for his second release The Road Not Taken. Stefan s fourth release, Live at Vartan Jazz, was recorded in 1997 by Vartan Jazz Records in Denver, Colorado. The album is a live recording and features bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Eliot Zigmund. Further, in 1993, he signed an exclusive publishing agreement with Equity Music Corporation, Hollywood, California. His music was featured in the 1994 movie releases Sugar Hill (featuring Wesley Snipes), Twenty Bucks (featuring Christopher Loyd), and the 1997 Independent film Strays. Over the years, his music has also been featured on the television series Melrose Place, Party of Five, Wings and Homicide. After having resided in Denver, Colorado (1991-1994) and in Las Vegas, Nevada (1994-2002), fulfilling his duties as Coordinator of Jazz Studies at UNLV, Stefan is currently a professor of music in the University of North Texas jazz studies division. Stefan stays active playing at festivals, clubs and conferences worldwide as leader and sideman. His discography includes 63 recordings with eight CD s as leader. Since 1996, Stefan has been a member of the Eddie Gomez Trio and Quartet (including Jimmy Cobb, Nasheet Waitts, Billy Hart, Duduka da Fonseca, and Jeremy Steig) frequently touring Japan, Europe and the United States. He has also recorded and performed with artists such as Jesse Davis, Herb Ellis, Jim Ferguson, Carl Fontana, Tim Hagans, Steve Houghton, Clay Jenkins, Marc Johnson, Rich Matteson, Red Mitchell, Dick Oatts, Rich Perry, Chris Potter, Rufus Reid, Marvin Smitty Smith, Ed Soph, Marvin Stamm, Harvie S, Mark Walker, Tom Warrington, Jiggs Wigham, Eliot Zigmund, and others. In addition, Stefan has performed as an accompanist for vocalists Patti Austin with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (Morton Myerson Symphony Hall,) and with Monica Mancini with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (Bass Symphony Hall.) Stefan has had the opportunity to travel the globe performing in concert halls, festivals, clubs, and doing clinics at conferences and universities. Internationally, his travels have taken him throughout Japan, Scotland, Italy, Spain, France, Sweden, Finland, Mexico, Germany, Korea, and Australia.
Karlsson offers a profound taste of carefully crafted phrases.he is a pianist with great sensitivity and a huge capacity. Swing Journal Magazine (Japan) The thrilling excitement, which I used to feel, when I played with Bill {Evans} comes alive when I am playing with Stefan. He is a pianist who is absolutely bound to receive much attention[from an Eddie Gomez interview]. CD Journal Magazine (Japan) Karlsson avoids being totally predictable. He does not limit himself to the most obvious and overdone standards. Karlsson, God bless him, actually bothers to do his homework Allmusic.com His broad use of the keyboard and full sound are out when he works with the rhythm section an adventurous route that is not marred by too often traveled ruts-refreshing. the precise pianist, Jazz Times Magazine JazzReview.com The European Fake Book Over 100 of some of Europe s Best jazz writers, including: Sher Music Co.
Release date: March 1 st, 2011 New record: Smilin Eyes 01. Trikings 02. I Thought About You Jimmy Van Heusen / Johnny Mercer 03. All The Things You Are Jerome Kern / Oscar Hammerstein II 04. Old Folks Willard Robison / Dedette Lee Hill 05. How Deep Is The Ocean Irving Berlin 06. Smilin Eyes 07. My One And Only Love Guy Wood / Robert Mellin 08. Footprints Wayne Shorter 09. Darn That Dream Jimmy Van Heusen / Eddie DeLange 10. It Could Happen To You Jimmy Van Heusen / Johnny Burke, piano Smilin Eyes is the first solo piano album recorded by. A solo performance, it is for a pianist like his footprints. Karlsson s soul and strength are shown here with no interference or protection of a group. Not many jazz pianists have the ability of maintaining the interest and intensity over an hour of a solo piano performance. not only achieves that, but creates a warm atmosphere along the album, showing a wide palette of resources and colors. He uses the standard repertoire as a tool to express his personal voice. We can always feel the roots of the jazz idiom in his music. Long lyrical melody lines combined with the bebop phrasing (I Thought About You), the modal improvising (It Could Happen to You), the inventive voicings and fresh re-harmonizations (Darn that Dream), the deftly executed gradations of touch on the keyboard (My One and Only Love), the winks to the Classical literature (All The Things you Are), combined all together with an amazing imagination on the treatment of the form. The album includes also two original songs: the beautiful opening track Trikings, and Smilin Eyes, featured in the European Real Book edited by Sher Music Co. Smilin Eyes is a masterpiece that consolidates as one of the strongest pianist of the international jazz scene.
Selected discography AS A LEADER Smilin Eyes (Bebyne Records, 2011) Decisions (Summit Records, 2010) Music is Forever (TNC Jazz, 2005) No Place To Go But Up (TNC Jazz, 2000) Music Box (TNC Jazz, 1998) Live at Vartan Jazz (Vartan Jazz Records, 1997) Below Zero (Justice Records, 1994) The Road Not Taken (Justice Records, 1992) Room 292 (Justice Records, 1991) AS A SIDEMAN With the Eddie Gomez Trio & Quartet Featuring Jimmy Cobb and Jeremy Steig: Eddie Gomez Trio Live in Mexico (2010) Palermo (2006) Eddie Gomez Trio Live in Japan (2001) What s New at Studio F (2001) Uptown Music (1998) Dedication (1997) With the One O clock Lab Band- University of North Texas: Lab 90, Lab 89 and Lab 86 Live in Australia (1986) With Respect to Stan Kenton (1986) Other collaborations: Bi-Coastal Collective- Chapter One. Paul Tynan and Aaron Lington (2009) Out Of The New. Steve Wiest (2008) The Jazz Trombone. Carl Fontana & Al Hermann (2004) Norrbotten Big Band. Swedish Radio Archives (2004) Elegance. Marvin Stamm Quartet (2001) First Morning. Wayne de Silva (2001) Keepin Up With The Boneses. Carl Fontana & Jiggs Whigham (2000) Deep Summer Music featuring Chris Potter. Jim Ferguson (2000) Cosmic Soul. Phil Wigfall (2000) Down-Home. Herb Ellis (1996) Fred Wayne Orchestra (1996) Life is A Take. Red Mitchell & Rich Matteson (1987) Serendipity. Scott Whitfield (1986) Booking & Management: bebyne management management@bebyne.com. www.bebyne.com Distribution: Absolute Distribution info@absolutedistribution.com. www.absolutedistribution.com
2011 bebyne records For further information, please contact: Bebyne Productions, S.L. P.O. Box 6.024, 08080 Barcelona, Spain info@bebyne.com www.bebyne.com