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JENNIE LÖBEL & SWING KINGS are a real swing band, playing mainly American swing from the 40s, with occasional visits to other jazz eras. Jennie sings some standards but is mostly known for picking up unusual songs from the repertoires of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Bessie Smith. Because of their unusual repertoire, big individual contributions from the members and a tight ensemble, the band has created quite a stir at jazz clubs, parties, dances, restaurants and jazz festivals around Sweden and Europe. In the summer of 1998 the band released their first CD which extended their reputation beyond the borders of Sweden, for example to the motherland of swing, the USA. In 2001 came the second CD that swing lovers are dancing to around the world. In the summer of 2001 the band did their first tour abroad, to Swing City-Zurich, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin and Lund. They performed with the dance troupe The Rhythm Hot Shots. In Berlin the band and dancers were given a welcome party at a big square in town. Jennie Löbel & Swing Kings were formed in the spring of 1995. Before that Jennie had sung with her father Tommy's band on some rehearsals and gigs. Tommy thought Jennie should have her own band and organised four gigs for the non-existing band, at restaurant Eken in Stockholm. Tommy, who is full of ideas about band formations, wanted to form a ”Billie Holiday setting” around Jennie. He decided that tenor saxophone, trumpet and clarinet should give the right sound. Three wind instruments can play a variety of beautiful tunes together to back up the song. The guys in Swing Kings also sound great without a singer, when they play beautiful arrangements and solos in instrumental pieces. Jennie Löbel & Swing Kings have become very popular with dancers, both foxtrotters and lindy hoppers. These discerning dancers don’t really know why they like the sound. It’s just something they feel in their bones. The secret is in the steady rhythm of the piano, bass, drums and guitar. The guitar in Swing Kings is particularly important for the rhythm and the swing. The band consists of a bunch of characters who have a lot of opinions about everything, from single harmonies to how to organise a tour. What holds them together is the joy of playing together with other good musicians, always keen to improve and to relate to the audience. And above all, the love of Swing. The band consists of Jennie Löbel - vocals, Pelle Andersson- tenor saxophone, Tomas Driving - trumpet, Tommy Löbel - clarinet, Lennart Brundin - piano, Hasse Carlsson - drums, Olle Brostedt - bass and Klas Lagerberg - guitar. |
