In 1957, he began working with the Carl-Henrik Norin orchestra in Stockholm. Over the coming years, he would work frequently in Copenhagen with groups such as the Jazz Quintet 60 and the Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra. Back in Sweden, he continued his work with Gullin and also worked frequently with trumpet player Jan Allan. In 1966, he joined the Danish Radio Big Band (led by Ib Glindemann), spending the summer in Gothenburg helping to look after his mother's hotel in the city. There he became seriously ill and died on his way to the hospital on 17 August 1966.[1]
The liner notes to the CD Rare Danish Recordings 1956-1957 states that:
According to the most credible jazz witnesses in Denmark and Sweden...Billberg was an extroverted artist with a gluttonous appetite for life and all it has to offer – including intoxicants, which came to affect both his emotional and physical health - but never stopped his love of playing in all tempos and keys.[2]
Music broadcaster Peter H. Larsen has drawn comparisons between Billberg's lyricism and that of Lee Konitz.[2]
Larsen, Peter H. (2005). Rare Danish Recordings 1956-1957 (liner notes). Storyville Records.
January 31, 2023
rolf, billberg, august, 1930, august, 1966, swedish, alto, saxophone, player, active, during, 1950s, 1960s, born, 1930, august, 1930lund, swedendied17, august, 1966, 1966, aged, gothenburg, swedengenresbebopinstrument, alto, saxophone, primary, tenor, saxophon. Rolf Billberg 22 August 1930 17 August 1966 was a Swedish alto saxophone player active during the 1950s and 1960s Rolf BillbergBorn 1930 08 22 22 August 1930Lund SwedenDied17 August 1966 1966 08 17 aged 35 Gothenburg SwedenGenresBebopInstrument s Alto saxophone primary Tenor saxophone ClarinetYears active1950s 1960s Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 3 Notes 4 ReferencesBiography EditRolf Billberg was born in Lund Sweden on 22 August 1930 and was raised by his mother in Gothenburg At age 17 Billberg began playing clarinet and performed with an Uddevalla military band for four years He then made the switch to the tenor saxophone and worked with local bands in Visby Boras and Gothenburg going to Stockholm in 1954 to join the Simon Brehm orchestra From 1954 1955 Billberg worked with Lars Gullin and recorded with him In 1955 he worked in Copenhagen Denmark with the Lasse Wanderyd orchestra and later for the Ib Glindemann orchestra in 1956 From 1956 1957 Billberg was performing in various American clubs located in Germany and France with vibraphonist Vera Auer It was during this period that Billberg switched to alto saxophone 1 In 1957 he began working with the Carl Henrik Norin orchestra in Stockholm Over the coming years he would work frequently in Copenhagen with groups such as the Jazz Quintet 60 and the Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra Back in Sweden he continued his work with Gullin and also worked frequently with trumpet player Jan Allan In 1966 he joined the Danish Radio Big Band led by Ib Glindemann spending the summer in Gothenburg helping to look after his mother s hotel in the city There he became seriously ill and died on his way to the hospital on 17 August 1966 1 The liner notes to the CD Rare Danish Recordings 1956 1957 states that According to the most credible jazz witnesses in Denmark and Sweden Billberg was an extroverted artist with a gluttonous appetite for life and all it has to offer including intoxicants which came to affect both his emotional and physical health but never stopped his love of playing in all tempos and keys 2 Music broadcaster Peter H Larsen has drawn comparisons between Billberg s lyricism and that of Lee Konitz 2 Discography Edit1955 1956 Lars Gullin with Chet Baker Vol 1 1955 Dragon Records Great Lars Gullin Vol 1 1955 Dragon Records Sax Appeal amp Trisection 1963 by Nils Lindberg Dragon Records 1944 1955 Vol 3 Late Summer 1995 by Lars Gullin Dragon Records Symphony No 1 amp Jazz From Studio A 1998 by Nils Lindberg Dragon Records 50 Years on Stage 2002 by Ib Glindemann Edel Mega Stan Kenton with the Danish Radio Big Band 2003 Storyville Records Darn That Dream 2002 Dragon Records Brand New Swedish Jazz Vol 9 1960 1964 2004 Caprice Records Rare Danish Recordings 1956 1957 2005 Storyville Records Altosupremo 2007 Anagram RecordsNotes Edit a b Knox Keith 2006 A Swedish jazzlegend Mickey Billberg Archived from the original on 2007 03 15 a b Larsen Peter H Rare Danish Recordings liner notes Storyville Records References EditLarsen Peter H 2005 Rare Danish Recordings 1956 1957 liner notes Storyville Records Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rolf Billberg amp oldid 1130649612, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
