Swedish jazz has a rich, venerable tradition of celebrated musicians with an international reputation. Although Swedish jazz has been accused every now and then of keeping a bit too close an eye on the United States, to most it has a clear Nordic sound with inspiration from Scandinavian folk music.

Lars Gullin is considered to be one of the greatest European jazz musicians of all time. Known for his sensitive baritone saxophone playing, combined with quirky compositions, he toured around the world in the 1950s and 1960s. His music may seem a long way from today’s contemporary jazz, but that’s simply not the case. While this new generation of jazz artists interpret their heritage and explore new sounds, they do so out of deep respect.

Some of the big bands like Blue House Jazz Orchestra or Norrbotten Big Band have a long, strong tradition in Swedish jazz. They can be dramatically electronic and play just as easily with samba rhythms as with a big brass sound. Modern jazz musicians are making organically groove-based hybrids consisting of organ riffs, bebop themes and ska. Some lean toward funk and garage rock — and some create hybrids of dub and free jazz, sometimes all-out house music. Swedish jazz has no borders.

Internationally, Esbjörn Svensson Trio (E.S.T.) is perhaps the best known, while many still think Jonas Kullhammar is the most exciting thing in Swedish jazz today. Kullhammar has taken part in over a hundred recordings, arranged jazz clubs and runs the record company Moserobie — called “the next Blue Note” by international journalists.

Glenn Miller Café and Fasching in Stockholm as well as Nefertiti in Gothenburg are all popular haunts for jazz lovers in Sweden.