
Kjell Westling
“Kjell could play ANY instrument”
Kjell Westling (19/12 1942 – 2/10 2010)
It was a shock when in the fall of 2010 we suddenly lost our dear friend, the music genius Kjell Westling in a tempest of cancer that went from 0 to 100 in a month. I, Bengt Berger, had played with him for 50 years since we ventured into music improvisation together, discovering Indian classical, African, Swedish and other folk musics, odd meters, modes, jazz and what not.
He wrote lots of music in many genres for theatre and various groups and singers. Plus being an awesome improviser on any instrument in any setting.
Watch Kjell and Roland Keijser improvising
Here is a newly found video of Kjell and Roland Keijser improvising together at ISKRA‘s 20 year celebration at Fasching in Stockholm. They improvise around Tenderly, Halling from Gudbrandsdalen, How Much is that Doggie in the Window och Changs Polska:
More about Kjell
Two radio shows about Kjell are broadcasted Swedish National Radio. Catch them here
A book about him, Kjell Westling och Musiken is published with tales by a lot of friends and colleagues. It will be released at Rönells on September 18th with quite a few of us talking and playing.
Kjell Westling memorial party was held at Fasching on November21, 2021!
Some photos:










Kjell on Country & Eastern
On our label you will find Kjell in a duet where he plays bass clarinet and sopranino sax on two long pieces with me in a live recording from jazzclub Fasching, Live in Stockholm, 1977.
Also he was a very important member of our “Party Band” that you can hear on the double cd C&E Christmas.
In 2011 we released the album that turned out to be Kjell’s last, Per Tjernberg’s MUSIC IS MY SALVATION
In 2012 we released a recording from 1977 with Roland Keijser and Bengt Berger, The Vedbod Tapes with a digital complement More Vedbod Tapes
In 2014 we released “Again and Again”, mostly old recordings from the seventies with Spjärnsvallet where Kjell plays a prominent part.
Kjell Westling appears on the following C&E albums:
CE11 Bengt Berger & Kjell Westling: Live – Stockholm 1977
CE12 The Party Band: Country & Eastern Christmas
CE18: Per Tjernberg: Music Is My Salvation
CE20: Bengt Berger-Roland Keijser-Kjell Westling: The Vedbod Tapes
CEX15: Bengt Berger-Roland Keijser-Kjell Westling: More Vedbod Tapes
CE31: Spjärnsvallet: Again and Again
Other albums with Kjell Westling

Swedish Jazz History – Vol 11
[2017·CAP22067]

Again And Again (vinyl Edition)
[MLR008]

Again And Again
[CE31]

Music Is My Salvation
[CE18]

The Vedbod Tapes
[CE20]

More Vedbod Tapes
[CEX15]

Live In Stockholm 77
[CE11]

Another Swedish Christmas – Country & Easterns Julskiva
[CE12]

Tarang
[1995·RUBCD12]

Bitter Funeral Beer
[1982 ECM 1179]

Spjärnsvallet
[1976·MNW57P]

Till Soluppgång Och Till Lycka
[1972-K3]

Arbete Och Fritid: Club Jazz – 6
[1972·SR]

Fickteatern: Allt Växer Tills Det Hejdas
[1971·MNW16P]

Sånger Om Kvinnor (songs About Women)
[1971·MNW23P]

Skäggmanslaget: Snus, Mus Och Brännvin
[1971·SONET SLP-2522]

Arbete Och Fritids Andra Lp
[1971·SLP2526]

Arbete Och Fritid
[1970·SONET]