1964–1965: Vasakvartetten

“För min del framstår denna grupps framträdanden här och vid Sagas orkestertävling i höstas som något av det mest remarkabla och intressanta som framträtt vid dessa tävlingar på många år” – Lennart Stenbeck, Orkesterjournalen

My first band

Vasakvartetten was my first band started in 1964 to play “avant-garde” jazz. We were at first a trio with pianist Anders Ahlmark who wrote most of our material and Mats Eriksson on bass.

Our first concert as quintet in 1964

In 1965 we were joined by Ann-Marie Nilsson and Thomas Driving on Eb- and Bb cornets.

Ann-Marie Nilsson, Bengt Berger and Mats Eriksson practising
Urban Yman joined the group at Pistolteatern

At that time there were competitions for young musicians. We debuted in one, won it and got our first review in the jazz journal Orkesterjournalen.

First review in Orkesterjournalen, May 1965