New Orleans Jazz - News and Views - Lars Edegran

Since 1965 Lars Edegran has been an innovativeOrleans Ragtime Orchestra began many years of
presence in New Orleans music. Histouring and recording and is still active today. The
accomplishments as arranger, bandleader, talentInternational Dixieland Jazz Band (two Swedes,
scout, record producer, and performer aretwo Japanese and two Americans), under the
well-known throughout the world. He receivedleadership of Lars Edegran, held forth at Luthjen's
national acclaim when his soundtrack for LouisDance Hall for two years in the late 1960s and
Malle's film Pretty Baby was nominated for anafter that Lars began a long stint of working in
Academy Award and his orchestrations for theBourbon
off-Broadway smash hit "One Mo' Time" resultedStreet clubs that was to last till his move to New
in a Grammy Award nomination for the originalYork in 1979. During the 1970s Lars also
cast album.undertook European tours with the New Orleans
Lars was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1944. HeJoy Makers, a group of jazz veterans, and the
started taking classical piano lessons at the age ofNew Orleans Ragtime Orchestra.
seven but soon developed an interest in playingLars spent six years in New York being employed
American music ­traditional jazz and blues - byby the "One Mo' Time" company as pianist,
listening to his piano-playing brother's bandmusical director and arranger. "One Mo' Time" was
rehearsing at the house. Lars' father also playeda New Orleans musical that became a hit as an
music - guitar, banjo & mandolin - and encouragedoff-Broadway show while playing at the Village
all his children to learn an instrument. By the lateGate in New York City and then had successful
1950s Lars was playing piano in local Dixielandruns in London, Toronto, Melbourne, Sydney and
bands and in 1961 he organized a New OrleansWashington, D.C., as well as a number of long
style band with clarinetist Orange Kellin andtours in the USA and abroad. Lars was involved in
several other friends, The Imperial Band. Thisall the various companies training the vocalists and
group's main inspiration were the New Orleansworking with the bands. While in New York Lars
Revival recordings of the 1940s and 50s. Thealso worked as musical director and arranger in
Imperial Band became popular in Stockholm andseveral other theatrical productions. After taking
toured in Sweden and Denmark although most ofsome music courses at the Juilliard School of
the members were still at school at the time.Music and lessons in big band arranging from
Lars left Sweden in March 1965 when BobSwing Era veteran Eddie Barefield he moved back
Koester offered him a job in his Chicago jazzto New Orleans in 1985.
record store. There wasn't much jazz in ChicagoLars returned to touring with various jazz bands
to Lars' liking so he spent a lot of time in theas well as keeping busy free-lancing on the New
blues clubs listening to Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy,Orleans jazz scene. He got a position furnishing
J.B. Lenoir and others. He also got a chance tothe music for the Riverwalk Market Place in 1987
meet and hear some of his country blues- still going at the time of writing - and the
favorites - Big Joe Williams, Son House, Lightnin'following year replaced Sing Miller in Percy
Hopkins and Mance Lipscomb.Humphrey's Preservation Hall Jazz Band. This led
After five months' stay in Chicago, Lars decidedto a number of years of touring the USA as well
to take the trip down to New Orleans to hearas long stays in Mexico and appearances in
some of his favorite jazz players. He was soThailand, Israel and Greece. In recent years Lars
overwhelmed by the friendliness of the peoplehas spent the winters working in New Orleans and
and the exciting music at Preservation Hall andthe summers touring Europe; usually with his own
other places that he right away decided to givegroup of New Orleans artists but occasionally as a
up his job in Chicago and try his luck in Newguest artist.
Orleans. He has made New Orleans his home everLars has recorded with numerous jazz greats -
since, apart from a six-year hiatus in New York.Doc Cheatham, Sammy Price, George Lewis,
Lars' first musical activities on the New OrleansLouis Nelson, Jim Robinson, Jabbo Smith, Percy &
music scene was playing clarinet in brass bandsWillie Humphrey, Louis Barbarin, Danny Barker, AI
and he soon became a regular member ofCasey, Arvell Shaw - and has produced many
Andrew Morgan's Young Tuxedo Brass Band. Onrecordings in the blues, gospel and jazz field.
week-ends he played guitar at Munster's DanceI asked Lars about his plans for 2009 and again
Hall with Tony Fougerat's band and that wayhe will be touring Europe, Scandinavia and then
learned a lot of tunes not normally heard on jazzItaly, with superb New Orleans musicians and the
records. On the recommendation of Harry Shields,stunning Juanita Brooks who adds that hot New
Lars joined Sharkey Bonano's band, which at thatOrleans spice to the music. In Scandinavia, he will
time played mainly private functions. In 1967 Larsbe Musical Director with Sammy Rimmington and
discovered a treasure trove of ragtimeJuanita Brooks. In Italy he will be playing with his
orchestrations in the Tulane University Jazzown band from New Orleans, including Tommy
Archives which led to the formation of the NewSancton and Freddy Lonzo. I asked Lars why he
Orleans Ragtime Orchestra, at that time the onlydid not visit the UK and basically he said that
group in the country playing classical ragtime -nobody had asked him! I believe that his Mahalia
some six years before the movie "The Sting".Jackson tribute with Topsy Chapman and Juanita
After appearances at the first New Orleans JazzBrooks would fill any concert hall in the world
Festival and the 1970 Newport Festival, the Newincluding the Royal Festival Hall..