The UK’s Guardian newspaper has called Rigmor Gustafsson “penetratingly delicate, and subtle,” and she continues to establish herself as one of the leading jazz vocalists in Scandinavia. She has released 9 CD’s since 1997. Three have sold gold in Sweden, the first jazz artist to have that honor since Monica Zetterlund’s 1991 classic Varsamt. Rigmor’s
The UK’s Guardian newspaper has called Rigmor Gustafsson “penetratingly delicate, and subtle,” and she continues to establish herself as one of the leading jazz vocalists in Scandinavia.
She has released 9 CD’s since 1997. Three have sold gold in Sweden, the first jazz artist to have that honor since Monica Zetterlund’s 1991 classic Varsamt. Rigmor’s “Alone with You” (2008) won a Swedish Grammy, and “I Will Wait for You” (2003) received The Jazz Award in Germany. In November 2013 she received the most prestigious jazz award in Sweden, “The Royal Musical Academy’s Jazz Award”. Her new CD, “When You Make Me Smile” with piano trio and orchestra, was released in August 2014.
Through the years Rigmor has toured around the globe, mostly with her own trio, but she has also featured in other constellations, (Radio String Quartet Vienna, Danish Radio Big Band, Swedish Radio Jazz Orchestra), and has appeared on a number of TV shows. She has performed twice at celebrations for Crown Princess Victoria: Her Royal Highness’ birthday and the 2010 royal wedding concert, both performances broadcasted live on Swedish National TV . Rigmor also performed at the 2003 Nobel Prize Ceremony, also broadcasted on Swedish National TV.
After moving to New York in 1993, Rigmor started working invarious jazz clubs in the NYC area (Birdland, Smalls, Metronome etc.) Mainly performing with her own quintet, she also performed with a range of legends including Fred Hersch, Reggie Workman, and bassist Avish Cohen, recording alongside Randy Brecker and Bob Mintzer. She returned to Sweden in 1996, formed a quintet, and released her first CD “In the light of day” in 1997. In 2002 she signed with the German record company ACT. Besides performing, she has also taught jazz voice at Sweden’s Royal Academy of Music. When not performing, she enjoys horseback riding and a good book.
In 2002 Rigmor was a guest star on Nils Landgren’s highly successful album “Sentimental Journey” (ACT 9409-2) and in 2003 she presented her debut on ACT “I Will Wait For You” (ACT 9418-2), which established her firmly in the tradition of great Swedish jazz singers like Monica Zetterlund, Lill Lindfors, Sylvia Vrethammer or Alice Babs. I
“Will Wait For You” rocketed up to second place in the German jazz charts and No.1 in Sweden, where she took over from Norah Jones, who had held place for 74 weeks. The German Jazz Award and a Gold record in Sweden were tangible rewards for the success of this album produced by Nils Landgren.
The following year Gustafsson and the French-American pianist Jacky Terrasson released a moving and sensual tribute to one of the greatest singers of pop culture, Dionne Warwick: “Close To You” (ACT 9703-2). Rarely have pop songs looked so good in jazz clothes. The new arrangements fit the soul-classics like a glove. The songs retain their pop identity, yet they have become exciting contemporary jazz. Gustafsson was not only rewarded with the Swedish Jazz Award, she was named “Best singer of the year” by Werner Burkhardt in the end-of the-year review in the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
On her next album “On My Way to You” (ACT 9710-2), released in February 2006, Gustafsson interpreted Michel Legrand’s world famous melodies from films with great jazz feeling. Some of his songs like “Windmills of Your Mind”, “Once upon a Summertime” or “You Must Believe in Spring”, have become part of the world’s musical heritage, and Gustafsson – directed by producer Landgren – proves to be the ideal voice for these songs. Michel Legrand himself admits: “I am honoured that Rigmor has chosen to do some of my songs. She knocks me out!” On My Way to You even placed Gustafsson 12th in the Swedish POP charts, and the album won a gold record in Sweden.
The following album ”Alone With You” (ACT 9717-2, released in fall 2007), her fourth release on ACT, ventures into uncharted (for Gustafsson) territory. Although she has been writing music and also lyrics herself for years, Gustafsson is more known to the public for her exceptional and empathic versions of other people’s songs. Now she has taken another step forward and put together a highly personal album comprised exclusively of her own songs.
In 2010 Rigmor recorded an incomparable album with the radio.string.quartet.vienna. “Calling You” (ACT 9722-2) is probably the only one among other song albums which unites vocals and strings in such a way as to form the “tapestry” of emotions found here. The tracks range from pop songs by Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder, to Burt Bacharach-classics, jazz standards and intricate rarities by Joni Mitchell and Richard Bona, as well as Swedish folk songs. This great musical richness is presented in the highly distinctive, sometimes warm, sometimes dynamic but always enjoyable style of the r.s.q.v., and carried by Gustafsson’s individual and moving voice.
After five albums in seven years with ACT it was time for something special: In 2011 Rigmor’s “Signature Edition” (ACT 6009-2) was released. This double-CD album contains a selection of songs from her last five albums as well as three previously unreleased songs. The range of her musical expressions is as broad as the range of human feelings itself: she sings blues and soul, several own compositions, enlightens sophisticated chansons, flirts with pop and classical music or improves with sparkling joy on catchy jazz pieces. Gustafsson loves to work with a host of very different musicians, for example with illustrious pianists Jacky Terrasson or Elise Einarsdotter; with the magical drummers Eric Harland or Wolfgang Haffner; with the genre-bending radio.string.quartet.vienna; and consistently with Nils Landgren, as a trombone player as well as a perfect matching singer.
“Her soul speaks to other souls”, Werner Burkhardt wrote about her performance at JazzBaltica a few years back. One is hard put to find better words for her voice and her personality.
