New Jack Wilkins (Sax) CD Adds Swedish Twist - Saxophonist Jack Wilkins, Director of Jazz Studies at the University of South Florida, has teamed with colleague and pianist Per Danielsson to produce a straight-ahead jazz release with a uniquely Swedish twist. The sextet session, Dear Old Stockholm, was recorded in Stockholm with a superb Swedish rhythm section led by Danielsson (piano), with Hans Backenroth (bass) and Johan Lofqrantz Ramsay (drums). Wilkins’ improvising and arranging talents are on abundant display but never overpower the ensemble work of the group. Sharing soloist duties with Wilkins is Swedish trumpet legend Jan Allan. Though unknown to American audiences, the silky smooth Allan is a revelation, evoking influences of early Miles and the cool of Chet Baker but with a sound all his own. Also adding memorable support is Per Danielsson’s wife Tamara on alto. The set-list includes a diverse array of standards, near standards, originals, and the title tune, Dear Old Stockholm, a Swedish traditional beautifully arranged by Wilkins. Reviews of Dear Old Stockholm: om: Allaboutjazz.com http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=28578 BIO Jack Wilkins is an active performer, leading his own projects, appearing as guest artist with numerous professional and collegiate jazz bands, and performing as a featured soloist with Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge big band and the group Common Ground. Jack is Selmer Instrument Company Artist and an active clinician and adjudicator, having appeared at many high school and college jazz festivals in the USA, Canada, Russia and South Africa. During the summers Jack teaches and performs as a member of the faculties of the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops and the Jazzwise Summer Workshops in London. Jack Wilkins publications include the Essential Jazz Etudes series by Mel Bay Publishing, and the software based multimedia textbook Jazz: The Great American Art Form, by Faulkner Press. Jack Wilkins serves as a member of the International Association for Jazz Education Resource Team as a woodwind specialist, providing expert advice and counsel to the 12,000 members of IAJE. Jack Wilkins has 3 CD’s out as a leader, ARTWORK on KochJazz, Ridgelines on ClaveBop Records, his newest CD release, Dear Old Stockholm, on NHV Music. These CD’s have received great reviews, and significant radio play on jazz stations around the world. Dear Old Stockholm, released in January 2007, features Wilkins with Swedish trumpeter Jan Allan and other Stockholm based artists. Jack Wilkins can also be heard on the 3 critically acclaimed recordings by Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge big band, The Jazz Surge, Madcap and Here We Are, all on Seabreeze Records. Wilkins compositions and improvisations are also featured on the well-received Common Ground CD on Improvibes Records.