Swedish Jazz Standards Vinyl

ÅSA ORBISON INTRODUCES “SWEDISH JAZZ STANDARDS”  –

With Legendary Guitarist Ulf Wakenius Swedish-American jazz vocalist Åsa Orbison joins forces with internationally acclaimed guitarist Ulf Wakenius, known for his years alongside jazz legend Oscar Peterson, to present “Swedish Jazz Standards,” a project that brings a hidden chapter of jazz history to American audiences. Rooted in the timeless Great American Songbook, the album uncovers a little-known (for Americans) story: in 1960s Sweden, American jazz standards were not only embraced but reimagined through entirely new Swedish lyrics – performed by pioneering female artists together with greats like Duke Ellington and Bill Evans. These were not direct translations, but poetic reinterpretations that gave the songs new emotional layers, shaped by Scandinavian culture and sensibility. 

“I grew up with these melodies in Swedish, came to America, where I came to know them all over again through their English versions. These true jazz standards transcend language, culture, and generation. Now, I get to share Swedish interpretations with my American audiences. Collaborating on the new arrangements with Roy and Ulf makes this journey especially meaningful. To me, it’s about honoring the universality of these songs while also telling my own story through them—and letting jazz speak Swedish.”

While classics made famous by artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Chet Baker helped define jazz in America, Swedish voices such as Monica Zetterlund, Alice Babs and Siw Malmkvist reshaped those same songs for a new audience— performing in Swedish with greats like Duke Ellington and Bill Evans. With “Swedish Jazz Standards,” Åsa Orbison is inviting American audiences to hear their own musical legacy through a new language, and a new lens. Together, Åsa and Ulf Wakenius craft an intimate, atmospheric sound where American swing meets Nordic melancholy—minimalist, expressive, and emotionally direct.

The album is produced by Roy Orbison Jr., whose deep roots in American music history help frame the project as a cultural dialogue between the United States and Sweden.