Classic Knife in the Water (Nóż w wodzie, dir. Roman Polański, 1962) Krzysztof Komeda theme 'Ballad for Bernt' - played by the Swedish tenor saxophonist Bernt Rosengren who has died aged 85 - is on our minds today given news of the death of the great saxophonist.
It certainly takes us instantly back to 1997 and Litania on which he formed a pivotal part of Tomasz Stańko's septet in this classic Komeda homage. Rosengren according to reports died in Stockholm on 12 May.
Rosengren's albums included Stockholm Dues (1965) and his career saw him play with both Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization theorist George Russell and the pioneering world-jazz erstwhile Ornetttan innovator The Shape of Jazz to Come icon Don Cherry. Rosengren with Cherry appeared on albums that included 1973's Eternal Now.
Read more via Google Translate on the Polish connection to Rosengren in a fine tribute contained within the pages of Polish jazz magazine Jazz Forum that includes excerpts of an interview with Rosengren conducted by Marek Piechnat two years ago.
Bernt Rosengren: photo: Hreinn Gudlaugsson/Wikipedia
Tags: