01. "Late date" 02. "Lover Man" 03. "Beautiful Heart" 04. "Gone With The Wind" 05. "Merlin" 06. "Always" 07. "Man Lover" 08. "All The Things You Are" 09. "Yesterdays" 10. "Too Marvelous For Words" 11. "BBC Blues" 12. "Late Summer" 13. "For F.J. Fans Only" 14. "Merlin tk 1" 15. "Merlin tk 2"
Description:
Runningtime: 00:00:00, Labelcode DRCD244
"Late Summer" is a CD that presents the refined, introspective universe of baritone saxophonist Lars Gullin, one of the most distinctive Scandinavian voices of cool jazz. This album gathers carefully chosen recordings from an inspired creative period, where Gullin's warm, singing tone, subtle harmonies and understated swing are brought to the foreground. Rather than pure technical display, the music focuses on atmosphere, melodic clarity and the delicate interaction between the musicians. The listener is invited into a gentle but sophisticated soundscape, with elegant arrangements and thoughtful solos that make this CD particularly suitable for late-night listening or moments of calm, attentive focus.
As a physical CD edition, "Late Summer" is ideal for jazz listeners who value nuance, acoustic timbres and a coherent album concept. The selection and sequencing of the pieces (where available) highlight the late-summer mood implied by the title: a blend of light melancholy, warmth and quiet energy. Ballads, mid-tempo tunes and more buoyant tracks are balanced so as to showcase Gullin's range as both composer and improviser, while preserving a strong narrative line from the first track to the last. The result is a recording that works equally well as an immersive, concentrated listening experience and as a refined, atmospheric backdrop.
Lars Gullin (1928-1976) is recognized as one of the major baritone saxophonists in jazz and a key figure in Swedish and European jazz history. His lyrical approach and cool-jazz aesthetic led him to develop a personal sound that is often described as soft, airy and highly melodic, setting him apart from the more forceful baritone styles of several American contemporaries. Over the course of his career, he made his mark as an original composer and bandleader and collaborated with many leading Scandinavian and international musicians. His recordings from the 1950s and 1960s are frequently cited as milestones of European cool jazz and continue to be treasured by connoisseurs and musicians alike.
The Dragon label is known as a dedicated Swedish jazz imprint, specializing in the documentation and preservation of important chapters of Scandinavian jazz. Instead of aiming for mainstream mass production, Dragon focuses on carefully curated releases, reissues and archival projects, often bringing to light sessions that might otherwise remain overlooked. Among jazz aficionados, Dragon enjoys a solid reputation for its expertise, respect for historical material, commitment to sound quality and informative presentation. A Dragon release like "Late Summer" can thus be seen both as a high-quality musical product and as a valuable document of jazz heritage, aimed at listeners who appreciate authenticity and historical depth in their collection.