Stockholm Folk Big Band

World music comes together with the big band tradition through the music of the Sweden-based Stockholm Big Band. A 14-piece group, the Stockholm Big Band includes members from 14 countries, most of whom are now based in Sweden. Native instruments, including the naz and zurna from Turkey, the nyckleharpa from Sweden, the kora from Gambia, the riti from Senegal, and the zilja from Greece, are combined to give the band a sound that transcends geographic borders. The Stockholm Big Band represents the combined vision of multi-instrumentalist Ale Möller and saxophonist Jonas Knutsson. Möller, who has been called the "godfather of Sweden's new folk music movement," previously worked with fiddler and vocalist Lena Willemark, with whom he recorded two albums -- Nordan and Agram. Knutsson is considered one of the spearheads of the Nordic country's jazz scene. Performing their debut show during a live broadcast from Sweden's Concert Hall in Berwaldhallen, on May 6, 1998, the Stockholm Big Band toured throughout Sweden for the following three months. Their debut album, Latitudes Crossing, was released shortly afterwards.