About

Monica Tellström Jazzband released in 2011 their debut album, a full length CD called Departure. A jazz record that received certain attention in press and radio – was for instance nominated for the Golden Record in OrkesterJournalen (the world’s oldest jazz magazine) in 2012. It was released on their own label Monica Music, recorded in the studio of Tonteknik in Umeå and produced by Pelle Henricsson at Butterfly Road Productions. In spring 2016 a new CD was recorded in the same studio. Release of the new album Destination Jazz in late August the same year. The CDs can easiest be bought via this homepage, but is also available in some record stores and on digital media like Spotify and iTunes - see Buy.

The band originally consisted of: Monica Tellström (vocals), Jake Jacobson (piano), Roger Stenberg (double bass) and Björn Rautio (drums). The band members met at the local jazzclub Jazzomat in Luleå, where spontanious jams often occured with the town’s many musicians. The jazzclub doesn’t exist anymore, sadly enough, and in the void the debut album was dedicated to Jazzomat. The pianist in the band also composed a tribute tune to the jazzclub – Jazzomat Shuffle – available on the record and awarded ‘The rookie of the week' ('Veckans färsking') in Sveriges Radio Norrbotten in March 2011. In 2014 the band was touring in England: Brighton in March and Liverpool in July-August. A few recordings from the tour are available on YouTube – see Listen.

For the new CD Tommy Skotte replaced Roger on double bass and Mats Danell has been on drums since Björn moved from town. Other additions to the band are Bengt Ek on clarinet and saxophone and Christer Ödberg on trumpet. Jake composed a song to Monica – Monica's Music – which tells the story of the band. Available on the record and awarded ‘The rookie of the week' ('Veckans färsking') in Sveriges Radio Norrbotten in August 2016. The band was with the new album for the second time nominated for the Golden Record in OrkesterJournalen in 2017. Hasse Östlund has now replaced Jake on the piano, since he moved from town. Sometimes the band appears as a trio with only Monica, Tommy and Hasse. Recently in 2023 the trio has expanded into a quartet, with Kjell Vesterberg on the drums.