In the 1960s Jan Johansson recorded a series of jazz versions of Swedish folkloric material that were subsequently released as Jazz på Svenska (‘Jazz in Swedish). It would provide the inspiration for a significant area of Nordic jazz and to this day is the best selling jazz album in Sweden. Its release was timely. Since the end of the Second World War, Sweden had eagerly followed the American model of consumerism, from white goods to movies, from jazz to literature. The Vietnam war brought on an identity crisis – was Sweden an American state marching towards urban conformity or was it a proud nation in its own right? Jazz på Svenska fitted in with this new national mood, and is still played regularly on the radio today. It also defined Johansson, who was Stan Getz’s accompanist of choice when he lived in Sweden then Denmark, able to play in a forthright bop style favoured by the saxophonist. However, on Jazz på Svenska we hear a different Johansson where his melodic construction, space, intensity and an unhurried approach to improvisation would help shape a Nordic sensibility in jazz known as the Nordic Tone. Germany has always been a big market for Scandinavian musicians, and these previously unreleased tracks are a major addition to the Johansson discography. Recorded for NDR, who have co-operated in their release, included are four pieces from Jazz på Svenska, perhaps the best known ‘Visa från Utanmyra’ performed here slightly slower than the original, which was 108 bpm – here it is 100bpm. The remaining material was recorded between 1964 and 1968 at the NDR workshops, including more improvisations based on Swedish folk themes and versions of American standards. This exemplary collection provides another way of looking at jazz improvisation – from a European perspective – and so important was Johansson, even though he died in a car crash at the age of 37, he continues to be an inspiration for the current generation of Nordic pianists, not least Jan Lundgren, Tord Gustavsen and Helge Lien.