June 16th, 2008
Esbjörn Svensson, R.I.P.
Swedish pianist Esbjörn Svensson, one of the most popular jazz artists in Europe and leader of the trio e.s.t., died on Saturday while scuba diving near Stockholm. He was 44 years old.
Svensson and his band became stars at home, crossing over to a pop audience and drawing tremendous attention along with armfuls of awards since first hitting the scene in 1991. But despite that runaway success, the group never gained much traction in the United States. They were, however, often held up by critics as exemplars of a jazz aesthetic that has evolved largely outside the blues ‘n’ bebop tradition, and in 2006 e.s.t. became the first European jazz band to be featured on the cover of Down Beat magazine.
Here’s a YouTube clip of e.s.t. in action from 2003, which gives a pretty good impression of the group’s calmly innovative approach and subtle rock influences.
Obituary from The Local (Swedish news site, June 16) »
Esbjörn Svensson website »
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