--=[ Nils Landgren 2 ]=--

Nils Landgren Funk Unit - Fonk da World [2001]

Trombonist Nils Landgren covers a variety of funky styles on Fonk da World. There are a few vocals (the opening "Booty Rock" has some rap) but also some worthwhile soloing from Landgren, altoist Per Rusktrask Johansson, and the oversized rhythm section.This set (which ranges from funky jazz to early fusion and soul-jazz) is very memorable. Fonk da World succeeds on its own limited terms.















Nils Landgren - Funky ABBA [2004]


The man with the red horn (yes, he plays a red trombone) and the smoky voice really hit me right between the eyes this time.This intriguing 2004 release finds Swedish trombonist/producer Nils Landgren putting a funk/neo-soul/hip-hop spin on ABBA's songs, which works surprisingly well in an R&B-oriented environment. Then again, it isn't all that surprising when you consider that ABBA had funk and disco influences. In their own glossy, sugary way, some of ABBA's hits were funky -- mildly funky, but funky nonetheless. So in some cases, Landgren takes Europop gems that already had a little funk to begin with -- including "Voulez-Vous," "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight")" and "Money, Money, Money" -- and gives them a great deal of funk. And even though ABBA's classic versions of "Dancing Queen," "SOS" and "Knowing Me, Knowing You" were a long way from hardcore R&B (more like hardcore Euro pop/Top 40), the tunes are certainly R&B-minded after Landgren interprets them. Employing various male and female vocalists, Landgren gives us some idea what the ABBA songbook might sound like in the hands of Jill Scott, R. Kelly, En Vogue or Erykah Badu. None of those artists are actually on this CD; regardless, Funky ABBA is, from an R&B standpoint, a creative success.

All track info is in the comment section..