Kalmar Sporthall Feb. 9 1963
The Kalmar Castle
Duke Ellington’s Nordic tour in February 1963 ended with two concerts in Kalmar in the southeast of Sweden on February 9, The band had arrived in England on January 11 to return to USA on March 15 from Paris. During this time more than 30 concert venues had been visited and also some visits to recording studios. Kalmar was one of the lesser towns on this tour, but there was obviously great local interest in this event. Following is part of an article in the local newspaper Barometern on February 11, 1963.
There were two concerts that evening in Kalmar, and a fair part of the the first has survived and also the opening of the second. Below you’ll find a sound example from the first concert
Jimmy Hamilton in Caliné (Silk Lace)
All the recorded material can be found in the Goodies Room.
The sound quality is passable, but not spectacular, and the repertoire does not reveal any surprises. Simon Brehm, the Swedish Chubby Jackson look-a-like bass player and introducer of the concert, presents Ellington and the band. From the first concert we hear the following numbers:
*The The A Train & intro*Kinda Dukish & Rockin’ In Rhythm*Caliné (Silk Lace)*New Concerto For Cootie*Tootie For Cootie*Star-Crossed Lovers*Things Ain’t What They Used To Be*Perdido*The Blues*Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me*
Brehm is also heard introducing the second concert where we can hear Theme & intro and Kinda Dukish & Rockin’ In Rhythm, which are the only surviving parts of the 2nd concert. This being the temporary farewell to Sweden for 1963, Ellington went on with the tour in Europe, and while in Paris made some Reprise recording sessions with Alice Babs, Bea Benjamin and also the famous Violin Session with Ray Nance, Stephan Grappelli and Svend Asmussen .
Ellington and the orchestra would be back in Sweden in early June, later on in the year, for a week’s stay at Gröna Lund in Stockholm.