Country

:

Sweden

Birth

:

August 25, 1933 in Göthenburg, Sweden

Death

:

June 15, 2012

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Rune Gustafsson was a Swedish jazz and classical guitarist who was born on August 25, 1933, in Gothenburg, Sweden. He was raised in a musical family, and his father was a professional musician who played the accordion. Gustafsson began playing the guitar at the age of 14 and quickly developed a passion for music. Gustafsson's early musical influences were jazz guitarists such as Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian. He began playing in local jazz clubs and quickly gained a reputation as a talented guitarist. In 1953, he joined the Swedish Air Force Band, where he played for three years. After leaving the Air Force Band, Gustafsson began playing with various jazz groups in Sweden and Europe. In 1958, he joined the Arne Domnérus Quartet, which was one of the most popular jazz groups in Sweden at the time. Gustafsson's playing with the quartet was characterized by his virtuosic technique and his ability to blend jazz and classical music. In the 1960s, Gustafsson began to focus more on classical music. He studied with the renowned classical guitarist Andrés Segovia in Spain and began to perform classical guitar concerts throughout Europe. Gustafsson's classical guitar playing was characterized by his delicate touch and his ability to bring out the nuances of the music. Gustafsson's career reached new heights in the 1970s when he began to collaborate with other musicians. He recorded several albums with the Swedish jazz pianist Jan Johansson, including the critically acclaimed album "Jazz på svenska" (Jazz in Swedish). The album, which featured jazz arrangements of traditional Swedish folk songs, became one of the best-selling jazz albums in Sweden and helped to popularize jazz in the country. In addition to his collaborations with Johansson, Gustafsson also worked with other musicians such as the American jazz pianist Bill Evans and the Swedish singer Monica Zetterlund. He recorded several albums with Zetterlund, including the album "Waltz for Debby," which was recorded live at the Stockholm Jazz Festival in 1978. Gustafsson's career was marked by numerous awards and accolades. In 1972, he was awarded the Swedish Grammy for Best Jazz Album for his album "Move." He was also awarded the Django d'Or award for Best European Jazz Musician in 1994. Gustafsson continued to perform and record music throughout his career. He released his final album, "The Guitar Artistry of Rune Gustafsson," in 2012. The album featured recordings from throughout his career and showcased his virtuosic guitar playing. Gustafsson passed away on June 13, 2012, at the age of 78. He was remembered as one of the most influential guitarists in Swedish music history and as a musician who helped to bridge the gap between jazz and classical music.

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