Our popular Summer Jazz Series returns to Scandinavia House! This summer we’re presenting performances from some of Scandinavia’s most talented young jazz musicians, composers, and singers on Thursday evenings in June and July. On June 29, see a performance by Stenmark Frei Duo, featuring Oskar Stenmark on flugelhorn and Addison Frei on piano.
Oskar Stenmark and Addison Frei have collaborated in numerous constellations in New York City, ranging from full jazz orchestra to an intimate duo setting. Frei attended Juilliard School while Oskar got his degree from Manhattan School of Music, New York’s two top music universities. In tonight’s program, the duo will present original material mixed with jazz and folk from Sweden and the U.S.
About the Musicians
Oskar Stenmark was born and raised in Gothenburg, Sweden. Coming from a family with a long legacy in music that has been traced back to 1762, Oskar developed a musical interest at an early age and eventually picked up the trumpet. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in improvisation at the Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg, Oskar moved to New York to pursue his musical dreams. He has performed with stars such as David Byrne, Chris Potter and multiple Grammy award-winner Maria Schneider Orchestra. Oskar, a 10th generation musician, has a Master’s degree in Jazz Arts from the Manhattan School of Music and continues to develop his playing and artistic vision while being based in New York and Sweden. Oskar is involved in several bands, including Brass Against, Fleur Seule and Seth Weaver Big Band. Leading his horn section Presence Horns, his own duo, trio and quartet, Oskar explores the traditional melodies he inherited from his ancestors in Sweden by fusing them together with the sounds of New York City.
From early experiences playing community theater and big band dance halls in Lawrence, KS to summiting musical heights in New York and abroad, pianist Addison Frei (“Fry”) has brought joy to countless audiences through a warm musical spirit and melodic sensibility. His latest album Time and Again (Next Paradigm Music) aims in the tradition of classic trio records, enhanced by the company of Ben Wolfe on bass and Terreon Gully on drums. Frei’s 2021 release Oread draws inspiration from Kansas roots, manifesting in a deeply personal collection of thirteen original songs recorded remotely during the isolation of the pandemic. His previous album No Defense (TCB Records) was celebrated with solo performances at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, Alhambra (Geneva), and Lucerne Piano Festival. He has won first prize in several competitions including the 2017 Parmigiani Montreux Jazz Piano Solo Competition, the 2016 UNISA International Jazz Piano Competition in Pretoria, South Africa, and the 2015 American Jazz Pianist Competition. Frei’s lyrical pianism has made him a favorite accompanist for many vocalists including Leslie Odom Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry, Joshua Henry, Janis Siegel and the late Carol Fredette.