Rolf Ericson ranks among Sweden’s top trumpet players, having appeared in the United States frequently enough to secure widespread recognition. He began playing trumpet at eight, and after witnessing Louis Armstrong in Stockholm during 1933 he turned to jazz. From 1945 onward he recorded in Sweden with Alice Babs and other musicians, then moved to New York in 1947, where he performed with Charlie Barnet in 1949 and Woody Herman in 1950. After going back to Sweden in 1950, he cut sessions as a leader and with Arne Domnérus and Leonard Feather’s Swinging Swedes while also touring and recording with Charlie Parker. Between 1953 and 1956 he rejoined the American scene, working in the big bands of Charlie Spivak, Harry James, the Dorsey Brothers, and Les Brown as well as with the Lighthouse All-Stars. In 1956 he toured Sweden again and played alongside Ernestine Anderson and Lars Gullin. From 1956 to 1965 he remained active in the United States with Dexter Gordon, Harold Land, Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson from 1960 to 1961, Buddy Rich, Benny Goodman, Gerry Mulligan, Charles Mingus, and many others. He also made occasional tours with Duke Ellington between 1963 and 1971 and took on abundant freelance work. In 1971 he established himself in Germany as a studio musician, yet he revisited the United States several times over the following decades. His warm tone and inventive yet melodic approach remained consistently valued assets.
