Ol'Jansa

Olof Jönsson also known fondly as Ol'Jansa, was a Swedish flute player from Härjedalen in the centre of Sweden, born in 1867. Despite being a mostly private man, his instrument – the traditional härjedalspipan (Härjedalen flute) – seems to have been an object of some curiosity, and his tunes were recorded for Swedish radio on several occasions. Since his death in 1953, Jönsson's tunes have continued to spread.
Göran Månsson is one of the most dynamic and versatile flute players of his generation, and someone who has contributed to the revival of the Swedish folk flute in recent decades. On Ol'Jansa, Månsson is joined by a cohort of fine musicians including Swedish fiddler Emma Ahlberg and Patrik Källström on fiddle, pump organ and harmonica. The incorporation of Japanese koto (a traditional zither) played by Karin Nakagawa, meanwhile, is a surprising masterstroke. On tracks such as ‘Brudmarsch’ and the stirring, multi-layered ‘Härjedalen’, the koto – far from being a token effort at fusion – truly adds something vital to the group's overall sound. Ol'Jansa is a superbly respectful and reverential reimagining of Jönsson's work that will undoubtedly help to maintain his reputation for many years to come.