ULF ANDERSSON
Saxophone
Ulf Andersson was one of the most sought-after saxophone players in Stockholm in the 1970s, and Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson and their sound engineer Michael Tretow immediately thought of him when they needed a groovy musician. The most famous of Ulf's saxophone features probably remains the recording of I do, I do, I do. He is still one of the most wanted saxophone players in Europe and has performed with Monica Zetterlund, Tchad Jones, Frank Sinatra Jr, Georgie Fame, Rich Matteson, Larry Willis, Lars Samuelson Big Band and others. Ulf Andersson also participated in the ABBA world tours and has appeared on thousands of recordings.
Interview: Abba saxophonist Ulf Andersson
HE was an original member in ABBA’s band and later this month Ulf Andersson will be bringing their hits alive once more on Tyneside. Entertainment Editor Gordon Barr catches up with him.
IT’S one of the most recognisable introductions to an ABBA single – and the man responsible for it is heading for The Sage Gateshead.
Ulf Andersson played the famous saxophone solo in I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do, and he’ll be doing it again with ABBA The Show later this month.
The Sage Gateshead will transform into an ABBA-fest on November 29 as a clutch of the Swedish fab four’s former musicians join forces.
Performed by Sweden’s Waterloo, the show charts the ABBA story from their Eurovision beginnings to their major international success.
It kicks off at the tail-end of the 60s when Bjorn, Benny, Agnetha and Frida meet to play together for the first time. Throughout the course of the production, the audience is led on a magical journey through the rise and rise of ABBA.
Featuring classic songs such as Waterloo, SOS, Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen, Money Money Money, Knowing Me Knowing You and, of course, I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do, this promises to be the must-see event of 2011 for any ABBA fan!
“It’s very much like it used to be back in the 70s,” Ulf explains to me when I catch up with him in Sweden.
“There is and only ever will be one ABBA, and that was something very special of course.
“But the situation, being on the stage and playing this music, is very similar to what we experienced in those days. The sound of the music is very similar and even the people around me look much the same.
“We stick to the original arrangements to get the sound as close as possible to the original.”
In ABBA’s heyday, Ulf, who is now 71, joined them on their world tours, in particular their 1977 jaunt to Australia, which was filmed for ABBA The Movie.
That particular era remains a highlight for him.
“Going to Australia was something unreal – more than 50,000 people for the first concerts in Sydney,” he recalls.
“It was such bad weather they thought of cancelling the concert because of the rain being dangerous for electric guitars and the guys could get killed by electric shocks.
“But you had to make it because all the people were so excited.
“It was such a great reception. It must have been the highlight, but going into the studio with these guys was special too.
No comments:
Post a Comment