Skövde Storband (Skövde Big Band) was formed in 1971 by some Swedish musicians that wanted to play jazz. Trumpet player Ronny Nyman and trombone player Börje Westerling soon recruited so many that it became a big band. Not long after the big band gave concerts and the first guest was jazz clarinettist Gunnar Siljabloo Nilsson. Ronny Nyman was the leader for many years and he was also an important person in the musical life of Skövde, Sweden. With Ronny as leader Skövde Storband played every autumn and spring in Skövde and surrounding towns. When Skaraborgs Jazzdagar (an annual festival in Skövde) started in 1982 the big band became an important part of the programme for the 10 years of its existence.
Around 1986 the big band recorded a LP on which Svante Thuresson and Meta Roos sang on a couple of tunes. They are two of Sweden´s most famous singers in jazz. When the band celebrated 25 years saxophone player Leif Jonsson was the leader. With him the band recorded a CD in 1997 with two guest solists: vocalist Roger Pontare and vibraphonist Lars Erstrand. The band played twice at Blå Hallen (The Blue Hall) in Skövde. The concerts with guests like Lill Lindfors, Lasse Berghagen, Victoria Tolstoy, Lars Erstrand & Svend Asmussen were sold out! Shortly after Ronny returned as a leader for the band. At the 30th anniversary singer Claes Janson was invited for some concerts. Claes is a great singer who handle jazz, blues and ballads with great feeling. He has recorded many albums as a leader. Claes also sang at the bands 25th anniversary. Skövde Big Band has also performed Duke Ellington´s “Sacred concert†in churches in Skövde and Skara together with choirs.
During the last years the band has performed at dance halls with a slightly different repertoire suitable for dancing. The band was pretty stable for a long time but lately some personal changes have taken place. But the energy, power and ambition is unchanged. There is a good combination with older and more experienced musicians together with younger ones with new ideas. Today Skövde Big Band is more focused around the concerts, meaning that the band rehearse for maybe a month then take a break for a while. But the musical knowledge develops all the time as the members are playing in other bands. Some are professional musicians and/or teachers while others are good amateurs. The leadership is shared although saxophonist Conny Larsson takes a great responsibility. The band has a board that takes decisions concerning economy and strategy.
The list of guests is long and includes:
Lill Lindfors, Svante Thuresson, Arne Domnérus, Putte Wickman, Claes Janson, Sylvia Vrethammar, Hayati Café, Tre Damer, Jerome Richardson, Nannie Porres, Lars Sjösten, Roger Pontare, Gunnar Siljabloo Nilsson, Janne Schaffer, Lasse Berghagen, Babben Larsson, The Real Group, Ann-Kristin Hedmark, Bengt Hallberg, Georg Riedel, Hector Bingert, Tore Swanerud, Monica Borrfors, Kjell Öhman, Meta Roos, Etta Cameron, Lars Sjösten, Gunnar Svensson and more is yet to come!