Kaj Stridell, sax player, bandleader
Kaj´s parents were both teachers and their home was musically very active. As a teenager he
inherited a trumpet, changed it for an alto sax and learned how to play by playing along with
78 rpm records. Together with his class mates Jan Johansson on piano, Sven Norman on
trumpet and Rune Södergren on drums they founded the Original Hälsingland Jazz Band,
playing at school dances and I.O.G.T. festivities for some years until the members dispersed for studies.
Meanwhile he learned to play the double bass and joined Linköping-based bands, like the Ragnar Ellsworths Quintet. During military service he was part of a "ghost band", backing well-known soloists on weekend tours, like Gösta Törner, George Vernon and others. There followed a 10 month tour with the Ulla Ekstam Band in Germany, France and Morocco. Back home, he took over a dance band in Ljusne, then on tenor sax, in "the biggest band in Hälsingland", a seven piece band just like Arne Domnerus´ popular band. This was when people could still dance to jazz music...
After another year in Africa he returned to Västmanland, playing the bass in the chamber orchestra of Hallstahammar and the Pelle Hettman Quartet. During the 70s, when out-of- work jazz-deprived musicians started dreaming of Big Bands, Kaj was asked by ABF to start and lead the Kolbäck Valley Big Band, soon name-changed to Hammarbandet, (to-day the Aros Big Band).. His wish was to play in the sax section, but there were always more sax players than bass players, so, save for a few short periods on sax, he stayed as a bass player most of his 20 years in the band. In 1976 Olle Åhs, cornet player and leader of a New Orleans band, needed a substitute for his tuba player, and Kaj came in on baritone sax - and here he is - still!
In 1983 when Olle left the band for studies,, Kaj took over, and, with no cornet, he played the lead on soprano sax for a couple of years, until Bosse joined the band. Today Kaj alternates on baritone, soprano and the unusual C-Melody Sax, of which he is one of very few exponents; he has even founded "The C- Melody Sax Society", of which he now is an honorary member.
Beyond his involvement in music, sound recording has been one of his main interests for decades, as well as a related interest in amateur radio. He now also produces and presents a regular jazz programme on the local community radio.
Meanwhile he learned to play the double bass and joined Linköping-based bands, like the Ragnar Ellsworths Quintet. During military service he was part of a "ghost band", backing well-known soloists on weekend tours, like Gösta Törner, George Vernon and others. There followed a 10 month tour with the Ulla Ekstam Band in Germany, France and Morocco. Back home, he took over a dance band in Ljusne, then on tenor sax, in "the biggest band in Hälsingland", a seven piece band just like Arne Domnerus´ popular band. This was when people could still dance to jazz music...
After another year in Africa he returned to Västmanland, playing the bass in the chamber orchestra of Hallstahammar and the Pelle Hettman Quartet. During the 70s, when out-of- work jazz-deprived musicians started dreaming of Big Bands, Kaj was asked by ABF to start and lead the Kolbäck Valley Big Band, soon name-changed to Hammarbandet, (to-day the Aros Big Band).. His wish was to play in the sax section, but there were always more sax players than bass players, so, save for a few short periods on sax, he stayed as a bass player most of his 20 years in the band. In 1976 Olle Åhs, cornet player and leader of a New Orleans band, needed a substitute for his tuba player, and Kaj came in on baritone sax - and here he is - still!
In 1983 when Olle left the band for studies,, Kaj took over, and, with no cornet, he played the lead on soprano sax for a couple of years, until Bosse joined the band. Today Kaj alternates on baritone, soprano and the unusual C-Melody Sax, of which he is one of very few exponents; he has even founded "The C- Melody Sax Society", of which he now is an honorary member.
Beyond his involvement in music, sound recording has been one of his main interests for decades, as well as a related interest in amateur radio. He now also produces and presents a regular jazz programme on the local community radio.