The Syncopated Times September
2024 Multi-Talented Gunhild Carling Thrills Syracuse Jazz Fest Audience
by Russ Tarby Like the aurora borealis, Swedish swinger Gunhild Carling lit up the night sky over Syracuse’s Clinton Square on June 28, 2024. She sang, she danced, she played tailgate trombone, wooden recorder, a tin penny whistle, and three-count ’em-three trumpets all at the same time. Clad in a royal blue fringed miniskirt with matching scarf complemented by sparkling blue high-heel shoes, the 49-year-old jazzwoman opened with an original composition, the title tune from her newest album, Jazz Is My Lifestyle. She really seemed to cut loose musically on a French tune titled “Song for Trombone.” True to the titular ‘bone, Carling’s instrumental chops were as colorful as her outfit. Her tone may not be immaculate, but she leans toward a swampy, Southern style full of suggestive slurs, guttural riffs, plenty of world- wise whining and the occasional caterwaul. Decked out in several radiant strands of white pearls around her neck, Gunhild also sported four rows of pearls as a bracelet on her left wrist. Her fingers flashed glossy red nail Dubaniewicz and Mike Titlebaum played tenors compositions, “Shaking the Bangkok,” an polish, a wedding band and a skull ring. A faux and Frank Grosso blew a baritone sax upbeat tune spotlighting her trumpet work white orchid sat atop the right side of her blonde Trombones included Mark Anderson, Melissa augmented by an informal tap dance. Reedman locks. Gardiner, Greg McCrae, and Joe Vanable. Dubaniewicz, trumpeter Jeff Stockham, and were all Gunhild Carling was born in Gothenburg, The trumpet section featured Pat Carney, trombonist Melissa Gardiner Sweden, into an especially musical family. Jeff Stockham, Rob Robson, and Lee Turner, spotlighted with some hot leads. The gifted multi-instrumentalist Gunhild Carling played three trumpets simultaneously as part of her main stage set Friday, June 28, 2024, at the Syracuse International Jazz Festival in Upstate New York. (Courtesy syracusejazzfest.com) While she started on drums, she made her Guitarist Bob Sneider came over from And she brought Mike Dubaniewicz back to recording debut as a trombonist at the age of Rochester, while two New York City musicians play some tenor sax on “Cosmic Drive,” recorder, harmonica, and bagpipes, became a Finck, and nine. Before long, she had mastered the trumpet, completed the rhythm section, bassist David before doing something most of us had never drummer Clint DeGanon. before seen nor heard. tap dancer, developed as a singer and learned to Prior to Gunhild’s set, the same big band She put three trumpets to her lips and played accompanied Freda Payne and while they ably a convincing few bars of a “Blues in B-flat.” play the banjo, ukulele and harp. After carving out her career in Europe, in 2018 she moved to Northern California with her family while she continues to tour the world. supported the 81-year-old Detroit-based pop Her tone was solid gold times three. singer, that performance paled in comparison to The surprises didn’t stop there. She sang an Gunhild Carling’s electrifying set which all-German version of “Mack the Knife,” and That endless roadwork means that occasionally she’ll find herself onstage being accompanied by musicians of varied abilities. Not to worry in Syracuse, N.Y. followed. Gunhild showmanship really seemed jazzed it up on her recorder. She switched to to galvanize Stockham and company. medieval Swedish bagpipes for “Bag Pipe After “Song for Trombone,” she took “Just a Blues.” Unlike the more familiar Scottish Closer Walk with Thee.” Gunhild’s piercing Highland bagpipes, the Scandinavian instrument.
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