Bampe Karlsson

Lars "Bampe" Karlsson, born on September 7, 1943 in Enskede, Sweden, and died on December 6, 1999 in Skarpnäck, Sweden, was a jazz drummer who became a recording engineer. But, it all started in his teens with when he was a part in a winning constellation in a jazz competition on national television and he later played with musicians like Tommy Koverhult, Bengt Hallberg, Bernt Rosengren and Kenny Dorham. Koverhult has described him as a dynamic drummer, powerful but yet with a sensible feel for nuances. He toured with artists like Gunnar Wiklund, Siw Malmkvist and Cornelis Vreeswijk. His biggest achievements, Bampe Karlsson did in different studios. Sixteen year old, he came to Europa Film where he contributed to the sound in early Bo Widerberg films and recorded jazz legends like Lars Gullin, Arne Domnérus and Åke Persson. In 1966 he left for Svenska AB Philips and in 1970 he was employed at the grammophone record archives at Sveriges Radio. His musicality, knowledge of music and of recording techniques and not least his personal generous character, without being forward, led to that he also hosted jazz shows on Sveriges Radio. Early on, he was also one of the pioneers behind the restorations of older jazz recordings at Sveriges Radio. Here he left a big cultural legacy to the posterity, enabled through his unique skillness as engineer paired with his innovative talents for finding solutions to tecnical problems. Before his death, he transferred all recordings to the first five volumes in the series Svensk Jazzhistoria, most of the 28 CDs in the series Musica Sveciae - Folk Music In Sweden and 6 CDs with Povel Ramel. He was rewarded Svenska grammofonpriset in 1983. His distinct, clear and balanced transfers were also recognized outside Sweden..