Bo Eriksson: Lalle Larsson - Eulogy for a lost friend - RIP

Bo Eriksson: photo credit Stefan Lang

Lalle Larsson (I will write this in English since this is of international interest)

It is with great sadness that I write this... Today I received the sad news that my friend and the wonderful guitarist Bo Eriksson has passed away.

Every once in a while you meet a person in your life that you know will always hold a special place in your heart.

I have very fond memories of Bo.

In the 90´s we would often hang out in his apartment at Högaborg in Helsingborg, cook food and talk about music and culture in general. Back then he was one of my closest friends. Bosse was one of those people who had a vast knowledge of musical history and just about everything. He could tell stories with great enthusiasm and with a photographic memory. He had a warmth, a humility and a warm sense of humour, it was always a pleasure to be around him.

During this time we also did gigs together and a couple of studio recordings. He played guitar on my first album Ominox and on my first demo for Seven Deadly Pieces. In the late 90´s (Bo would probably know the exact dates, and even what we were wearing ha,ha,ha!) we also did a duo-recording, an avant garde improv session called "Hard Lunch". Here he showed his great command of tone and phrasing. His inventiveness and his absolute pitch made him a great partner in atonal improvisation. I remember during this time we spoke a lot about Derek Bailey, Bill Frisell, the action painting of Jackson Pollock and free improv.

Most people over here know him from local blues gigs and he was a steady guest at a lot of the local jams. Throughout his life he preferred to be working in the background as he didn´t seem to like too much attention.

For the last ten years or so our paths didn't cross much but every time we met on the street we would discuss music and life and it would feel just as if no time had passed at all.

Last time I met him we talked about his brain tumour and he still had a sense of humour about it all even though I could see that it was tearing him down. That became the last conversation we had.

Every once in a while you meet a person in your life that you know will always have a special place in your heart.

You are one of those people Bosse and you will forever have a very special place in my heart as being one of the finest and warmest human beings I have ever met.

Love always,
din vän,
Lalle

Ominox - Solitude - Featuring Bo Eriksson (RIP)

News: ominox: a contemporary past eg review

News:
17-03-2008:
While essential guitar is off line, I've republished my revies for essentialguitarist.com

Ominox: A Contemporary Past
Reviewed by Laurie Monk

Lale Larson is an understated, intelligent and immense musical talent whose ability is well known. "Contemporary" Past is another Liquid Note Records CD and is a retrospective of recordings from Lales' fusion band, Ominox. The material is also reflective of his musical influences of that period: Allan Holdsworth, Tribal Tech, Chick Corea Electric Band, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker.

The first track is a prime example of the material on offer. Weighing in at over nine minutes long, "Incommunicado", features a chunky, repeated bass and bass keyboard motif, with splashes of military style snare drum. The metallic steel drum sounding keys back a catchy main theme provided by guitar and bassist Fredrik Möller. Lale stretches out with an expressive two minute key solo, highlighting his
incredible playing style.

Opening with a descending guitar riff, "Contemporary Past" features, Fredrik Möller leveling out on a simple catchy refrain. One minute thirty seconds in, there's another chance for the captain of the keyboards to show his quality. Dense flurries of keyboard notes, cascading and rippling hyper speed peddle tones that hint of the
underlying melody. You are left to wonder at the shear musicality of the man.

"In Time" opens with the eery quality, of Allan Holdsworths' Wardenclyffe Tower. The vocal line is delivered by a light, intangible and delicate voice of Frida Moller and lends an ethereal quality to the song. The vocals give way to some more laid back keys emulating the vocal line and featuring Lales distinctive use of pitch bending giving a blown instrument attribute to the note shapes. The five minute
plus solo also encapsulates many of the keyboard attributes that Lale uses to perfect his expression.

"Yes!" is my personal favourite, with a melody which remains vivid in the memory long after the track has finished. This song is another nine minuter and has a more straight ahead jazz feel to its construction. This structure enables the bass, lead guitar and Lale to show their improvisational talents. Guitarist, Bo Eriksson, jazz picks his way over the bubbling bass, and drum fills. Lales' keys embark lightly over jazz snare drum splashes, finally interweaving with walking bass lines and intricate chord changes with an amazing fluidness and sensibility.

For guitar fans "Clockwork" features the awesome blown feel guitar work of Krister Jonsson. Kristers' distinctive touch and tone is a highlight not to be missed. Contrasting this, Lales' solo ebbs and flows from slow melody to whirlwind, driven blizzards of lightning fast notes. The good news for guitar fans is that Lale and Krister Jonsson are set to feature on the new "Karmakanic" CD.

"Virtual Reality" is reminiscent of "Secrets" era Allan Holdsworth. The track gives Lale the opportunity to play the piano, which he does beautifully. Like Allan's keyboard player,Alan Pasqua, sprinkling, sparkling notes over a simple drum and piano chord backing. The guitar solo work by Jimmy Lou complements the piano perfectly and makes this a stand out track.

All tracks from the album are well thought out and constructed. With ten tracks and over sixty five minutes of music its no surprise that there are times when the music fails to gel. Although some of the tracks are less melodic and more impenetrable, the keyboard solos remain excellent through out. This CD will appeal to fans of the
fusion genre, but also has melodic qualities that have the potential to appeal to a broader audience. I would certainly recommend it to fans of Allan Holdsworth et al.