Instrumental, wordless vocals
International relevance: ***
Lasse Färnlöf (misspelt as ”Fernlöf”
on the cover to ”The Chameleon”) was a trumpeter known for his
many soundtracks, and portions of this album were originally
conceived for Torbjörn Axelman's 1969 movie ”Kameleonterna”
(”the chameleons”). The album was recorded with musicians not credited on the album, such as Palle Danielsson, Rune Carlsson, Bobo Stenson and Bernt Rosengren.
Parts of the album are OK (particular the modal "Bertil Broström"), but not
enough to match ”The Chameleon's” reputation. The addition of
strings and sitar to the title track sounds pretty cheesy. Also, it's not as groundbreaking as some
make it out be. Using 'non-jazz' instruments in jazz music had been
tried before Färnlöf did it, and to better effect than here. In
short, a very overrated album.
A Mellotronen reissue exists with the
complete session for the album (including studio chatter between
tracks), with Färnlöf's namn corrected.
Svit Cachasa (SR, 1973)
as Lars Färnlöf, Radiojazzgruppen, Stefan Abeleens Kvintett
International relevance: **
Instrumental
Färnlöf wrote ”Svit Cachasa” and
recorded it with Swedish Radio's inhouse jazz group Radiojazzgruppen
and pianist Stefan Abeleen's quintet live in
Södertälje (home of Blueset, Sven Zetterberg and Friskt Vatten).
It's not spectacular and is really too close to big band jazz for my
taste, but it still sounds less contrived than ”The Chameleon”.
Delta Queen 
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