Nanna Carling’s Melodies For Two, released on February 14, 2025, is a romantic collection of her original compositions. Coming from the Carling family of Swedish jazz royalty, Nanna builds on her 2022 debut, That’s a Plenty, to deliver an album that bridges her trad jazz roots with a more timeless, classic sound. Her new album showcases her evolution as a vocalist, composer, and soprano saxophonist and represents her breakthrough onto the world stage. Melodies For Two will appeal to both traditional jazz aficionados and a broader jazz audience, and as always it thrills me to say that.
Nanna Carling, born in 1997 in Malmö, Sweden, carries on the legacy of her large family, including her aunt Gunhild Carling, a multi-instrumentalist known worldwide, and her grandparents Hans (trumpet) and Aina (violin, banjo). She has worked with three of her sisters since they were teenagers, though they only began performing as “The Carling Sisters” in 2022, quickly finding acclaim on Swedish television and at festivals across Europe. The quartet was referred to as “The Spice Girls of Trad Jazz” by one creative reviewer.
Her path to a solo career has been remarkably diverse, studying music in South Korea, living and playing in New York, and even working in a circus. She has performed 200 shows as a leader of her own band in just the last two years, including Birdland, the Tel Aviv Opera House, and headlining the Göteborg (Gothenburg) Jazz Festival in 2024.
Her debut solo album featured trad jazz standards like “That’s a Plenty” and “Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gave to Me,” reflecting her family’s Dixieland and New Orleans influences. However, Melodies For Two marks a small departure. Her vocals, once marked by a more noticeable Swedish accent and forceful delivery, now reveal a polished, emotive delivery—likely the result of vocal coaching—while her soprano saxophone, inspired by Sidney Bechet, is vibrant and enjoyable.
Physically resembling her family, Nanna’s musical identity stands apart. Where most of her live performances on YouTube are spunky and upbeat, echoing the Carling tradition, this album sets a new introspective tone. All titles are her own originals, she is cutting her own path into an adult career and has something to say with them.
Her sound differs from Gunhild, and the rest of the family, by having a more classic rather than trad sound. Not necessarily straight ahead, but marketable to a wider audience of jazz fans. And that is a good thing. No one would object to her presence at a West Coast traditional jazz festival but she bridges classic jazz trad roots effortlessly to a jazz radio audience. As a comparison, she is far more traditional than Bria Skonberg has been in recent years, just don’t expect Bourbon Street Parade. Even Bria, a child of Canadian traditional jazz societies and West Coast jazz camps has returned to the New Orleans sound for her most recent album. So perhaps the market for career minded jazz artists is moving in our direction!
Melodies For Two weaves a romantic tapestry, blending traditional jazz elements with a classic sensibility that feels both nostalgic and fresh. The ’50s looking back. The album’s timeless quality is enhanced by Nanna’s leadership on soprano sax and vocals, and balanced by the skilled contributions of her band, including standouts Mattias Carlson on tenor/alto sax and flute, and Snorre Kirk on drums. The rest of the band includes Olle Eklind Arvidsson on trombone, Ludwig Von Vultée on trumpet, Gustaf Bonde/Måns Persson on guitar, Anders Fjeldsted on double bass, and Thiery Marazanye on piano.
Her album notes describe her process, working melodies out at the piano, or rushing to get back to it, as not always easy. Her words and music are carefully formed and grow out of her experience as a musician. The album’s standout tracks showcase Nanna’s compositional prowess and the band’s cohesive interplay. “Moon Lady” is arranged and delivered with remarkable finesse. Nanna’s soprano sax leads with a vibrant swing, supported by the band’s tight instrumentation, especially across drum and bass. It sets the stage for the album’s romantic theme, proving her ability to craft timeless jazz originals.
“This Love of Mine” is more ethereal and soft, createing a delicate, dreamy mood. Nanna’s emotive vocals, and the understated arrangement, featuring Snorre Kirk’s nuanced drumming and Thiery Marazanye’s elegant piano, will deeply resonate with many listeners. “Budapest” is a winning instrumental with a bit more musical development than the ballads, it features a dark, inflected beat that evokes a quiet walk through an old city, far from tourist lights. Its sophisticated melody feels like it could hail from the mid-20th century, perhaps a lost movie theme.
“I Thought I’d Seen Your Face Before,” with its classic title, fun lead, and engaging melody adds a lighthearted touch. It’s catchy and I wish more contemporary jazz artists would cover new work with broad appeal like this. “Silver Sky” is another slow, ethereal, love ballad, with a cinematic feel, evoking film scores from maybe 1965–75. Born a quarter-century later, Nanna channels this vintage aesthetic effortlessly. “Waikaloa Blues” introduces some fun into the relationship, and I should note while most of these titles are subdued there are exceptions like this one that keep it fresh along the way.
Melodies For Two sets Nanna Carling on course for a busy career. Her original compositions, while timeless, show that a young woman of 2025 can still find things to say within the classic jazz form both musically and lyrically. In her notes she says these creations are “the music that sneaks into my day when I least expect it.” With a more defined voice, masterful soprano sax, and a stellar band where she for the first time is the only Carling in the mix, Nanna delivers an album that appeals to traditionalists and casual jazz fans alike. Romantic, warm, and skillfully crafted, Melodies For Two is a delightful listen that cements her as a rising star in the jazz world.
Melodies for Two
Nanna Carling
nannacarling.bandcamp.com
Joe Bebco is the Associate Editor of The Syncopated Times and Webmaster of SyncopatedTimes.com
