Bjurman (Sweden)
Ola Bjurman on stage, Göteborg 2005. Photo © Vanja Fridhammar	Album Be For Real Slowstarter (1998) with Bengt Blomgren, Nikke Ström & Tomas Olsson will turn up here

Ola Bjurman is a powerful vocalist/guitarist who sounds as if he was born and raised somewhere in the southern US. Which he is not: his roots are in the city of Borlänge in the county of Dalarna, way up north from Stockholm. His musical roots on the other hand are firmly settled in the US blues. And in the blue(s)tinted music of masters like Bob Dylan, J.J. Cale and John Prine. Which you also can gather listening to his strong original songs. Bjurman has two albums under his belt so far: "Be For Real" from 1996 and "Slowstarter" from 1998. The first one featuring musicians like the guitar player Clas Yngström (Sweden's Jimi Hendrix?) of the Sky High trio plus other seasoned players with merits from the bands of Björn Afzelius a.o. The second album was recorded in Göteborg with guitar ace Bengt Blomgren, bassman Nikke Ström & drummer Tomas Olsson. And the city of Göteborg is Bjurman's musical base of today. Early on he came into contact with the family of players featured in Totta's Bluesband: the 'elder statesmen' of Göteborg's various blues outfits. And when you find him on stage today he is in all likelihood surrounded by stalwart musicians from that family. Good choices.

Links: • Ola Bjurman on MySpace • Ola Bjurman's blog