Gunhild Carling

Swedish multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Gunhild Carling brings her exuberant celebration of vintage jazz to SFJAZZ's intimate Joe Henderson Lab. Known as "Sweden's Queen of Swing" and "the Wonder Woman of Jazz," Carling is a mesmerizing performer who transforms every show into a joyful musical spectacle that harks back to the golden age of swing and hot jazz.

Carling's virtuosity spans an astonishing array of instruments — trombone, trumpet, recorder, bagpipes, harmonica, harp, piano, banjo, and more — often switching between them mid-song or even playing multiple instruments simultaneously. Her musical style draws deeply from 1920s-40s jazz, swing, and Dixieland, with compositions and arrangements that capture the infectious energy of the Swing Era. Recent performances have showcased her ability to play three trumpets at once, blend bagpipes into jazz arrangements, and seamlessly move from growling trombone solos reminiscent of Jack Teagarden to sweet trumpet work in the style of Bobby Hackett.

Born in 1975 in Gothenburg into a musical family, Carling won Sweden's Louis Armstrong Scholarship at age ten and made her recording debut the same year. She has since become a global ambassador for vintage jazz, performing with her family's big band, collaborating with Postmodern Jukebox on jazz reimaginings of pop hits, and appearing on America's Got Talent and Dancing with the Stars. Her YouTube videos have garnered over 50 million views, and she has performed for Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf.

Reviewers consistently praise Carling's theatrical flair and infectious stage presence. At recent performances, she's been described as entering "from the audience, blowing her horn like Gabriel" while wearing sequined outfits that sparkle under the lights. Her shows blend serious musicianship with playful entertainment — she might tap dance while playing trombone, lead audience singalongs, or incorporate acrobatic elements into her performance. One critic noted how she "brought the joy back to jazz" during a two-hour set that felt more like "a musical fest of celebration rather than cerebration."

This SFJAZZ appearance promises an intimate setting for experiencing Carling's unique artistry, where her "megawatt energy and breathtaking breadth of talent" can shine in the Lab's close quarters. Expect vintage jazz standards, original compositions from her recent albums including "Jazz Is My Lifestyle," and the kind of spontaneous musical magic that has made her performances legendary across continents.