The first album of the past is present series vividly embodies its philosophy: Swedish Folk Modern brings together Esbjörn Svensson and Nils Landgren, two of Europe's most influential jazz musicians, in a rare and deeply intimate setting. With great sensitivity, Svensson and Landgren improvise on Swedish folk songs: pieces about love and sorrow, from the fields and from the church, that are familiar to almost everyone in Sweden.

Swedish Folk Modern is not only an exceptional album by two musicians who understand each other instinctively. It is also a moving testament to the extraordinary range of stories that can be told through the vocabulary of jazz.

Together with its follow-up Layers of Light, and alongside the posthumously released solo album HOME.S., it is one of the only recordings to feature Esbjörn Svensson, who passed away on June 14, as a leader outside his legendary trio e.s.t. A rare jewel in the crown of European jazz history, now on vinyl for the very first time.