Yttling Jazz

…every third full moon, Björn Yttling, gathers a group of Sweden’s absolute finest park bench philosophers and jazz cosmonauts for rapturous jam sessions that go on for days. They become Yttling Jazz.
Yttling Jazz released first album “Oh Lord Why Can’t I Keep My Big Mouth Shut” (2005) and finally two decades later, via Swedish cornerstone label YEAR0001 – the highly acclaimed second album “Illegal Hit” was released on 26th Sept 2025.

Björn Yttling (who is Björn in Peter Bjorn & John) is the world known versatile writer and producer. But very few people know that he is also a schooled jazz musician. As a youngster he went to one of the finest jazz schools in Sweden. Björn even took the train to Stockholm every week to get private lessons from the late great legend Esbjörn Svensson. While “Illegal Hit” is serious music by prime musicians, it is also sincere, playful, and brimming with the indie character that brought Björn to prominence and led to his collaborations with many notable acts whose dark, uncanny worlds find a reflection in the deep prowling songs of Yttling Jazz.

The re-emergence of Yttling Jazz is accompanied by captivating remixes, including beautiful reworks with Bonny Light Horseman and Abstract Crimewave with Lykke Li (Ytlling has co-written and produced Lykke Li from day one). Select tracks from Illegal Hit are also reimagined with guest vocalists. The first is a hauntingly stripped-back remake of the title track by indie-folk luminary The Tallest Man On Earth. This is followed by a dance version featuring British-born Nigerian spoken-word artist Joshua Idehen. These have been followed by remakes by NYC guitarist Matt Sweeney and Danish minimal electro jazz duo Svaneborg Kardyb. The El Perro del Mar remake of “City In Darkness” was released a few weeks after the album dropped.

Yttling has worked with among others: First Aid Kit, Robyn, Tom Odell, Kygo, Franz Ferdinand, Primal Scream, Weezer, David Lynch, The Hives, Sarah Blasko, Neko Case, Chrissie Hynde, Shout Out Louds.