Rickard Malmsten is an award-winning Swedish professional bassist, composer and educator whose musical journey spans more than 30 years and five continents. Throughout his career, he has performed, toured and collaborated with an extraordinary range of international jazz artists, including Roy Hargrove, Randy Brecker, Uri Caine, Scott Henderson, Bob Moses, Seamus Blake, Larry Coryell, Dennis Chambers and Nils Landgren.
His career has taken him across Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Australia, with twelve years spent living and working in Hong Kong. These experiences have given him a unique perspective on jazz, not only as a musician, but also as someone who has witnessed the dedication, creativity and personal stories behind the music.
Over the years, through touring, recording and sharing the stage with many of his musical heroes, Rickard has had the opportunity to meet, talk with and learn from some of the most remarkable musicians of our time. Many of these encounters have naturally evolved into conversations that go beyond music itself, exploring the people, experiences, influences and life journeys that shape an artist.
This is the spirit behind Jazz Conversation with Rickard Malmsten.
Rather than approaching each interview as a formal question-and-answer session, Rickard sees it as an opportunity for a genuine jazz conversation between musicians. Drawing on his own experiences as a professional musician, he creates a space where artists can speak openly about their musical beginnings, inspirations, mentors, challenges, memorable encounters and the moments that have shaped their lives.
The podcast was created with a deeper purpose: to preserve the stories of Rickard's musical heroes and pass them on to future generations. Every conversation becomes part of a growing archive of personal memories, artistic wisdom and first-hand accounts from the people who have helped shape the history of jazz. These are stories worth remembering, not only for today's listeners, but also for musicians, students and jazz enthusiasts who will discover them in the years to come.
Beyond his performing career, Rickard is the founder and artistic director of Võsu Jazz Festival in Estonia, an initiative that builds musical connections between Scandinavia and the Baltic region. His contributions to music and cultural life have been recognised with an honorary award from Estonia's Cultural Endowment in 2020. In 2024, his hometown of Landskrona honoured him for his contributions to the city, including composing its official anthem.
A documentary about Rickard's life and musical journey is currently in production with Swedish filmmaker Oskar Fäldt.
Through his music, interviews and conversations, Rickard Malmsten continues to celebrate the people behind the sound, connecting generations of musicians and listeners through the shared language of jazz.
Jazz Conversation with Rickard Malmsten is about more than music. It is about the people who create it, the lives they live, and the stories we should never lose.
