Ulf Wakenius
A Swedish guitar virtuoso whose fluid, melodic genius made him the final cornerstone of Oscar Peterson's legendary quartet.
Born 1958 (age 68)·Swedish jazz guitarist·Birthday: April 16·Baby Boomers
Biography
Ulf Wakenius emerged from the rich Swedish jazz scene, a self-taught guitarist with an insatiable ear. His style, a seamless blend of breathtaking technical command and profound lyricism, caught the attention of the jazz aristocracy. The ultimate endorsement came in 1997 when piano titan Oscar Peterson invited him to join his group, a role Wakenius held until Peterson's retirement. He didn't just fill a chair; he brought a Nordic clarity and singing tone that complemented Peterson's thunderous harmonies. Beyond that famed quartet, Wakenius became a first-call collaborator for greats like Ray Brown and Herbie Hancock, while also leading his own projects that explored world music influences, establishing himself as a complete and deeply respected musical voice.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Ulf was born in 1958, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ulf Was Born
The biggest hits of 1958
#1 Movie
South Pacific
Best Picture
Gigi
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Ulf's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1958Born
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1963Started school
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1971Became a teenager
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1974Could drive
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1976Could vote
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Turned 21
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1988Turned 30
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 40
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 50
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 60
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 68 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the guitarist in Oscar Peterson's last quartet from 1997 until the pianist's retirement, a major endorsement from a jazz master.
- Was a long-standing member of bassist Ray Brown's trio, a proving ground for elite jazz musicians.
- Recorded and performed with a vast array of jazz legends including Herbie Hancock, Michel Petrucciani, and Pat Metheny.
- Released a series of acclaimed solo albums, such as 'Vagabond' and 'Momento Magico,' showcasing his compositional skills.
- His album 'Love Is Real: Ulf Wakenius Plays the Music of Esbjörn Svensson' paid homage to his late compatriot, topping jazz charts.
Did You Know?
He is largely self-taught on the guitar, developing his technique by listening to and transcribing records.
Before focusing on jazz, he played in rock and pop bands during his youth in Sweden.
Wakenius often uses a custom-made 'Mica' guitar, a semi-acoustic model designed by Swedish luthier Michael Sandén.
He is an avid fisherman and has said the patience required for the hobby translates to his approach to music.
“I always try to play the melody. Even when I'm improvising, I'm trying to tell a story.”
