Swedish jazz icon pianist Bengt Hallberg died yesterday of heart failure it’s been announced. Hallberg passed away in the Swedish city of Uppsala, aged 80. Hallberg was best known internationally for his association with Stan Getz and his appearance in 1951 on ‘Ack Värmeland du sköna’, better known as ‘Dear Old Stockholm’, a tune that's the stuff of dreams, beloved of generations of jazz musicians the world over, and famously covered by both Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Miles knew the Getz recording and rated Hallberg highly, admiring his 'clean' sound and swinging approach. The pianist was also known for his work with Swedish jazz icons Arne Domnérus and Lars Gullin, and in 1986 was elected a member of the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm and later that decade became a member of the Society of Swedish Composers. RIP