A weblog in English and Dutch about jazz and related music, record collecting and other music projects originally created by Hans Koert.|Een webblog in het Engels en het Nederlands over jazz, jazz-verwante muziek, platen verzamelen en verrassende projecten, oorspronkelijk opgezet door Hans Koert.
This morning the news in Danish media told the sad fact that the popular Danish guitarist Jørgen Ingmann passed away yesterday, nearly 90 years of age. Jørgen Ingmann was born April 26, 1925 in Copenhagen and started his career as a member of Svend Asmussen's orchestra and was well-known as a jazz artist in the 1940s and 1950s. As a guitarist Ingmann was highly influenced by the American guitarist Les Paul. Jørgen Ingmann implemented Paul’s techniques and began exploring the possibilities of multi-track recording by setting up a home studio. He overdubed himself into a one-man band and recorded multiple layers of guitar at his home studio. Ingmann’s recording also included his own percussion and bass playing. Late 1950s, Ingmann transformed his stage name to “Jørgen Ingmann and His Guitar” and in 1961 he recorded the instrumental 'Apache', which became a hit in the U.S.A.. With his wife he formed a duo as “Grethe og Jørgen Ingmann’ and the duo was elected winner of the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Dansevise” in 1963. The duo dissolved, when the marriage ended in 1975, and Jørgen Ingmann gradually left the public scene as a stage artist, but he was still active as a musician and record producer and kept releasing new instrumental recordings that were well received by a still loyal fan base. Ingmann withdrew definitely from the public in 1984 and enjoyed his retirement in his home until yesterday March 21, 2015, when he passed away peacefully according the media news.
Jørgen Ingmann and his guitar
Below is inserted some uploaded highlights from Jørgen Ingmann's career focusing on his guitar playingto honor a great artist. An online discography is available here and a Sound Cloud page has several tracks in streaming audio from Ingmann's easy listening recordings, here
Here's first an example of Ingmann's multi-track recording - 'Muskrat Ramble'
Next another multi-track recording, 'Amorada' - also known as 'Brasileirinho'
The 1961 instrumental hit, 'Apache' is included here
Finally, to end this small remembrance of Jørgen Ingmann as a guitarist, here is his recording of 'Jeepers Creepers'
A week ago the world famous Danish jazz fiddler Svend Asmussen (b.28.Feb, 1916) celebrated his 99th anniversary. Part of the celebration included the release of a new CD with previously unissued recordings that have been sitting in Asmussen's private files. The Danish record company, Storyville Records, has taken the initiative to release this material in co-operation with Asmussen himself at the new CD titled Embraceable (Storyville, cd 1014296) containg a live-performance recorded in September 1985. The recording was made by French radio and the location was a small club in Paris, 'Le Petit Opportun', with an attentive audience of less than thirty individuals. The location proved to be an ideal setting for a successfull performance and Asmussen himself has estimated the recordings among his best ever according to the info at Sotryville's web: "”I had never thought that this September Parisian night would be released and scrutinized, but honestly I think it is the best music I’ve ever recorded!” said Asmussen when he was interviewed about the new release." The circumstances of the performance, however, were rather unusual for Asmussen's standard, as "He played with three musicians he had never played with before and there was no rehearsal, only a few notes scribbled down. Just as they were about to play the radio man casually told them the concert would be broadcasted live on French radio and that Asmussen should present the set in French." Nevertheless, the intimate atmosphere of the location generated spontaneity and a great performance by Asmussen and his accompanying trio. Now a selection of this broadcasted live performance luckily has been released on the new CD to be enjoyed over again thirty years after this special Parisian night.
CD front: Storyville, CD 1014296
There are twelve tracks of music from the live performance preserved at the shown CD and the repertoire contains jazz standards like 'Sophisticated Lady' and 'Things Ain't What They Used To Be' from the Ellington book, modern themes like Sonny Rollins' 'Pent-Up House' and further updated jazz versions of popular compositions like 'Singin' In The Rain','Just A Gigolo' and 'There Will Never Be Another You'. There is also a magnificent version of Chopin's 'Prelude In C-minor' and a solo presentation by Asmussen of Gershwin's 'Embraceable You' that is the highlight of the set showing off an eminent mastery of his instrument without supporting accompaniment.
George Arvanitas (Photo, Esther Cidoncha)
Asmussen is accompanied by a very competent trio featuring Georges Arvanitas (p), Patrice Caratini (b) and Charles Saudrais (dr). Georges Arvanitasis a great piano player who gets the opportunity to show off in Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson influenced solo spots besides being an attentive support to Asmussen's lead voice. The rhythm section is taken good care of by double bass player Patrice Caratiniand drummer man Charles Saudrais- both men provide a solid background for the soloist's musical expression.
Patrice Caratini
Although the four musicians haven't played together before, there is an excellent interplay between them and each of them contributes to a succesfull performance throughout.
Charles Saudrais
It is a pleasure to listen to this live recording from 1985, the CD release recreates the atmosphere of this special evening in Paris so that the listener has the experience of being present with the four musicians in the intimate setting of the performance. Great that Storyville Records has re-mastered the original tape-recordings and made the material available on disc for a contemporary public, audio quality is splendid. - The CD is available for purchase at the website of Storyville Records and mp3 versions of the tracks are available at Amazon, here
Svend Asmussen - jazz fiddler supreme
To end this small review of a successfull live-performance by Svend Asmussen, I'll insert a fragment of a similar recording made at about the same time in Copenhagen. The location is club Montmartre and Asmussen is accompanied by Kenny Drew (p), Niels Henning Ørsted Pedersen (b) and Ed Thigpen (dr). The fragment has been uploaded by Storyville Records at YouTube and has a great performance of 'It Don't Mean A Thing ...' - enjoy!
Retrospect
Keep Swinging (old)
Oscar
Aleman Choro
Music Flexible Records Hit of the Week-Durium Friends of the
Keep Swinging blog Keep Swinging Contributions
.jpg)
.JPG)
