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Sahib Shihab: Sahib Shihab and the Danish Radio Jazz Group
ByThe Danish Radio Jazz Group is no humble European pick-up combo, but rather a crack ensemble that could hang with any American group of the time and who do justice here to a set of excellent original tunes by Sahib Shihab, a true jazz journeyman whose music–on the basis of this disc–deserves a deep dive.
The charts are exciting and the tunes memorable, with particularly outstanding solos by Mikkelborg, Ørsted Pedersen, and the leader himself on baritone sax and flute on "Not Yet." Particularly fun is "Mai Ding," which starts with studio chatter, laughter, and exhortations from Shihab accompanied by his cowbell establishing the tricky rhythm, which is then ably picked up by drummer Alex Riel. This tune effectively alternates moody minor riffs with pop-style interludes that sound right out of a Quincy Jones chart. Ballad "Tenth Lament" is gorgeous and shows off both Shihab's arranging skills and the impressive playing of the Danish group, who are tight and produce a beautiful blended tone; the tune picks up the tempo midway through for a swinging groove driven by Ørsted Pedersen that underpins Shihab's baritone solo. "Harvey's Tune" features Shihab on flute, and he engages in some delightful Rahsaan Roland Kirk-esque vocal zooms as he begins his solo. Sam Records' reissue adds a short bonus track, "The Little French Girl," with a very capable vocal by Shihab himself; it is cute enough, but not of the same style as the main album; thankfully, it is added at the end of side two, so that it does not disrupt the flow.
Though it may seem like an obscure curiosity, this album is a superb example of mid-1960s large-group jazz, and deserves to be heard by all fans of the genre today. The Danish Radio Jazz Group is no humble European pick-up combo, but rather a crack ensemble that could hang with any American group of the time and who do justice here to a set of excellent original tunes by Sahib Shihab, a true jazz journeyman whose musicon the basis of this discdeserves a deeper dive.
Track Listing
Di-Da; Dance Of The Fakowees; Not Yet; Tenth Lament; Mai Ding; Harvey's Tune; No Time For Cries; The Crosseyed Cat; Little French Girl.
Personnel
Sahib Shihab
woodwindsPalle Mikkelborg
trumpetTorolf Mølgard
tubaPoul Hindenberg
saxophone, altoBent Jaedig
saxophoneNiels Husum
saxophoneBent Nielsen
woodwindsFritz von Bülow
guitarBent Axen
pianoAlex Riel
drumsPalle Bolvig
trumpetAdditional Instrumentation
Sahib Shihab: baritone sax, flute, cowbell, vocal (9); Palle Bolvig, Palle Mikkelborg, Allan Botschinsky: trumpet and flugelhorn; Torolf Molgard: tuba, eufonium; Svend Age Nielsen: trombone, bass trombone; Poul Kjaeldgard: tuba, trombone, bass trombone; Poul Hindberg: alto sax, clarinet; Bent Jaedig: tenor sax, flute, clarinet; Niels Husum: tenor sax, soprano sax, bass clarinet; Bent Nielsen: baritone sax, flute, clarinet; Ib Renard: baritone sax; Louis Hjulmand: vibes; Fritz Von Bulow: guitar; Bent Axen: piano; Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen: bass; Alex Riel: drums.
Album information
Title: Sahib Shihab and the Danish Radio Jazz Group | Year Released: 1965 | Record Label: OKTAV Music
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