Jazz Articles

The Sophisticated Ladies: The Sophisticated Ladies Play Ellington

by John Patten
July 23, 2009

To successfully play a set of standards by Duke Ellington--such as pianist Marie Louise Schmidt, bassist Helle Marstrand, drummer Benita Haastrup and horn player Christina Dahl do on The Sophisticated Ladies play Ellington--requires musicians to become arrangers.

After all, many people are familiar with “Caravan," “In A Sentimental Mood," and Ellington's other master works. Most will be looking for something new.

The Sophisticated Ladies offer up 10 clever and fresh versions of Ellington, handing much of ...

European Youth Jazz Orchestra: Swinging Europe 2006

by Jack Bowers
February 1, 2007

European Youth Jazz Orchestra Swinging Europe 2006 Music Mecca 2006

What a great (one is almost tempted to say “civilized") idea: an orchestra composed of young musicians from sixteen European countries (and one from America), touring the Continent for three weeks and presenting a series of concerts under the aegis of the Danish-based organization Swinging Europe and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Each year, new composers and conductors are singled out as ...

Simon Spang-Hanssen: Ear Witness

by Annika Westman
October 21, 2005

Ear Witness--whose members are from Denmark, Hungary, Mauritius, and Cameroon--is not exactly your average jazz quartet. To be a bit more precise, let's call this music what it is: funky fusion. Ear Witness is one of Danish saxophonist Simon Spang-Hanssen's many projects, and he wrote eight of its pieces (the ninth is a group composition). Each song has a catchy theme, which is one of Spang-Hanssen's trademarks. Sometimes they're almost too catchy for me, since they have a tendency to ...

Peter Brem: Peter Brem BIG Band / I Knew Orla Leans

by Jack Bowers
May 23, 2004

In March I reviewed Natural Connections, the second album by composer/arranger Peter Brem’s superb Denmark-based big band. Herewith the first of its albums, recorded in March ’98, and the most recent, I Knew Orla Leans, from December ‘01, featuring the well-known Danish pianist Carsten Dahl.

Brem wrote and scored everything on both albums except for Dahl’s brief prologue, “For Peter,” preceding “Theme for a Young Mother” on Orla Leans, wherein Brem also solos twice on baritone sax (“New Blues,” “Still ...

The Peter Brem Big Band: Natural Connections

by Jack Bowers
March 22, 2004

In reviewing a recent album by the Klüvers Big Band, I noted that Denmark, whose population is less than six million, is home to at least three world-class Jazz orchestras. Make that four.

Natural Connections, the second album by composer/arranger Peter Brem’s state-of-the-art big band, is an electrifying tour de force in which the ensemble puts its best foot forward on nine of the leader’s elaborate compositions and Miles Davis’ “All Blues,” stylishly interpreted by one of the country’s best-known ...

Kl: Reflections

by Jack Bowers
March 21, 2004

Even though the notion may defy logic, Denmark, a country of less than six million extending from northern Europe’s Jutland peninsula, boasts no fewer than three world-class big bands—the Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra, pianist/composer Jan Kaspersen’s Special Occasion Band, and this one, the terrific Klüvers Big Band from Aarhus. Klüvers, which takes its name from leader and artistic director Jens Klüver, devotes its latest album to the music of one of America’s outstanding big-band composer/arrangers, Matt Harris, a splendid way ...