• Artist: Svend Asmussen
• Flags: Live
• Type: Live Album
• Rating:
• Styles: Swing, Bop
• Similar Albums: Sweet and Lowdown, The Complete Capitol Trios, Blues Bop & Ballads, Beyond Category: The Musical Genius of Duke Ellington, The Complete Quartets & Quintets, Duke's Joint, The Best Things in Life, 1945-1947, At Newport 1956 Complete, V-Disc Recordings, Centennial Edition: Complete RCA Victor Recordings: 1927-1973, Swingin' at Capitol, The Complete Verve Recordings of the Teddy Wilson Trio

Review

Although somewhat overshadowed in the jazz world by fellow violinist Stephane Grappelli, Svend Asmussen has maintained a strong following of his own (particularly in Europe) over many decades. This live CD combines parts of three separate concerts recorded in Sweden and Denmark in 1996; Asmussen's first-rate quartet includes guitarist Jacob Fischer, bassist Jesper Lundgaard (who else engineered and edited this release), and drummer Aage Tanggaard. The violinist leans toward older material, though his approach to these time-tested songs is consistently fresh and adventurous. "Running Wild" showcases the quartet to good advantage, with incredible runs and a pizzicato duet with Lundgaard; Fletcher Henderson's "Wrapping It Up" hasn't been swung so well since the heyday of Benny Goodman. Both Jerome Richardson's funky "Groove Merchant" and a slowly savored Brazilian arrangement of "A Night in Tunisia" feature the leader utilizing a wah-wah effect to give him a very different sound than one typically expects. Any fan of jazz violin should look for this rewarding CD. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
Running Wild	...		Svend Asmussen	(7:08)
Bye Bye Blackbird	...	Ray Henderson	Svend Asmussen	(4:34)
Take Off Blues		Svend Asmussen	Svend Asmussen	(7:29)
I Loves You Porgy	...	George Gershwin	Svend Asmussen	(7:28)
Wrapping It Up	...	Fletcher Henderson	Svend Asmussen	(3:51)
Groove Merchant	...	Jerome Richardson	Svend Asmussen	(5:57)
Latino	...	Jacob Fischer	Svend Asmussen	(5:46)
Columbine Polka Mazurka	...		Svend Asmussen	(5:13)
The Mooche	...	Duke Ellington	Svend Asmussen	(5:25)
Prelude to a Kiss	...	Duke Ellington	Svend Asmussen	(6:05)
A Night in Tunisia	...	Dizzy Gillespie	Svend Asmussen	(4:29)

Credits

Svend Asmussen (Producer), Jesper Lundgaard (Engineer), Jesper Lundgaard (Editing), Aage Tanggaard (Editing), Aage Tanggaard (Cover Design), Anthony Barnett (Liner Notes)