Danish violinist, Svend Asmussen died earlier today, 100 years old.
My most vivid memory about Svend is a new years eve party many years ago in The Grey Hall in Christiania where he was a guest in a concert with a Danish Folk / Rock / Hippieband called Djurslands Spillemænd (no early videos seems to exist) - After the concert one of the two brilliant guitarists said that the presence of Svend lifted the band to a level they did not know was within their reach. I am sure that everyone who was there had an experience they'll never ever forget.
- Yes, Svend could also play rockmusic and was the kind of artist that just with his presence could lift music many levels up.
Sorry to hear about your dad. Growing up, my mom played her Swiss Movement 8-track constantly - at home, in the car, at the supper club she ran. The whole concert is available only on VHS, I think, and, of course on YouTube. Eddie Harris found his way to our house at least a couple of times - having a few drinks at our downstairs bar.
I'm sorry about your loss Doofy. I lost both my parents within a year about 8 years ago and I still miss them from time to time.
One of the last things I spend time with my mother, who was a walking classical music encyclopedia, was watching The Three Tenors on the television. It was at that occation I realized why they were so highly esteemed.
Thanks guys. @rostasi I never knew this video existed, ie, the performance that became a 'hit' recording. Fantastic to see Les leading as it happened. Some years back, my brother took my dad to see Eddie, when he was playing in a more free-jazz mode. My dad found him at the bar, said he was a big fan, but liked his old stuff better. That's my dad
My commiserations too Doofy. It was my Dad too who introduced me to jazz. At the time it didn't mean much to me (1960s) but jazz music, especially Big Band, was all around, so it must have sunk in. He used to play saxophone in bands from his late teens upto a couple of years ago in his early nineties. He still listens to jazz a lot now, but can no longer play, as his sight is going. But it does show the influence that parents can have on our musical tastes.
Well, it was good that your dad got to see Eddie actually play. His shtick in later years was to go on stage with his "comedy" routine - which consisted of lots of needless swearing and 5 minutes of music out of each set.
RIP Chuck Berry, the architect of Rock n' Roll. Such an influence upon major artists like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, continuing though major artists like Bruce Springsteen to contemporary artists.
Clarinet and basoon player Peter Bastian died earlier this week only 73 years old.
Peter was indeed one of Denmark's most brilliant and passionate musicians. He is best known for his work with the Danish trio Bazaar (Anders Koppel, Flemming Quist Møller and Peter) Very often when they played in clubs in Copenhagen, Peter would continue playing solo when the band went for a break and even after the last encore.
He was really unstopable and I will miss him very much.
The great Colonel Bruce Hampton. Collapsed on stage last night at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta during an encore at a concert celebrating his 70th birthday. The list of players who joined him at the Fox gives some small sense of his influence and the respect they had for him. It's sad, but what a way to go. RIP Colonel.
Funny, I was thinking about Guvera the other day. It gave me a boatload of free music and the start of an ECM collection, for which I am grateful. But I think it also harmed my downloading habits - between the freebies and all the extra credits (hundreds of them) they gave me for helping troubleshoot stuff I got a very large quantity of free music, and that got me used to acquiring more music than I could realistically ingest properly, and that carried over to 2-for-1 booster packs... Just lately I am trying to focus very intentionally on getting back to getting new music at a rate that I can seriously engage with. So long Guvera, you helped make some of my bad habits worse, but gave me some gifts along the way.
Thinking of the 22 who died leaving an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester last night from a suicide terrorist bomb. Many were young teenagers some with one of their parents. See here
Comments
My most vivid memory about Svend is a new years eve party many years ago in The Grey Hall in Christiania where he was a guest in a concert with a Danish Folk / Rock / Hippieband called Djurslands Spillemænd (no early videos seems to exist)
- After the concert one of the two brilliant guitarists said that the presence of Svend lifted the band to a level they did not know was within their reach.
I am sure that everyone who was there had an experience they'll never ever forget.
- Yes, Svend could also play rockmusic and was the kind of artist that just with his presence could lift music many levels up.
But Swing was his thing:
Rest in peace.
ETA:
http://www.the-discographer.dk/kapelmestre/asmussen/svend-asmussen-fra-1946-disko.pdf
One of the last things I spend time with my mother, who was a walking classical music encyclopedia, was watching The Three Tenors on the television.
It was at that occation I realized why they were so highly esteemed.
A great moment in music history.
His shtick in later years was to go on stage with his "comedy"
routine - which consisted of lots of needless swearing and
5 minutes of music out of each set.
RIP
I was there for this film shooting at the Fox Theatre, St Louis, 1986
Clarinet and basoon player Peter Bastian died earlier this week only 73 years old.
Peter was indeed one of Denmark's most brilliant and passionate musicians.
He is best known for his work with the Danish trio Bazaar (Anders Koppel, Flemming Quist Møller and Peter)
Very often when they played in clubs in Copenhagen, Peter would continue playing solo when the band went for a break and even after the last encore.
He was really unstopable and I will miss him very much.
and a little curiosity, Peter playing on a straw:
Pan Sonic founder and noise icon Mika Vainio has died aged 53
https://www.yahoo.com/music/allan-holdsworth-progressive-guitar-virtuoso-dies-70-222045697.html
Sad news. I saw some mention of an accident whilst on holiday in France.
Vito Acconci, Performance Artist and Uncommon Architect, Dies at 77
http://music.blog.ajc.com/2017/05/02/col-bruce-hampton-dies-hours-after-70th-birthday-celebration-at-the-fox-theatre/
Liked his work a lot.
http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7793132/guvera-streaming-service-shutters-ceases-operation
Just lately I am trying to focus very intentionally on getting back to getting new music at a rate that I can seriously engage with. So long Guvera, you helped make some of my bad habits worse, but gave me some gifts along the way.
Chris Cornell: Audioslave and Soundgarden singer dies aged 52
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/soundgardens-chris-cornell-dead-at-52-w482882