Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Svend Asmussen: Rhythm Is Our Business
Svend Asmussen: Rhythm Is Our Business
Duke Ellington
piano1899 - 1974
Sam Woodyard
drums1925 - 1988
There is just one Svend Asmussen and today, at the age of 93, he is a Danish national treasure, but let's assume, as the above anecdote implies, that in his prime he was two people. One—call him Mussen—was a world class jazzman, playing with
Benny Goodman
clarinet1909 - 1986
Lionel Hampton
vibraphone1908 - 2002
Stuff Smith
violin1909 - 1967
Ray Nance
cornet1913 - 1976
Stephane Grappelli
violin1908 - 1997
The other—call him Ass—was a star of the Danish variety stage, singing songs in broken English ("The whole world smiles to you"), telling silly jokes and occasionally chucking in a bit of virtuoso jazz violin just to show where he was coming from.
This compilation, although billed as "The Perfect Asmussen," features far more of the Ass than the Mussen, and has little place in the modern age. Did no one stop to think that it might be entirely inappropriate to regurgitate Asmussen's unembarrassed warbling of the old Uncle Tom number "Carry Me Back To Old Virginny," which celebrates the joys of slavery with lines like:
That's where I laboured so hard for old massa
Day after day in the fields of yellow corn
No place on earth do I love more sincerely
Than old Virginny, the state where I was born.
Asmussen, who is billed as a co-producer, was apparently oblivious to any offence that might be given in the Obama age by words such as these, along with references to "this old darkey." Indeed, he is quoted on the sleeve as saying, of the songs selected, "Yes, they do sound quite fresh after such a long time."
In fact, listening to the cod vocals and clichéd arrangements, it's hard to imagine that the 23 numbers on this album were recorded after
Miles Davis
trumpet1926 - 1991
In an enthusiastic but often incoherent sleeve note, Henrik Wolsgaard-Iversen, of the Danish
Ben Webster
saxophone, tenor1909 - 1973
Instrumentals, such as "Ellington Mood" and "Svend's Riff," come as a great relief, though Max Leth's vibraphone playing is often heavy-handed, as is Preben Oxbøl's drumming with the sextet. Jørgen Ingman's guitar playing, on the other hand, is light and airy and a joy throughout.
As for Asmussen, in the twilight of his years, he deserves a far better memorial than this unfortunate hotchpotch. Let's hope someone will one day sort the wheat from the chaff and provide it. ">
Track Listing
Rhythm Is Our Business; Panhandle Pete; Be My Life's Companion; Ellington Mood; Svend's Riff; Someone To Watch Over Me; Darktown Strutters' Ball; Schöner Gigolo; Cotton Tail; Indian Summer; After You've Gone; When You're Smiling; Moonglow; Carry Me Back To Old Virginny; Fiddler In Rio/Umbrigado; Jeepers Creepers; Svend's Blues; Poor Butterfly; Georgia Camp Meeting; Hallelujah; Honeysuckle Rose; How About You?; Jazz Me Blues.
Personnel
Svend Asmussen
violinSvend Asmussen: violin, vocals; Max Leth: piano, vibes; Jørgen Ingman: guitar; Ulrik Neumann: guitar; Frank Jensen: bass clarinet; Poul Grigersen: bass; Preben Oxbøl: drums.
Album information
Title: Rhythm Is Our Business | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Storyville Records
Tags
Svend Asmussen
CD/LP/Track Review
Chris Mosey
Storyville Records
duke ellington
Sam Woodyard
Benny Goodman
Lionel Hampton
Stuff Smith
Ray Nance
Stephane Grappelli
Miles Davis
ben webster
Rhythm Is our Business
Comments
PREVIOUS / NEXT
Support All About Jazz
All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.
Buy Now
