Swing is still in the air in Europe, as the Danish team of Leif Juul Jorgensen/cl, Jesper Lundgaard/b, Soren Kristiansen/p and Alex Riel/dr deliver a cheerful collection of classics during a concert in Flensborg Germany back in 2014.
Jorgensen likes the middle register of the licorice stick, eschewing the high piercing range and has a nimble sense of timing as the leads the band through joyful readings of “Lullaby Of Birdland” and a hip delivery of “Bohemia After Dark.” The band gets a chance to stretch out, as Lundaard and Riel have some fun on “Undecided” and Riel gets some elbow room on “Oh, Lady Be Good.” Kirstiansen is Teddy Wilson erucite on “If I Had You” and “Mean To Me” with the band eschewing any hints of nostalgia and making the Swing Era feel fresh and new.
Storyville Records