Legendary Scandinavian clarinetist Leif Juul Jorgensen leads a swinging little combo on a live recording from April 5, 2014 with Jesper Lundgaard/b, Soren Kristiansen/p and Alex Riel/dr. Jorgensen’s approach to the licorice stick is similar to trad-swing artists such as Pee Wee Russell: lithe chops and digital dexterity take a back seat to feeling, emotion and expression. Therefore, klezmeric slurs dominate on pieces such as “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” and lower register slurs, tons of tonguing and vibrato create old school arias on “Just Squeeze Me.”Kristiansen gets a chance to shine on his solos, as everyone stretches out on each tune, but he earns his pay on a herky jerky “Blue Monk” while Lundgaard’s bass solo on “Perdido” is a perfect response to Jorgensen’s tip of the hat to Barney Bigard. If you’re more heart than head, you’re gonna love these guys that put it on their sleeves.
Storyville Records