Svingin' With Svend Reviews
Posted on Nov 20, 2009 in Reviews | Comments Off on Svingin' With Svend Reviews
Guitar Player Magazine
Svingin’ With Svend
Mandolinist Grisman’s collaboration with Danish jazz violin great Svend Asmussen also debuts the guitar work of Dimitri Vandellos. Though Dimitri’s presence is mainly felt in his tasteful rhythmic backup, his several solos on acoustic steel-string and hollow body electric indicate that the Dawg has found yet another brilliant guitarist to work with.
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SVINGIN’ WITH SVEND
Larry Kelp
The Oakland Tribune
Although both Marin mandolinist Grisman and Norwegian jazz violinst Svend Asmussen were deeply influenced by the Django Reinhard-Stephane Grappelli string swing jazz music of the ’30s, and even though they base much of this album on it (Grappelli even wrote the liner notes), Asmussen is never comfortable sticking with one style. Neither is Grisnan, so they lead this fine group through a bunch of often remote side trips.
Fats Waller’s “Jitterbug Waltz” with a fresh arrangement, even Asmussen’s “Lap Nils Polska” and “Nadja.” Not only is the music mostly fun, the playing by the leaders and band is ear-boggling throughout without being merely showy. Grisman and crew minus Asmussen will be at the Great American’ Music Hall on March 26.
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“Svingin’ with Svend” unites Grisman, Asmussen in jazz LP
Jim Ellison
What do you get when you cross a Danish violinist with an American mandolinist? A delightful new jazz album called “Svingin’ with Svend”. This Zebra records release has Svend Asmussen joining the David Grisman Quartet. I have long been a fan of Grisman’s. His acoustic string groups have successfully blended the best of bluegrass and jazz. But his previously released “Acousticity”, left me somewhat cold. For the first time, he introduced a drummer and horn section to his group. Grisman felt the need to switch the emphasis to more of a rock sound. The two best cuts had Latin rhythms. On tour with just the quartet, the same material fared better.
Now, Grisman has kept a drummer, but the difference is startling. George Marsh uses brushes, instead of sticks, and swings instead of rocks. This seems to be the answer to Grisman’s percussion search.
Asmussen is a sure player, reminiscent of Stephane Grappelli (who bas played with each of these men). He and Grisman solo nicely on each tune. Three of the cuts were recorded live at Fat Tuesday’s in New York; the other three were done in a studio. All are long enough to allow the musicians to stretch out.
The title cut, a Grisman composition, is an up-tempo bop number, somewhat like Grisman’s earlier “Dawgma.” It’s fast and fun. Asmussen wrote “Nadja,” a nice medium tempo bounce with a pretty melody. Guitarist Dimitri Vandellos contributes a fine solo. (Grisman has always attracted good guitarists from Tony Rice to Mark O’Conner, to Mike Marshall.
Asmussen arranged’ “Lap-Nils Polska”, a medium tempo waltz. Towards the end it features some kalimba percussion and begins to drag a bit. The longest track on the album, it could have been shortened. “Swing Mineur” is a reworking of “Minor Swing.” Asmussen recalls how composers Grappelli and Django Reinhardt used to play it. It is slower than Grisman’s earlier version, but it still swings.
Fats Waller’s “Jitterbug Waltz” is next. The head arrangement is somewhat unusual, but when the solos start, things get down to business. Vandellos switches to electric guitar, and everyone contributes. Marsh and bassist James Kerwin trade fours nicely towards the end.
Finally, we get a lovely reading of “Nuages,” another Reinhardt-Grappelli tune. This is one of Django s best melodies, and Grisman and Asmussen know better than to rush it. The cut again finds Vandellos on electric guitar. If you have never heard Grisman or his brand of jazz, this is a good starting point. If you are already a fan, this marks a return to form. And the album should serve to acquaint Americans with Asmussen, a player who deserves more recognition.
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David Grisman – Svingin’ With Svend
Phil Hood
Zebra Acoustic Records (dist. by MCA), ZEA-42108.
Instrumentalists: David Grisman, mandolin; Svend Asmussen, violin; Dimitri Vandellos, guitar; James Kerwin, bass; George Marsh, drums.
The title says it all. This half-live, half in-the-studio album is unabashed swing, featuring 71-year Danish fiddler Svend Asmussen. The six-song set includes “Minor Swing” (“Swing Mineur”), ‘Jitterbug Waltz”, “Nuages”, plus a polka and two originals. Svend is as vigorous and inventive a player as ever: his title cut solo includes rapid staccato passages, blues-drenched Stuff Smith lines, and startling melodic improvisations. Perhaps he’s even better on his own delicate composition “Nadja,” which features a wonderfully gypsy-esque statement by guitarist Vandellos. Most of the solos belong to Grisman and Asmussen, but rhythm section fans will get a special kick out of the way Marsh and James lay down a perfect foundation for them, creative and dynamic but never overwhelming. Two extra cuts are included on the CD version.
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“Svingin” Recording has lilting charm
Will Smith
Mandolinist David Grisman’s “Svingin’ With Svend” (Zebra/Acoustic ZEA-42l208) isn’t exactly what one would call pure new acoustic music. Like most of Grisman’s recordings, it has more than a dollop of Django Reinhardt – tinged gypsy jazz. Grisman’s guest on this half-nightclub, half-studio recording is Danish Violinist Svend Asmussen, thus the ‘svingin'” title.
Backing Grisman’s fleet always joyous mandolin and Asmussen’s crying, swooping violin, is guitarist Dimitri Vandellos, bassist James Kerwin and drummer George Marsh. The lilting charm of this music compares favorably wIth Grisman’s recordings wlth French violinist Stephane Grappelli.