Denmark

By the time the 71-year-old Stephane Grappelli made this live trio recording with guitarist Joe Pass and bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, his legacy as the greatest of all jazz violinists was firmly in place. Granted, that made him first in a fairly short line of colleagues – other than Joe Venuti and Stuff Smith, who else was there to consider? (Jean-Luc Ponty doesn't count.) But it's hard to imagine another player, regardless of virtuosity, ever conveying the same sense of swing and simple joie de vivre that Grappelli does with virtually every note. Nor does it hurt that his accompanists on this album are among the finest in their fields; Orsted Pedersen plays with a solidity and rhythmic power that are enough to make you forget the absence of a drummer, while Pass slides effortlessly between unobtrusive chordal backup and bravura soloing. The program itself is practically a Grapelli greatest-hits collection – "It's Only a Paper Moon," "Crazy Rhythm," "How Deep Is the Ocean,"… etc. – which makes this disc a perfect introduction to his art for anyone looking for a good place to begin. Highly recommended.

Treasures: Solo, Trio & Orchestra Recordings In Denmark 1965-1969 is a set of previously unreleased recordings of jazz piano icon Bill Evans, either live or in Danish TV and radio studios. Highlights include trio performances from 1965 with bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen; the only solo piano version of "My Funny Valentine" by Evans known to exist; a 1966 orchestral suite with the trio accompanied by the Danish Radio Big Band and more! Includes rare photos, liner notes and interviews.

Paradise, Hawaiian Style is the soundtrack to the 1966 Elvis Presley movie. This is the 2004 remaster and reissue with 15 bonus tracks, released by Follow That Dream via BMG Denmark.

The Danish National Symphony Orchestra (or DNSO) has gained prominence befitting its name and has spawned the international careers of several important Danish and non-Danish conductors. For many years the group was known as the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra or Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and its origins were in the 1920s, but its history is only partly intertwined with that of radio broadcasting in Denmark.The DNSO was originally founded in 1925 by a group of musicians led by singer Emil Holm. There were only 11 players in the group, although that soon rose to 30 and to more than 90 by the late 1940s. The new orchestra's conductor was Launy Grøndahl. Unusually, he took no formal title, and the orchestra had no principal conductor until Herbert Blomstedt assumed the title in 1967.

The music on this album could be called ’a prelude to a love affair’. Why? Because it was the great tenor saxophonist Ben Webster’s first encounter with the country and city he decided to spend the rest of his life in, living, playing and loving. It was also his first day on the continent after a successful time in London, mostly at Ronnie Scotts famous club.

Elephant is a 2020 collaborative album between Frederik Valentin and Loke Rahbek, both of Denmark. This was released through Posh Isolation