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Danish jazz dates back to 1923 whenValdemar Eiberg formed ajazz orchestra and recorded what are thought to be the first Danish jazz records in August 1924 ("I've Got a Cross-Eyed Papa" and "In Bluebird Land"). However, jazz inDenmark is typically first dated to 1925, when bandleaderSam Wooding toured inCopenhagen with an orchestra. This was the first time most Danes had heard jazz music. Some prominent early Danish jazz musicians includeErik Tuxen who formed a jazz band and was later namedconductor of theDanish Radio Symphony Orchestra;Bernhard Christensen, anart music composer who incorporated jazz elements into his pieces, andSven Møller Kristensen, who was the lyricist for many of Bernhard Christensen's pieces and who wrote a book on jazz theory inDanish.
In the 1930s, jazz became quite popular in Denmark; major figures of the period include pianistLeo Mathisen, violinistSvend Asmussen, trombonistPeter Rasmussen, saxophonistKai Ewans, bassistNiels Foss, and pianist/vibraphonistKjeld Bonfils. Many of these musicians played in Valdemar Eiberg's band.
Jazz went underground in 1940 as a result of the Nazioccupation of Denmark when jazz was discouraged by the regime. Nevertheless, it continued to be performed and recorded, even more so as Danish musicians began to fill the void created by the lack of foreign players touring through the area. Musicians such as Eiberg, Bonfils and Asmussen (who played in a band together), along withUffe Baadh,Bruno Henriksen andBertel Skjoldborg continued to make jazz music as a form of political protest. Many singers, such asFreddy Albeck,Ingelise Rune, andRaquel Rastenni, found it necessary to escape toSweden in the later years of the occupation.[1]
FollowingWorld War II, Danish jazz musicians began to split into an older guard, which maintained the style of traditionalNew Orleans jazz, and newer musicians who favored thebebop style ofCharlie Parker andDizzy Gillespie that was emerging inAmerica. The former were represented by musicians such as pianistAdrian Bentzon, trombonistPapa Bue, and trumpeterTheis Jensen, while the latter included saxophonistMax Brüel, bassistErik Moseholm, drummerUffe Baadh and trumpeterJørgen Ryg.
In the early 1960s, a club called theJazzhus Montmartre opened in Copenhagen, which was intended to recreate the atmosphere of jazz clubs inParis andNew York City. It became a major venue for both Danish and American jazz musicians. Many American jazz players moved to Copenhagen from the 1950s whenStan Getz andOscar Pettiford moved there. They were followed byDexter Gordon,Kenny Drew, andBen Webster in the 1960s, andDuke Jordan,Horace Parlan,Ed Thigpen,Bob Rockwell, andThad Jones (who became the leader of theDR Big Band in 1977) in subsequent decades. Kenny Drew formed a trio withAlex Riel andNiels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen which became a staple at Jazzhus Montmartre.
In the 1960s, Danish musicians began to explorefree jazz with saxophonistJohn Tchicai as the most prominent proponent. In parallel, a more mainstream wing evolved, including saxophonistJesper Thilo.
Asrock music became more popular in the 1970s, jazz's popularity waned, but it continues to be supported in venues such as theCopenhagen Jazzhouse and the annualCopenhagen Jazz Festival. The organization JazzDanmark,[2] funded by the Danish government, works to promote jazz in Denmark and Danish jazz abroad.
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