Svend Asmussen - Extraordinary Life and Music of a Jazz Legend DVD (Zone 1)

In terms of technical skill and performance, Copenhagen-born jazz violinist Sven Asmussen ranks among the best of the best - dexterous enough to draw instant comparisons to protégés Stephane Grappelli and Joe Venuti. A showman among showmen, Asmussen could hold an audience, rapt, in the palm of his hand. In the process, he worked with everyone from Edith Piaf to Fats Waller. This release actually consists of two programs featuring Asmussen - "The Good Old Days," an autobiographical treatment that intercuts fond reminiscences with archival footage, and "Music with Svend Asmussen," a feature-length compilation of performance clips headlined by the master musician, that extend back

into the 1930s.

1. The Good Old Days [2:32]

2. A Boxer or a Violinist [8:30]

3. Imprisoned by the Nazis [6:35]

4. Making 78s [5:50]

5. The Adlon and "Ring Dem Bells" [8:21]

6. "A Sausage, I'll Serve You With Pleasure" [6:59]

7. Tribute to Stuff Smith [4:19]

8. Svend and Benny Goodman [6:48]

9. Duke Ellington's After Hours Party [14:00]

10. Svend and Toots Thielemans [14:25]

1. Svend Asmussen Quintet 1938 [:47]

2. Svend With Gerda and Ulrik Neumann 1947 [3:02]

3. Svend Asmussen Quintet 1949 [4:14]

4. Svend With Ulrik Neumann and Quintet 1956 [10:25]

5. Svend With Ulrik Neumann 1959 [8:09]

6. The Swe-Danes 1960 [:57]

7. Svend Asmussen Quintet 1965 [27:34]

8. Svend and Hoagy Carmichael 1968 [3:22]

9. Svend and Benny Goodman 1981 [7:07]

10. Svend Asmussen Prize Winners 1985 [3:53]

11. Svend Asmussen Quartet 2003 [15:47]