In the late 1950s, Copenhagen was second only to Paris as a European jazz hot spot, and American bassist Oscar Pettiford was its leading light. These 17 tracks reveal what a lively and diverse scene the mixture of US expats and Scandinavian musicians had created. Prominent among the latter was Swedish pianist Jan Johansson, whose sensitive blend of jazz and local folk music was decades ahead of today’s distinctive and widely accepted north European sounds. The most famous temporary expat was Stan Getz, who can be heard here on three numbers, recorded live, along with both Pettiford and Johansson. Listen out, too, for vibraphonist Louis Hjulmand and drummer Joe Harris. A fascinating selection from a brief but exciting time.
