Tomas Franck
THE COPENHAGEN CONNECTION
with NIELS LAN DOKY, MADS VINDING & ALBERT „TOOTIE“ HEATH
These days, while many young musicians
of post-Coltrane and something particularly
on many albums with my idols - Coltrane and
discover new expressions in crossover pro-
Scandinavian. I think Tomas is an outstanding
Rollins - and here he was, and I was playing
jects and experiments, and grind out hund-
musician, and working with him, Mads and
with him!”
reds of CDs from alternative studios and cold
‘Tootie’ is a great thrill. THE COPENHAGEN
basements, calling it ‘jazz’, it is most intere-
CONNECTION is an old-fashioned blowing
“It’s important to me not to imitate or steal
sting to experience a (still young) musician
session, and a tribute to a period that I only
licks, but let myself be inspired by the sax-
like Niels Lan Doky with dedication and sin-
experienced the tail-end of - but enough to
players we are paying tribute to. But of course
cerity reaching out with hands, ears and heart
become fascinated by jazz people, their craft
I thought about them while we played, Stan
toward the past in celebration of a tradition.
and their personalities – THE COPENHAGEN
Getz, Dexter Gordon, Bent Jædig, Ernie Wil-
Doky’s very warm and charming film ’Between
CONNECTION is my way of repaying that.”
kins, Johnny Griffin, Ben Webster, Joe Hen-
A Smile And A Tear’ brought musical witnes-
derson, Wayne Shorter, Sonny Rollins and
ses from the famed ’Montmartre Jazzhouse’
Jimmy Heath - so they are there someplace
in Copenhagen forth. Johnny Griffin, Tootie
– or nearby.”
Heath, Mads Vinding, Toots Thielemanns and
A whole generation of jazz aficionados was
others were united to relive happy and wild
lucky enough to receive their musical up-
memories from the 60’s and 70’s in the ’Jazz
bringing when a large handful American
Center of Europe’.
musicians chose Copenhagen as their new
home and the Montmartre club as their base
“That period created the foundation for what
- or just stopped by for a short or prolonged
we play now and, yes, I am deeply fascinated
visit. On THE COPENHAGEN CONNECTION
by the myth of ’The Old Montmartre’ which I
Tomas Franck pays homage to many of the
was too young to experience”, says Lan Doky,
saxophonist that visited Copenhagen. The
who is also the man behind THE COPENHA-
spirit from back then inspires his large and
GEN CONNECTION.
powerful sound to new heights. THE COPENHAGEN CONNECTION bursts in a vibrant and
This session tips its hat to several tenor sax-
vital tribute, not only to a past era, but to jazz
men, who at some time performed on the
in general.
small stage in Montmartre during the 15 years
the party lasted. The tenor on centre stage
THE COPENHAGEN CONNECTION is Tomas
here is Tomas Franck (b. 1958 – the year Mont-
Franck’s fourth STUNT release.
martre opened). It is especially his homage to
Previous releases are BEWITCHED (1988),
those sax-men who came before him.
CRYSTAL BALL (1994) and AT THE CIRCUS
Tomas Franck – with the leading role on this
(1999). This luxurious CD is more than just mu-
However, two of the important musicians
album – also enjoyed the session. “Of course
sic - Hans Sørensen from Focus Recording
from that period are very present here, bas-
this was Niels Lan Doky’s idea. I had never
is the man behind the exceptional recording
sist Mads Vinding (b.1948) and drummer Al-
played with ‘Tootie’ Heath before - unique.
sound, and the booklet includes numerous
bert ’Tootie’ Heath (b.1935). ’Tootie’ would take
Lan and I have known each other for 20 ye-
photographs by Jan Persson and knowled-
the chair when house drummer Alex Riel was
ars. He suggested a lot of things, and I sug-
geable and entertaining notes by Henrik
off, and Vinding often stood in for Niels Hen-
gested a few. The Apartment, for instance,
Iversen - both first class witnesses from back
ning Ørsted Pedersen along with Bo Stief and
was on a Dexter Gordon record that I bought
then, and very much alive!
others. Back then Kenny Drew would play the
in my youth and was crazy about, and it was
grand piano in the smoke-filled 160 m2 - in-
the same for him. That was the golden era -
Tomas Franck (ts), Niels Lan Doky (p), Mads
cluding kitchen and checkroom.
most of the songs were already in my bag,….
Vinding (b), Albert ‘Tootie’ Heath (dr)
Producer and pianist on THE COPENHAGEN
We had the repertoire, so we met up in the
CONNECTION, Niels Lan Doky (b.1963) has a
studio and talked, ate lunch - and then it hap-
STUCD 06082
thorough knowledge of the many tenor sax-
pened. Everything fell into place - that’s the
---
ophonists that took the stage for long or short
great thing about jazz: there are never pro-
For more information please contact
spells - Brew Moore, Don Byas, Yusef Lateef,
blems with trends and generation gaps. And
Laura Littauer +45)3333 8720/
Zoot Sims, Al Cohn - but on this album he
we were several generations with the same
drect line (+45)3318 9092
chose to pay homage to those of them, who
musical language. Mads played with every-
[email protected]
were a natural inspiration to the big Swede,
body, back then. He must have been a very
Tomas Franck . “Tomas is a perfect blend
young boy!.. And ‘Tootie’ played the drums
STUNT RECORDS
Sundance Music ApS Havnegade 41 1058 Copenhagen K Denmark
T: +45 3333 8720 F: +45 3333 8730 www.sundance.dk [email protected]