Arne "Papa" Bue Jensen,
[1] known as
Papa Bue, was a
Danish trombonist and
bandleader, chiefly associated with the
Dixieland jazz
revival style of which he was considered an important proponent died he was 81.. He
founded and led the Viking Jazz Band, which was active from 1956.
| (8 May 1930 – 2 November 2011) |
|
|
Early life and career
Arne Bue Jensen was born in
Copenhagen,
Denmark.
[1] At an early age, he became fascinated with jazz, prompted by a pile of records from his brother with artists such as
Harry James,
Artie Shaw,
Tommy Dorsey,
Glenn Miller and
Bert Ambrose. Some records by
Bunk Johnson and
George Lewis reviving the New Orleans musical made a particular impression.
After
World War II,
Jensen became a sailor for a few years, visiting ports all around the
world, where he had an opportunity to listen to enjoy their often lively
music venues. It was around this time that he started to play jazz. For
borrowed money, which it would take him years to repay, he bought a
slide trombone. He was taught the seven basic positions of the slide by a musician from the
Royal Danish Orchestra
but apart from that he was self-taught. Soon he played with other young
jazz musicians and performed in clubs and bars around Copenhagen. He
played in bands such as the Royal Jazzman (later the Bohana Jazz Band),
Henrik Johansen’s Jazz Band and the Saint Peter Street Stompers,
participating as a
sideman in several of their recordings.
[4] In the 1950s, Papa Bue worked with the Bonanza Jazz Band,
Chris Barber, Adrian Bentzon and Henrik Johansen.
[1]
The Viking Jazz Band
Papa Bues Viking Jazzband live in concert on the July 7th 1992 in Braunschweig
In the mid 1950s, he was part of the musical environment of the entertainment district around
Nyhavn.
He jammed with other young jazz musicians in various informal
arrangements and, along with six other musicians, he founded the New
Orleans Jazz Band in 1956, after a jam session in the establishment 'Cap
Horn'. Since Jensen was the eldest he became the bandleader and, as he
was also the only band member who was a father, he was given the
nickname "Papa Bue" which stuck.
[4]
In late 1957, Jensen renamed the ensemble the Viking Jazz Band. The name came from the American journalist and vocalist
Shel Silverstein[5] who attended one of their concerts at
Cap Horn
during a stay in Copenhagen. He subsequently wrote an article about
them, calling them the Danish Vikings, explaining that they played the
original New Orleans and Chicago jazz even better than any American band
at the time. The band adopted the new name and released their first
album as the Viking Jazz Band in 1958.
[4] In 1960 their "Schlafe Mein Prinzchen" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a
gold disc.
[6]
At a time when many jazz musicians worked in the
Bebop idiom, his style remained based on the
Dixieland tradition but also with influences from early
swing music. He is considered one of the most significant proponents of his genre.
[7]
The group remained active into the 1990s, and recorded with musicians such as
George Lewis (1959),
Champion Jack Dupree (1962),
Art Hodes (1970),
Wild Bill Davison (1970, 1974),
Wingy Manone,
Edmond Hall and
Albert Nicholas.
[2] They also played with George Lewis,
Earl Hines,
Stuff Smith,
Ben Webster. Wild Bill Davison was a permanent band member.
[7]
Jensen released a large number of albums, many of them issued or reissued on
Storyville Records,
Timeless Records, and Music Mecca.
It was Papa Bue's Viking Jazz Band which recorded
Bent Fabricius-Bjerre's
theme music for the
Olsen Gang series, now a legendary sequence for the Danes.
[7]
Awards and accolades
In 1969, Papa Bue's Viking Jazz Band was the only non-American band to participate in the
New Orleans Jazz Festival and Jensen was honored with the "Golden Keys to the City".
[7]
Death
Papa Bue died on 2 November 2011, at the age of 81.
[1]
Discography
- A Tribute To Wingy Manone (Rec. Dec. 7th 1967, Storyville)
- All That Meat And No Potatoes (With Wild Bill Davison & Gustav Winkler, Rec. Nov 1977, Storyville)
- The 25th Anniversary Session (Rec. 1981, V-KING Records)
- Everybody Loves Saturday Night, Vol. 1 (compilation, released 5 December 1996)
- Song Was Born (released 20 September 1999)
- 40 Years Jubilee Concert (released 20 September 1989)
- Canal Street Blues (released 20 September 1999)
- Church Concert (live recording, released 1 January 2000)
- Live at Mosebacke Stockholm (live recordings from 1970, released 14 November 2000)
- 1958–1969: Hit Singles (compilation, released 1 May 2001)
- 1971: Live in Dresden (live recordings from 1971, released 10 July 2001)
- Rags & Marches (compilation, released 5 March 2002)
- Hamburg 1970–1971: A Tribute to Finn Otto Hansen (compilation, released 6 July)
To see more of who died in 2011
click here