SVEND ASMUSSEN, 100, on Feb. 7 in Copenhagen, Denmark. A swing-style violinist known as The Fiddling Viking, his playing career extended from 1923 to 2010.
He took up the violin at age 7, and at 16, heard recordings of Joe Venuti, whose style he began to emulate. He worked on cruise ships with artists such as Josephine Baker and Fats Waller and later was greatly influenced by Stuff Smith. He played and recorded with many jazz greats, including Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grappelli, Lionel Hampton, and Toots Thielemans. Was a member of a popular swing trio with Danish guitarist Ulrik Neumann and Swedish singer Alice Babs, known for their scat singing and Music Hall-style entertainment.
