Very few jazz musicians have made it to their 100th birthday but last Fen. 28 the great Danish violinist Svend Asmussen began his second century. Born in Copenhagen, Asmussen began playing violin when he was seven back in 1923. He became a professional a decade later, made his first recordings as a leader in 1935, and worked throughout Denmark and on cruise ships, also playing vibes and singing.
He continued working during World War II. Asmussen survived six months in a German prison camp before being released, immediately resuming his career after that harrowing experience. A natural comedian who appeared in some films, Asmussen worked in many revues during the 1950s before forming the Swe-Danes, a popular trio with singer Alice Babs and guitarist Ulrik Neumann.
Along the way, he had chances to work with Fats Waller, Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton, and was part of Duke Ellington’s Jazz Violin Session in 1963 with fellow violinists Stephane Grappelli and Ray Nance. Asmussen worked as late as 2010 before a blood clot at the age of 94 ended his career. He has partly recovered since then and reportedly still plays a bit privately. Hopefully someone will record the 100 year old. He ranks with Joe Venuti, Stephane Grappelli, and Stuff Smith among the greatest swing violinists of all time.
The Storyville label has released a five-CD one-DVD box called The Incomparable Fiddler â
