The Rascal Swing Band
-
Lasse Høj Jakobsen - vocals/violin
Lasse is best known as a violinist, but in The Rascal Swing Band he also demonstrates his great ability as a singer. His expressive violin playing moves within the style that Django Reinhardt and Stephan Grapelli created with the legendary band Hot Club de France mixed with a dash of blue inspired by Stuff Smith.
-
Jens Christian Kwella - leadguitar
Kwella is known for his equilibristic and swinging guitar playing. He is known from a variety of contexts and has won numerous critical acclaims. At Aarhus Jazz Festival 2012 the critics wrote about his playing: "Tremendously accomplished with many fine details. Elegant, delicious and technically well executed. "(Lars Borup, Jazzfest.dk)
Kwella is also an associate professor in guitar, ensemble and music theory at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus Denmark. - kwella.dk -
Jon Noe - rhythm guitar
Jon, is together with Torben the backbone of the band's swinging sound. He is one of those rare guitarists, dedicated solely to playing rhythm guitar and he has made it his specialty. He plays on a genuine gypsy guitar. Listening to his crisp guitar accompaniment is like hearing Django's own backing band.
-
Torben Bjørnskov - bass
Torben is the solid base of the orchestra. Not many bassists can as he play both swinging accompaniment and virtuosic solos. He is a much sought after bass player in Denamrk and abroad. In the last years he has recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studio and appeared in many of the major festivals, including North Sea Jazz Festival.
-
Bourbon Street Parade
The Rascal Swing Band plays Bourbon Street Parade at a concert for the Sct. Jørgens Jazzklub in Naestved, DK May 2013. -
I'll See You In My Dreams
The Rascal Swing Band plays I'll See You In My Dreams at Cafe Panorama during the Aarhus Jazz Festival in DK in July 2013. -
The Sheik Of Araby
The Danish string swing quartet The Rascal Swing Band plays The Sheik Of Araby at Aarhus Jazz Festival 2013. Please notice how the audience sings ¨without your pants on¨ in response to the song's lyrics.
-
Medley from a concert at Aarhus Jazz Club in November 2012
A small presentation of The Rascal Swing Band with clips from a concert in Aarhus Jazz Club in November 2012 The sound quality is not top notch, but the atmosphere is :-). -
Royal Garden Blues
The Rascal Swing Bands New CD "When You're Smiling" featuring contagious joy of playing, equilibristic solos and charming interpretations of swing music's greatest classics.
The band celebrates the joy of music and the pleasure of experiencing musicians who actually play their instruments themselves. Completely free from computers, machinery or other musical E-numbers and additives.
The CD includes new interpretations of swing music's greatest classics with tracks like "When You're Smiling," "All Of Me" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street". The bands gypsy jazz-inspired lineup makes the music swing effortlessly and the brilliant solos is the final icing on the cake. The music is reminiscent of Django Reinhardt and Svend Asmussen's groups from the 30's and 40's.
It is difficult to remain pessimistic when you press play and listen to The Rascal Swing Band.
The album is available in Europe through:
For availability in other locations please contact kwella@mail.tele.dk
The album is also available as a digital download through the iTunes Music Store:
