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| Review: KESWICK JAZZ FESTIVAL 2004 - The
Mississippi Rag - August 2004: Jensens Jazz Serenaders from Denmark were special because three af the members were a family - Kurt Jensen, reeds/vocals; his wife Nan, bass; and daughter Nina, banjo. Brian Carrick (reeds and vocals) is a British friend of the family who often joined Nina (a superb vocalist) for some wonderful duets. Completing the band was Swedish trumpeter Eddie Bruhner, and Ronald Andersen was on drums. PEK recorded this session for a future CD. This band also started with "Algiers Strut" and played 17 numbers including "Bugle Boy March," "Milenburg Joys," "I Ate Up The Apple Tree," and "Crazy."The driving beat, combined with the tuneful harmonies, made this a special session. (Kathy and Andy Wittenborn in The Mississippi Rag - August 2004) |
| (CD-anmeldelse / review) FEMØ JAZZ FESTIVAL
2003 Music Mecca: CD4047-2 Brian Carrick (clarinet, tenor sax, vocal), Eddie Bruhner (trumpet, vocal), Kurt Jensen (clarinet, tenor sax), Erik Vand Hansen (piano), Nina Ehrenstråle (banjo, vocal), Nan Ehrenstråle (bass), Ronald Andersen (drums) This CD should go straight to the top of your shopping list - but that's
only, of course, if you absolutely love and crave happy, uncomplicated,bouncing jazz with
such an infectious beat that it's hard to stay in your seat! Adding piquancy to the mix on
this excellent Femø Jazz Festival session last year was the fact that Brian Carrick's
almost unique metal clarinet broke before the show and he had to switch to an 'ordinary'
wooden instrument. Brian's metal clarinet was originally one (owned, not used) of George
Lewis' and was given to him by a member of George's family. So what's it like? Superb, great fun, very musical, exiting and yet disciplined, with no decents into rabble-rousing histrionics. Let's try a brief track-by-track guide...(1) Is an Algiers dance hall-type bounce number featuring the two tenors - Carrick is the rhytmic inspiration - super atmospheric trumpet. (2) A good vocal duet between Brian and Nina with Brian also on clarinet. (3) Brian is back on tenor - this is a typical Kid Thomas style New Orleans rock 'n' roll number, and that's OK because many experts claim that rock 'n' roll evolvedfrom 'our' jazz. On this showing they're right. (4) A charming Nina vocal, and how unusual to hear the words to this one. Jensen's backing sax is a little coarse. (5) Good Bruhner vocal and brilliant trumpet, full of ideas and drive - Brian's little clarinet riffs here are sensationally good. (6) A Carrick vocal with lovely timing and phrasing - he really is natural. (7) Now on this Lewis classic workout, if you remember the Lewis version, (I am presuming that George played metal clarinet on the record?), you can judge the difference between the metal and the wood clarinets. (8) A Nina vocal with lovely, bouncy, sensitive backing. (9) Carrick is here at his rocking, pulsating best on tenor sax. Bruhners vocal is fine, and there's some excellent and sympathetic piano, as there is on other tracks. (10)A disciplined 'tear up' with Brian on clarinet creating some lovely, riff-type figures which push things along and heighten the excitement. Good Nina and Brian vocal. (11) A tribute to George Lewis, but with unique Carrick touches - lovely stuff. (12) A Nina vocal vehicle with outstanding wailing from Carrick in the background, with excellent Bruhner and Jensen on tenor. I am told that I perhaps too often criticise rhythm sections. This one
is fine, light and always creating great cross rhytms. On every number this band gets
great things happening, and this is no small way due to the excellent understanding of the
idiom by the whole rhytm section, in particular Nina on banjo, who, as Percy Humphrey
would say, if he could hear her, "She knows..." |
| En Jazzmusikalsk oplevelse af format,
blev leveret i Præstø Jazzklub tirsdag aften. En totalt fyldt Kirsebærkro oplevede en
overmåde veloplagt Jensens New Orleans Jazzband med to stjernesolister Brian Carrick på
metalklarinet og tenorsaxofon samt Eddie Bruhner på trompet. Der blev i rigt mål givet
prøver på den gode gamle ægte New Orleans Jazz, hvor spilleglæden lyste ud af alle syv
musikere. En meget stor nydelse var det at høre banjospilleren Nina Ehrenstråle synge
duet med Brian Carrick. Ikke et øje var tørt i en helt stille Kirsebærkro, for alle
skulle have det hele med. Og det fik publikum også i to helt forrygende tempo-numre Kid
Thomas Boogie og Washington and Lee Swing, hvor også trommeslageren fik vist, at han kan
andet end at spille guitar, som egentlig er hans hovedinstrument. For at få den
bundsolide swingende baggrund fuldendt må ikke glemmes Nan Ehrenstråle på herlig
slap-bas og Erik Vand Hansen på et swingende piano. Så det var let for kapelmester Kurt Jensen på klarinet og tenorsaxofon at sige
ja til en opfordring på et godt gammelt nummer som Royal Garden Blues, selv om det slet
ikke var på repertoiret. Men det var St. Phillip Street Breakdown, der med to klarinetter
i et helt forrygende flot sammenspil, vel nok fik aftenens største bifald, og det siger
ikke så lidt om en aften, der sluttede med stående applaus... |
| ...en totalt fyldt Kirsebærkroen fik en
jazzmusikalsk oplevelse af format da Præstø Jazzklub havde besøg af ent
overmåde veloplagt Jensens New Orleans Jazzband med de to stjernesolister engelske Brian
Carrick på metal klarinet og tenorsaxofon samt svenske Eddie Bruhner på trompet i
forgrunden. Der blev i rigt mål givet prøver på den gode gamle ægte New Orleans Jazz,
hvor spilleglæden lyste ud af alle syv musikere (Præstø Avis - Har du hørt - marts 2004) |
| Familieorkesteret Jensens Jazz Trio spillede elegant
New Orleans jazz under den første del af spisningen. Nina (banjo & vokal) og Nan
(bass) Ehrenstraale samt far Kurt Jensen, der spillede klarinet og tenorsax udgør denne
trio. Jazzinformation (Nyt fra Ninna, Majken & Fjeldtetten) nr.53 oktober 2003 |
Jensens Jazz Serenaders - On A Coconut Island - Music Mecca MMCD-4003-2 Comment: This is very much a showcase for Nina Ehrenstraale
the vocalist with this quartet with only four of the tracks being instrumentals. She has a
pleasant voice with a strong Scandinavian accent and has been very popular in this country
at Festivals where the band has appeared. |
As on Volume 1 Kurt Jensen and Brian
Carrick weave their clarinet magic and present us with a sound that is too rarely heard in
traditional jazz circles. As an aside: Kurt's wife, Nan, is on bass & their daughter,
Nina, on banjo and vocals. |
Brian Carrick, for
some years, has been a regular guest of Kurt Jensen. It is not unusual in our music to
find two clarinets fronting a band, but it does take some doing. This is no Mezzrow/Bechet
show, just two competent lovers of New Orleans music leading a band through a traditional
tune list. The soaring ensembles are a joy and the recording has just the right amount of
echo, giving the the recording a good 3D effect...The three tunes chosen for this
compilation are familiar, and judging by the sound of the congregation, well recieved. |
Sorgenfri
Church Concerts Vol. 3 Music Mecca CD4023-2Comment: Two
clarinet players, trombone and a rhythm section and no trumpet. Real firework! Not only
the two clarinet players work together in an emotional strong way, they are completed by
the sober, hole filling trombone of Erik Vand Hansen. Beautiful "church music"
and for me already a sufficient reason to buy this CD. |
| ...Another highlight, in this writer's opinion, was
Carrick's performance with Jensen's Jazz Serenaders at the Sorgenfri Kirke church concerts
in Denmark... (Richard Bourcier - JazzReview.com - Internet magazine) |
En varm
familietrio ...og der skulle ikke megen opvarmning til,
før Kirsebærkroens stråtag swingede, og en god musikalsk stemning fyldte krostuen.
Bandet var denne aften en ren familietrio med mor, Nan Ehrenstraale på bas, far, Kurt
Jensen på klarinet og tenorsax, og datter, Nina Ehrenstreele på banjo. Og med et bredt,
alsidigt repertoire kom trioen langt omkring i jazzlitteraturen. I "Calcutta"
fik publikum en fornem solo på sax med stor spændevidde fra det poetiske til et råt
drive. "Pretend" viste Ninas stærke spil på banjo, og hun sang smukt, så
smukt som sit spejlbillede. Og fik et godt backup med en solid drive i bas og sax. Der
blev vekslet mellem hurtige numre som Chris Barbers "Icecream" til stille
ballader og hymner. Der blev stille i krostuen, da Nina sang "In the garden" med
et blidt akkompagnement på bas og klarinet. En varm musikalsk oplevelse. |
På tradjazzsidan
gjorde den engelske jaxxklarinettisten Brian Carrick ingen besviken...Brian Carrick var
dock fint inpackad i det danska familjebandet Jensen jazzband, med far Jensen på sax och
klarinett, mor Nan Ehrenstraale på bas och dotter Nina, Banjo och sång. Kombinationen
fungerade perfekt, mycket tack vare bandets engelske trumslagare Taff Lloyd och pappa
Jensen. Kid Thomas blues, Burgundy street blues och Ninas sång i On a coconut island är
pärlor som koms ihåg. |
Jensens New Orleans Jazz Serenaders - Clarinet Meeting - Music Mecca CD 3049-2 Comment: ... On this, the fifth cd, British clarinetist Brian Carrick is "special guest", which makes it possible to play tunes with double clarinet - and one with double sax, for Brian Carrick doesn't mind picking up the sax once in a while...But otherwise Jensens New Orleans Serenaders is a family affair. Kurt Jensen's wife, Nan Ehrenstraale, plays the bass, and his daughter, Nina Ehrenstraale plays the banjo. Once in a while the daughter also sings-e.g.a. beautiful version of I Ate up the Apple Tree. Straight-forward, happy, danceable music. (JAZZklubben News 2002) |
| Comment:... This record was recorded during a tour in
Denmark with Jensens New Orleans Jazz Serenaders...Like Brian, Kurt is a follower of the
George Lewis style of clarinet playing. On sax he has the rough, warm New Orleans rhythm
& blues sound...On the two-clarinet numbers both players weave their inspired melodic
lines beautifully together. On the tracks with tenor and clarinet there is a nice contrast
between the rough exciting sound of Kurt's sax and Brian's delicate
clarinet."Washington and Lee Swing" (aka Tulane Swing) with the two saxes is a
monument of swing....This CD proves that you don't necessarily need a "regular"
frontline to produce fresh and exciting New Orleans music. It also proves, if this was
still needed, that a saxophone HAS a place in a genuine New Orleans band. The three piece
rhythm section does everything what we expect and they do it with great expertise and
enthusiasm. It must be great to play the same music in the same band for both mother and
daughter. No generation gap here!...On "Corrine, Corrina" father and daughter
sing together and Nina does well on her own on the Dave Williams tune "T Ate Up The
Aple Tree". It's hard for me to mention favourite tracks on this CD because I love it
from start to finish. I'll never get tired of "Burgundy Street Blues"...I love
"Washington And Lee Swing" for its exuberance and "God Leads His Dear
Children" for its quiet beauty...Sound quality is great too. (Marcel Joly in The Jazzgazette August/September 2002) |
Sorgenfri
Church Concerts Vol. 1 Music Mecca CD 3068-2 Comment: Brian
Carrick...joins forces with Jensen's clarinet with great result...Brian sings on both
numbers and his vocals are are just as fine and authentic as his clarinet playing. It's
good to hear the seldom played Thomas A. Dorsey's ""If You See My Savior".
|
| The Jensens have English reedsman Brian Carrick with
them and the extended front-line works very well. (Geoff Boxell) |
| The first volume includes a couple of tracks by
Jensen's New Orleans Jazzband featuring the British clarinetist, brian Carrick. The little
band is lead by Denmark's Kurt Jensen and includes his wife and daughter on bass and
banjo. The septet does a fine job on If You See My Savior and Lily of the Valley. ( Richard Bourcier: JazzReview.com) |
Forrygende aften med banjo og
klarinet Den engelske klarinetist og saxofonist Brian
Carrick i spidsen for Jensens Jazz Serenaders var i rigtig godt spillehumør... En anden
person der tiltrak sig publikums bevågenhed var orkestrets unge banjo spiller og ikke
mindst glimrende sangerinde Nina Ehrenstraale. Hun er datter af kapelmester Kurt Jensen,
der swingede bravt på sin klarinet. Men når unge Nina tog over i f.eks. Willi Nelsons
"Crazy", kunne man høre den berømte knappenål , hvis den var faldet på det
ellers gode gulvtæppe, og i nummeret "Girl of my dream" sang Nina duet med
Brian Carrick, og ikke et øje var tørt. Den gik rent hjem. Og det gjorde publikum også
efter at have klappet sig taktfast til fire ekstranumre. |
To på
klarinet og sax - og lyse Nina med banjo...
Nina Ehrenstraale på banjo og med en meget sikker, god sangstemme... Og hun spiller
fremragende banjo, både som solist og som medlem af rytmegruppen. En ren fornøjelse.
Banjo, trommer og bas udgjorde en meget sikker rytmegruppe. Ingen slinger i valsen når de
to vægtige på klarinet og tenorsax tog fat med en til tider rå og upoleret tone fik
publikum en god oplevelse, for de to kunne spille med hinanden, men de kunne så sandelig
også spille mod hinanden, og så blev det rigtigt spændende...Nina Ehrenstraale er en
lysende kunstner på sit felt. |
| Et gennemmusikals trekløver ... der trakterer deres
respektive instrumenter med den største selvfølgelighed,så kort kan Jensens's
Serenaders karakteriseres. Nan Jensen spillede kontrabas med en total respektløshed - og
gjorde det godt. Hendes attack på gribebrædt og strenge var en nydelse at høre og se
på. Det generelle indtryk var en dyb, næsten træagtig klang og en blød, duvende rytme.
Faren, Kurt Jensen, spillede klarinet i et inciterende, blødt mellemleje, så at klangen
og tonerne får ekstra udtryk, ekstra nuancer. Og endelig var der datteren Nina: Hun havde
en hvad der for mig umiddelbart lød som en fin mezzosopran, brugte den behersket og fik
derigennem gjort det vokale budskab endnu stærkere. Det var jazzfortolkninger med dybde
og med et samlet, meget personligt udtryk som fik grebet godt fat i publikum. ( Poul O. Lund i Bornholms Tidende 14.05.2001) |
| Engelsk klarinettist satte gang i JFK Brian Carrick og Kurt Jensen i fantastiske dueller... Et stort publikum
glædede...sig...lørdag eftermiddag over en sand musikalsk jazzperle i JFK's solfyldte
gårdshave...Og det danske band lod ikke Brian Carrick meget efter. Især Kurt Jensens og
Brian Carricks fantastiske klarinet-dueller faldt i publikums smag. Men også Nina
Ehrenstraale leverede med den rette, lidt rå stemme flere gode sange, hvor især det
gamle Patsy Cline-nummer Crazy gik rent ind. Efter de tre afdelinger og eksranummeret
Hindustan var der stående bifald fra publikum, der havde haft en oplevelse ud over det
sædvanlige...Der blev skrevet jazzhistorie på JFK i dag med det fantastiske træf mellem
Kurt Jensen og Brian Carrick. (Maja Vindelev i Frederiksborg Amts Avis 13.09.1999) |
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