Tracks:
Futuristic Rhythm

Harlem Fuss

Bandbox Stomp

Davenport Blues

Burnin' the Iceberg

Crazy Chords

Avalon

If You Like Me Like I Like You

Decatur Street Tutti

Released: 2004

 
Black and Blue?

Bucktown Stomp

Every Evening (i Miss You)

After a While

Sorry

Slow and Steady

Lina Blues

Michigander Blues

Moanful Blues

Stomp Off is proud to introduce to our collectors one of Europe's premier jazz bands the Louisiana Washboard  Five from Bergen, Norway. Playing with elan and  energy, the group is supercharged on this recording with the  addition of Matthias Seuffert from Germany and Keith Nichols  from England, both of whom have appeared frequently on Stomp Off CDs.
A major component of this albums success is the  band's sense of good material and how varied it can be and  then how to treat it. With two exceptional reed players, the  ensemble is sparked by a brilliant trumpet lead. A buoyant  rhythm section is elevated by a glorious sonorous tuba sound. Beautifully recorded, this is hot jazz of a very high  order.
 

Samples from the album:

Reviews:

If you are even a little bit adventuresome, stop reading right now and get this CD without further ado.  It'll excite you more than most anything you may have heard recently, I believe.

The Five ...form a perfect footing for the two guest instrumentalists - to the extent that they quickly shed their "guest" place cards and become band members.  And what a group these seven fine musicians are!  The first thing that struck me was the sound of Saethre's trumpet at the beginning of "Futuristic Rhythm."  It is a magnificantly vibrant, bitting and hot as the dickens.  He captivates with every solo - some muted, some open.  The pair of reed players is exhilarating and they continually switch horns while exhibiting a keen awareness of what each instrument should sound like.  Not leaving anything by chance,  Stomp Off has provided a tune-by-tune listing of the reed solos. 

Underneath all of this is the swinging and versatile rhythm section, including the visiting Nichols, whose work you may already know.  Keith has plenty to do on this disc; and also sings two songs,  "If you Like Me Like I Like You," and "Lina Blues."  peter bakke plays banjo and guitar lightly and rhythmically, which may surprise some practitioners who think louder is more swinging.  Arnulf Rokke's tuba playing is another model of taste and excellence.  No blaster, he, and a very tasty soloist, also.  Rolf Seldal earns richly deserved plaudits for his percussion endeavors that include a bell solo on "Bucktown Stomp."  Ole Morten Velde's only appearance is to render the vocal on "Futuristic Rhythm," which he does nicely. 

...

The well done booklet contains some very good session photos and sensible notes by James Dapogny...The beauty of the wonderful program and the musicians has been captured perfectly by recording engineer Eirik Gronner at the United Sardines Factory in Bergen.  Don't miss it.

-Russ Chase

IAJRC May 2006