Most of the music from two albums by Papa Bue Jensen's Viking Jazz Band are reissued on this single CD. The seven songs from the earlier session are most notable for the trumpet playing and singing of Theis Jensen, who does a close imitation on
Louis Armstrong without falling into satire. His vocals on "Solitude" and "Bye and Bye" come mighty close, and with his trumpet in the lead of a frontline also including trombonist Papa Bue Jensen and clarinetist Jorgen Svare, the group often sounds like
the Louis Armstrong All-Stars. The later set has Ole Stolle on trumpet, but once again a few vocals close to Satch, this time by banjoist Bjarne "Liller" Petersen, who stars on a surprisingly touching version of "What a Wonderful World." Other highlights include "Stevedore Stomp," "Lazy River," "Bourbon Street Parade" and "Mahogany Hall Stomp." Throughout this highly enjoyable disc, the ensembles are melodic and exciting, the solos show personality, and the overall results are high-quality Dixieland. ~ Scott Yanow