I've had an influx of Danish albums lately ranging from the brilliant Kathrine Windfeld Big Band to this poignant solo guitar album. It's an album that serves as a terrible reminder of what the whole world's going through.
Just as the Kilsbys did in the northeast of England, Ploug took his frustration out by playing from his small balcony to an empty Copenhagen street. The street may have been empty but windows were open and the applause generated inspired him to play consecutively for 28 days leading to the advent of this album.
It's very emotional picturing the scene which, once again, affirms the power of music in times of stress. Ploug is a guitarist of international standing and his playing, with or without the "lecky" switched on, is testimony to that although I guess a little more jiggery-pokery went on in the studio than did on the balcony.
It's a wonderful and yet sad picture of these troubled times. However, I do wonder how it will stand up in years to come when Covid-19 has been filed away in the history books alongside The Black Death, Perhaps a future generation of jazzers may think it a little samey or, if they themselves are battling with Covid-29, might find it as inspirational as I did.
The repertoire is a mix of Danish and American standards plus John Lennon's Julia. For the titles I've used the English translations rather than the original Danish.
Lance
The Weather Today Is; Elephant's Lullaby; Spring Ballad; Somewhere Over the Rainbow; Julia; The Sun is so Red, Mother; The Nearness of You; I Know of a Lark's Nest; Quiet Heart, Sun Goes Down; Spring Greetings to the Sun; You Are my Sunshine; You Came With All That Was You; Under the Stars in the Sky.
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