Bei uns in der kleinen Bar

I´ve loved the drawing style of Hans Jürgen Press since I was a child, so I recognized it immediately when I saw the album cover of this 10″. The clear, slightly broken lines, the big noses and the light-hearted humor are typical for this outstanding German artist. Probably because it was not directed towards children, the design is not as overcrowded with detail as his usual work. There is a well hidden small signature in the far upper right corner. Just as well hidden as the clues that Press was known for placing in his picture puzzles in The Adventures Of The Black Hand Gang.

The album is a showcase of the Philips label  instrumental pop catalog, ca. 1955, in combination with a  “bar” concept: added background noise, chatter, clapping, glasses clanking, interrupted by the Polychord organ of Conni Amberg. It´s like a radio play without the speakers – you hear only the background sounds.

My favorite track is a medley of Margie, Nola and  Dardanella by Svend Asmussen and his orchestra. Danish jazz violinist Svend Asmussen died last year at the age of 100. In the 50s, Asmussen was influenced by the violinist Stuff Smith, but this medley sounds more like the guitar wizardry of Les Paul…

BEI UNS IN DER KLEINEN BAR, Margie-Nola-Dardanella Medley

I like this version with the added clapping better than the original version. You can listen and compare it here.

Initially, I didn´t want to post the whole album, because I thought it was boring. Then, after listened to it for a while, I found it to be strangely soothing. I guess, I´m into elevator music now…

BEI UNS IN DER KLEINEN BAR, Seite 1

BEI UNS IN DER KLEINEN BAR, Seite 2