Some governments know how to support the arts.
In Denmark, “Nyboder” (which means “new houses”) refers to a historic district of yellow row houses in Copenhagen — houses that were once a naval barracks, built in the early seventeenth century during the reign of King Christian IV. In 2011, the Danish Ministry of Defense created a documentary film about Nyboder.
One of my favorite hot bands — the Scandinavian Rhythm Boys — were invited to play the theme song. IN PRAISE OF NYBODER (“Nyboders Pris”) sounds like a traditional air, but it was written in 1930.
The Boys are Robert Hansson, trumpet; Frans Sjostrom, soprano sax; Ole Olsen, bass; Michael Boving, banjo/vocal. And the fine cinematography is courtesy of Flemming Thorbye, a good friend of JAZZ LIVES:
That song sticks in the memory . . . and here’s one more familiar, the ROYAL GARDEN BLUES (offered at the leisurely Bixish Twenties tempo that Basie and Goodman recalled in the early Forties):
ROYAL GARDEN is also appropriate here because Nyboder is a part of the complex of Rosenborg Castle and the Royal Garden, in the historic part of Copenhagen. A far cry from South Side Chicago, but Joe Oliver would have admired both performances. (Incidentally, a vocal chorus on this song is now a rarity, but in its heyday the lyrics were part of the performance: think of the 1931 Ted Lewis recording on which Fats Waller sings.)
For more from the Scandinavian Rhythm Boys, visit them here
— they obviously know how to create beautiful rhythms and melodies!
JAZZ LIVES 
I love these guys. I wish I understood why all the European banjo players sound so much better than their American counterparts – I don’t refer to skillful playing, I mean the lovely sound of their instruments! And, did everyone notice the splice in IN PRAISE OF NYBODER? Also, I’m impressed with the remarkable quality of the recording, presumably one stereo mic; the balance is bloody perfect!