My dad and Louis Armstrong 1953
My dads band and Louis Armstrong met in 1956.
The leader of the band was Gunnar Hoffsten(father of Louis Hoffsten famous jazz and blues singer in Sweden).
The played two cruises at the Liner ms/Stockholm( yes the one wich later collided with Andrea Doria).
Left to right Stig Evert Lampe drums, Roland Hoffsten cl and as, Louis Armstrong, Gunnar Hoffsten tp pno,Hans Fromholtz ts, Dag Wasén (my dad) bs . The band formed already 1947 and won a big swedish jazzbandcontest in 1949.My dad retired in 1966 and Lampe died 1963 but the other are still playing under the name Hoffsten revival. The do jazz festivals and also TV and some tours.
Of course they had to go and see Louis Armstrong at the legendary Basin street club. My dad told me that the band stood an a stage surrounding the bar. The tromboneplayer was Big Chief Russel.
The connection between Louis and the band led to that his band borrowed my fathers bass when the toured Sweden in 1956. I (aged 11) was invited to the press lounge where I heard my first jazzconcert ever. I remember Welma Middleton and Jimmy Rushing, Danny Barcelona and Trummy Young. I´m not shure who played clarinet either Joe Darensburg or Peanuts Hicko. Thats how I got hooked on jazz.
