Snorre Kirk had no doubts when he heard clarinetist and saxophonist Giacomo Smith for the first time during a tour in London. - "It was immediately clear to me that this was someone I wanted to write music for and play with," says Snorre. Pianist Joe Webb later joined the company, and this marked a turning point in Snorre Kirk's work as a drummer and conductor. "It felt like meeting a forgotten family. They are both funny and serious, and I immediately got the feeling that musically we are cut from the same cloth." Last year, Giacomo Smith, Joe Webb, Anders Fjeldsted (b) and Snorri came together and it is now his permanent primary project.

WHAT A DAY, marks the quartet's debut. Alexander Bouton also appears on three tracks as a rhythm guitarist in the style of Freddie Green with Count Basie. Bouton, like Joe and Giacomo, is based in London, where Giacomo is a prominent figure on the jazz scene with a versatility that ranges from small clubs to the Royal Albert Hall. Joe Webb follows suit with his pioneering playing that has earned him recognition and influence.

'Swing' is a key word for Snorre, and he sees no reason why swing should be an outdated style. He notes that jazz is still a young art form, but that many people try to lock the music into pockets of time instead of focusing on quality. For Snorre, it's about playing honestly and developing the music. "The music with the new group is not radically different from what I've done before, but it's not just an extension either. There is a new sound and a greater historical breadth."

As a bandleader and drummer, Snorre doesn't aim to dominate. He prefers to be part of a rhythm section that contributes to the whole without overshadowing. "Aesthetically, it's very natural for the music we play now - and by the way, the music I like most doesn't come from groups whose leader is a drummer," he says. With a laugh!

Participating musicians:
Snorre Kirk (dr)
Giacomo Smith (as, cl)
Joe Webb (p)
Anders Fjeldsted (b)
Alexander Bouton (g)