The publicity accompanying this reissue describes Van Damme (born USA, 1926) as “the greatest of all jazz accordionists”.
More helpful is Joop Visser’s description (in his accordion jazz anthology for Proper) of Van Damme’s typical recordings as “pleasant, neatly arranged performances that are best qualified as cocktail jazz”.
That certainly fits the music here with the arrangements leaving little room for the competent but uninspired solos shared between accordion, vibes and guitar on 11 tracks which average three minutes each. For better jazz accordion try Mat Matthews or Richard Galliano.
Discography
Van Damme (acc); Heribert Thusek (vbs); Freddy Rundquist (g) et al. Germany, March 1967.
MPS 0212833MSW
