Doug Raney & Nicolai Gromin - There Will Never Be Another You (Live at Sabines, July 16th, 1993) (2018)

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, there was a pocket of inner Copenhagen around Teglgårdsstræde called Pisserenden (“The Piss Trench”) – that fanned the fla- mes of what was reminiscent of the old Copenhagen. It was in these windows that the last of the “old-fashioned” ladies showed off what “goods” they had left to the pas- sersby. It was a holy hood of evening establishments, among them “Pelikanen” (the Pelican), for those with a taste for a tavern-band; “Stable Bar” (now “Men’s Bar”) for the fellows who enjoyed the flavor of other fellows; and “Floss,” which opened its doors during the pre-punk period and still has a steady crew. With rockers and rol- lers cranking up the level of hipness by laying their heads in pretty much any available space alongside the collec- tives, artists, and original residents, it became something like a Copenhagen version of Haight Ashbury in San Francisco. That was before the un-democratic property prices destroyed everything.

The action literally never stopped: a morning bar owned by the legendary trombonist Papa Bue, where the virtuoso swing pianist Ole Dixon (another legend in his own right) would start a live set at 5am. The nights turned into days and became nights again. And then there was Teglkroen, with a street sign that simply read: “ØL = JAZZ” (“BEER = JAZZ”).

In the middle of it all was Sabine’s Cafeteria, a humb- le coffee shop, with rolls and cheese and fresh-brewed coffee, all day long. The proprietor sold it and spitefully transformed it into a “bar” with obvious inspiration from the south... and the city’s first tastes of tapas and Spanish brandy. But looking back, Sabine’s continued with respect for the neighborhood and, after a short period among the hippest spots of the city - flocked to by models, photogra- phers, journalists, advertisers and what have you - beca- me the social hub of all of Teglgårdsstræde.

The staff was fond of jazz music and Sabine’s participated early on as a venue for the Copenhagen Jazz Festival with daily concerts. They put a focus on duo performances, with no admission fees. Owner Tim Christiansen insisted that Sabine’s was something of a living room for the cli- entele, and that no payment should be made. Instead, the live music was his annual gift to all the “tribes.”

The great atmosphere and the consistently high quality of music are remembered by many with joy, but unfortu- nately the experiences only existed in memories... Or so we thought. Recently discovered in the estate of a dearly beloved and departed Danish jazz aficionado (and a mem- ber of the cycling team “Team Sabine’s”) was an breathta- kingly brilliant duo recording with guitarists Doug Raney and Nicolai Gromin playing at Sabine’s Cafeteria. And the greatness of the concert the recording holds up to memory! Magnificent jazz, a totally relaxed game of two equilibrists, two jazz guitarists in full command of their instruments, both with an overview and great mutual respect for (and trust in) one another. Their shared, deep insight into and dissemination of the jazz guitar tradition is brilliantly presented on these tapes.