There was no doubt in Snorre Kirk’s mind when he first heard clarinetist and saxophonist Giacomo Smith in London. He immediately knew he had met a man on the same musical wavelength. Then, on Giacomo's recommendation, pianist Joe Webb joined the party, and the stage was suddenly set for a change in Snorre Kirk's work and celebrated career as drummer, composer, and bandleader.

“They are funny and serious people and incredibly infectious with their energy. I instantly got the feeling that we all come from the same musical world,” says Snorre Kirk. “We share the same broad range of heroes and love early jazz in its many forms. Of course, we all have our own little universes, but with us, they immediately and naturally fell into orbit together. We share a lot of common ground.”

The first meetings took place in 2019. The following year, the coronavirus put the music scene on standby, and it wasn't until 2023 that the quartet, which included Giacomo Smith, Joe Webb, Danish bassist Anders Fjeldsted, and Snorre Kirk himself, came together and became what would be his current and permanent primary project. WHAT A DAY! is the first release with the new line-up, and the quartet is complemented on three tracks by Alexander Bouton, who fills the role of rhythm guitarist in the same spirit Freddie Green did with Count Basie’s band.