modprobe -v snd-seq-oss freezes (sb live! kernel 2.6.5)

alsa used to work on my system, I didn't change anything I think
might be related and suddenly the modprobe -v snd-seq-oss freezes (does not return, cannot be interrupted either but the rest of the system (including audio and alsa native midi) works OK).

system:

debian unstable
kernel 2.6.5 (with alsa)

I did not change kernel or modules (I checked and there are no
new/changed files under /lib/modules/2.6.5) yet suddenly (after reboot) the oss sequencer cannot be loaded. There are no (related) messages in /var/log/syslog.

  jojda:/home/erik# modprobe -v snd-seq-oss
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.5/kernel/sound/core/seq/snd-seq.ko
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.5/kernel/sound/core/seq/snd-seq-midi-event.ko
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.5/kernel/sound/core/seq/oss/snd-seq-oss.ko

and the modprobe does not exit, it just sits there. udev creates
devices (see below) but there are not usable, e.g.:

jojda:/var/log# sfxload /data/music/soundfont/creative/8MBGMSFX.SF2
/dev/sequencer: No such device

udev says (in daemon.log):

Jul  5 01:18:24 jojda udev[2821]: configured rule in
'/etc/udev/rules.d/udev.rules' at line 38 applied, 'midiC0D2' becomes
'snd/%k'
Jul  5 01:18:24 jojda udev[2821]: creating device node '/dev/snd/midiC0D2'
Jul  5 01:18:25 jojda udev[2791]: configured rule in
'/etc/udev/rules.d/udev.rules' at line 36 applied, 'hwC0D2' becomes 'snd/%k'
Jul  5 01:18:25 jojda udev[2791]: creating device node '/dev/snd/hwC0D2'
Jul  5 01:18:25 jojda udev[2798]: configured rule in
'/etc/udev/rules.d/udev.rules' at line 38 applied, 'midiC0D1' becomes
'snd/%k'
Jul  5 01:18:25 jojda udev[2798]: creating device node '/dev/snd/midiC0D1'
Jul  5 01:18:25 jojda udev[2768]: configured rule in
'/etc/udev/rules.d/udev.rules' at line 40 applied, 'seq' becomes 'snd/%k'
Jul  5 01:18:25 jojda udev[2768]: creating device node '/dev/snd/seq'
Jul  5 01:18:25 jojda udev[2775]: creating device node '/dev/sequencer'
Jul  5 01:18:25 jojda udev[2782]: creating device node '/dev/sequencer2'
Jul  5 01:18:25 jojda udev[2805]: creating device node '/dev/amidi'
Jul  5 01:18:25 jojda udev[2812]: creating device node '/dev/admmidi'
Jul  5 01:20:22 jojda ntpd[2392]: kernel time sync enabled 0001

any ideas on how to troubleshoot this?

TIA,

erik