[ AVRO Dansorkest ]
Of the five Dutch radio stations, AVRO was the first to employ a more or less modern dance orchestra. The first orchestra, 'De AVRO Band', (1931) was not a resounding succes, but the second band ('De AVRO Decibels') from 1935, led by former Ramblers trumpeter Eddy Meenk, was quite popular. A number of transcriptions from 1935 give evidence of a solid, modern orchestra, that might have become a serious rival of 'The Ramblers', had its life not been cut so short. The band was disolved in early 1936 because of its leader's involvment in a minor sex-scandal. In May 1936 a new band, 'Het AVRO Dansorkest', was assembled and clarinetist Hans Mossel was put in charge. Mossel (born: Amsterdam, Holland, December 24, 1905, died: Auschwitz, Poland, August 4, 1944) came from a musical family (father, mother and uncle were professional musicians) and played piano, drums and reeds. Between 1931 and 1935 Mossel played in Marek Weber's orchestra in Germany. He returned to Amsterdam to run a business in musical instruments, which he continued until it was disowned by the Germans (Mossel was Jewish).

The 'AVRO Dansorkest' was a band in the best tradition of the Great British Dance Bands, but infused its music with a healthy proportion of improvised solos, mainly provided by Ab Witteboon on tenor, Johnny Becker (later: Rinus van Zelm) on alto and clarinet, Eddy Develing on baritone and Ernst van 't Hoff (later: Dick Willebrandts) on piano. A surprisingly supple rhythm section gave the band a bouncy quality that was unusual among most other European dance bands of the time. The band recorded only nine numbers for Decca and although it accompanied Benny Carter (on radio) and Freddy Johnson (as vocalist on recordings), this band also was denied the opportunity to fulfill its promise. AVRO called it quits in April 1938, but the band stayed together and played a summer engagement in the Scheveningen Kurhaus Casino.

It was rehired by AVRO in August 1938, but never again recorded commercially. The band's new leader, arranger Klaas van Beeck (born: Leiden, January 20, 1903, died: ? October 4, 1979), who had also arranged for The Ramblers between 1932-1934 and the AVRO Decibels in 1935, pushed the band from its British danceband policy in a more American swingband oriented direction. Among twenty-six transcriptions made between December 1938 and July 1940 (issued on CD in 1996) are several examples of fine swing music, including the earliest Dutch (and European?) renditions of "Rock-A-Bye Basie" and "In The Mood".

Although the band was once again sacked by AVRO in August 1940 (this time definitely), Van Beeck carried on (and managed to record commercially), but he was forced to reduce the band in 1942 to a smaller size, his best sidemen having joined The Ramblers, Van 't Hoff and Willebrandts. In October 1944 the band was finally disbanded when Van Beeck was deported to Germany. After the war Van Beeck again joined AVRO, later KRO radio station, where for many years he fronted popular orchestras of different sizes. As with so many musicians of his generation, he dwindled into obscurity in the 1960s and died largely forgotten.
The BigBands Database thanks Mr. Joost Kiefte for this entry on the AVRO Dansorkest.

      The 'Ama-Jazz Band'
Please see the Alexander 'Bob' Tsfasman and the Ama-Jazz Band entry.
Formed in 1927 and led by pianist and composer Alexander Tsvasman, a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory. The band recorded 8 sides of 'Pop' dance tunes in a small makeshift Moscow studio, all of which were well received by the public. These were among the earliest Russian jazz recordings.

      All Russian Jazz Orchestra. ca. 1935
Currently No Information Available.

      [ Erkki Aho Orch. ]
Currently no information available.

      [ Harry Arnold Band ]
Harry Arnold (né: Harry Arnold Persson)
B: Helsingborg, 7 Aug., 1920. D: Stockholm, 11 Feb., 1971, Age: 50.
Alto sax and clarinet.
In the 1930's, Harry worked as a sideman in various orchestras, both as a reedman and arranger.

His own first 12 piece orchestra was booked into a Malmö dance hall in 1942, where it stayed resident until 1949. He then worked as saxist/arranger for Thore Ehrling's band, with some of his own independent appearances in Malmö during 1952-4.

Subsequently, Harry worked as Musical Director for a film company. He formed a fine 17 piece Radio band, whose recordings received international acclaim.

      [ Svend Asmussen Orch. ]
b. Feb. 28, 1916, Copenhagen, Denmar. (Happily, still with us today, 2006, and still playing into his 90s)
né: : Svend Harald Christian Asmussen
Instruments: Violin, Vibes, and others.
Overview:
A child prodigy, he grew up to become one of the most popular bandleaders in his native Denmark, and perhaps in all Scandanavia, His recording career spanned more than 60 years, during which time he explored and recorded not only Jazz, but a wide variety of styles, including music of the Indian subcontinent, and other asian music. While he did play other instruments (most notably, the vibes), he is best recalled as a wonderful violinist.

Svend was already playing the violin at just age 7 (1923) and made his professional debut in 1933, at age 17. Early on, Svend was greatly influenced by the great American Jazz violinist Joe Venuti, and later also by "Stuff' Smith, whom he heard when 'Stuff' toured Denmark. In the late 1930s, Svend began his career working with artists such as Fats Waller, The Mills Brothers, and Josephine Baker, whenever they toured Denmark. During his own career, Svend was a novelty performer, who excelled not only on the violin, but also on vibes, and other instruments, as well as being a vocalist. A reader has kindly send us this 1930s Photo with Svend in the Center

In 1935, he made his first appearance as a Leader. In 1939, he was a hit touring London, Hamburg, and Paris. However, the outbreak of WWII put sudden end to touring. At one time, during the war, Asmussen was arrested and incarcerated in Berlin by the Nazis who hated American Jazz. Asmussen continued to play all during the war primarily as a club, vaudeville, and radio performer, and also made many film appearances. After the war, he was surely the most popular entertainer in not only his home country, Denmark, but perpaps in all of Scandinavia, with popularity extending beyond Jazz.

Interesting to note, Svend's son, Claus Asmussen, also had a career in music, and also composed for the film studios. (Claus Asmussen, b. Feb. 12, 1949, Copenhagen, Denmark. Married: Lise Lotte Asmussen, -2 children)

Asmussen always preferred to remain and work in his native Denmark, although he did tour occasionally, He recorded with John Lewis (1962), and with Toots Thielemans. Strict immigration laws made it impossible for him to work in the U.S.A. when Benny Goodman tried to get him in the mid-1950s for his Quintet, Sextet and other small groups.

One of his most notably appearances was at the 1967 U.S.A. Monterey Jazz Festival where he played a "violin summit" with Ray Nance and Jean-Luc Ponty. (Nance spent his career as a trumpeter, but was Duke Ellington's only violinst. (Interested readers may wish to peruse our page on Jazz Violinsts ) Svend also recorded with Lionel Hampton (1978), and with Stephane Grappelli on a few occasions.

If he hadn't preferred working in his native Denmark, and if American immigration laws hadn't been so strict, American audiences would be much more aware of his work. Svend was truly a gifted Jazz violinist, -- no, a truly gifted musician.