Orchester James Kok - Fensterpromenade Video

Orchester James Kok - Fensterpromenade

Jan. 26, 1902. Czernowitz, Bukovina. d: Oct. 18, 1976, Berlin, Germany.
né: James Arthur Kok
Instrument: Violin.
James Kok, Roumanian by birth, emigrated to Germany in the late 1920's, where in 1929 he organized a small band which he later enlarged to 15 pieces (with Fritz Schulze: Piano, Erhard Bauschke: Clarinet, with Kurt himself doing sax fills and some "Scat" singing.). It was one of the 'hottest' Big Bands then playing in Germany. Listen to the band playing "Jungle Jazz", and also "Tigers", recorded Jan. 1935. His great inspiration was the Casa Loma Orchestra. In 1935, Kok publicly expressed sympathy for the music of England's Jack Hylton Orchestra, and because of his outspoken public support of the British Orchestra, (anything English or American was unpopular with the Nazis), Kok attracted the attention of the "Reichsmusikkammer" (Reichs-music-board). This incident led to the discovery of his "half-Jewish" origin and resulted in banning his orchestra from performing or recording. In 1935, Kok, although very popular in Germany, fled to England, survived the war and later lived in Switzerland. When he left Germany, he handed the baton over to Erhard Bauschke, who continued to record, but with less effect until 1942.

Another talent that had to flee nazi Germany!