Swing from Brussels (1) Begin the Beguine - Robert de Kers & his Vibraswingers (1941)

Just as I was doing this series on swing music from Belgium and was wondering what records to feature next, I discovered a great number of swing and jazz records at yesterday's flea market in Brussels. These had obviously belonged to someone's collection as the records were in excellent condition and of high quality... Unfortunately 2 dogs were fighting for the same bone... so I did not manage to get the Django Reinhardt records (Django playing "Bei Dir war es immer so schön" - a release on the Belgian Rythme label) but I did get a good amount of Belgian swing records (Stan Brenders! ) as well as rare recordings by French singer Léo Marjane and the Comedian Harmonists (singing "Bon Voyage" in French)... The present video features a record bought yesterday. It is a swinging version of the Cole Porter standard "Begin the Beguine", with a dream like quality. Perhaps the best known big band versionof "Begin the Beguine" is the one by Artie Shaw. Trumpeter Robert de Kers (1906-87) was another important Belgian musician of the swing era... Playing in several bands from the 1920s onwards, he gained fame as founder of Josephine Baker's "Baker Boys" with whom she went on tour in the early 1930s. Other muscians included Jean Omer, Oscar Alemán, Arthur Saguet, Fernand Coppetiers to cite a few... After his return to Belgium in 1933 he formed his "all stars band" which played with different musicians in fashionable clubs and hotels in Belgium and abroad (Holland, Italy...) as well as on the radio.... A high point in his career was his stay at the "Boeuf sur le toit" in 1940. Later on he formed a swing band called Robert de Kers & his Vibraswingers. This recording was made in 1941 and is a prime example of both the talent of Belgian swing & jazz musicians and the so called "undercover" swing. "Begin the Beguine" was issued - rather clumsily - as "Beguine de Beguine" in a effort to hide its American origins - despite Cole Porter's name being present on the label (in France its title was "Divine Beguine"). About the video : The video is a celebration of the night life featuring a montage of Brussels, Berlin, Paris, New York and Hollywood... About the record : Decca Swing Series 8736 / mx. JCB36 The record is in excellent condition for a wartime pressing Sound equipment used : Ortophon Om78 Cartrdige & Stylus Turntable : Stanton T.90 TerraTec 78RPM Phono Pre-amp During transfer the record's sound was not altered. Any percepted "improving" of the sound is due to the YouTube playback settings. After processing, this video will also be offered in HD. However whether this function works will depend on your Internet connection and the abilities of your computer (your screen may freeze). After uploading it will take some time for the image to be fully processed (and become sharp)