Nobody Knows You: Music for a radio play

Vreemd Is Het Wel: Muziek bij een hoorspel ( Nederlands) Nobody Knows You: Music for a radio play ( English)

It's Mighty Strange: VOSKUIL ON MUSIC
NOBODY KNOWS YOU: MUSIC FOR A RADIO PLAY
Hans Koert

A lot of books that have been written will finally end into the irregulars trade, but some become bestsellers and maybe they turn into a film. Such a book, that has become a bestseller is "Het Bureau", written by J.J. Voskuil. (1926-2008)In the book Voskuil described the day-to-day worries of the Meertens Instituut. The Meertens Institute ( as read on their website), established in 1926, has been a research institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, KNAW) since 1952. We study the diversity in language and culture in the Netherlands. Our focus is on contemporary research into factors that play a role in determining social identities in the Dutch society. J.J.Voskuil wrote seven books and it became a very popular series. These books didn't turn into a film, up to now, but as a radio play, a rather old fashion medium in The Netherlands too. The first program was transmitted on the 5th of April 2004 and the last one was in May 2008. There were 475 programs made.
The music used in the radio play was released on a CD titled Vreemd Is Het Wel! and it is played by the Bo Van Der Hunk Quintette. ( Basta 3091482).

The theme of the radio play is the 1949 Blue Note Sidney Bechet version of Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out. At the end of the book the leading character Maarten Koning names the tune as the one that should be played at his funeral. The tune, originally recorded by Jimmie Cox in 1923, became famous by Bessie Smith (1929) and, much later, by Rod Stewart ( 1988) and Eric Clapton (1992). The quintet that plays the music features Menno Daams on trumpet, Robert Veen on soprano saxophone and baritone, Chris Hopkins at the piano and Hammond, Louis Debij on drums and Gert-Jan Blom on bass and numerous vintage instruments like musical saw, Omnichord and phonofiddle. The name of the band, the Bo Van Der Hunk Quintette sounds, of course, like Beau Hunks Quintet, the well-known retro-orchestra that is known for its reissues of the Laurel and Hardy soundtracks; the band that re-recorded the Raymond Scott musical legacy and the recordings with Al Gallodoro of the Paul Whiteman Saxophone Soctette and numerous other reissue projects.
Listen to a recent concert by the Beau Hunk Quartet playing a selection of LeRoy Shield Laurel and Hardy recordings ( Dash and Dot", "Good Old Days" and "Give Us a Hand" )

The album contains more then 20 tracks, all fragments or related tunes around the same theme "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" with titles like Vreemd is het wel; Down and Out; I'm gonna hang on to it till that eagle grins; And as for friends you don't have any or Wie ziet je zitten als je nergens ben. Some fragments are solos by Gert-Jan Blom on bass, Hohner Guitoret ( what-ever-that-may-be), musical saw or Omnichord ( a small organ). Huub Van Der Lubbe translated the texts of the song Nobody Knows You .... in Dutch as Wie ziet je zitten, als je nergens bent.

The characters in the book and in the radio play have all been working at the Meertens Institute for years and one of the characters in the book is Stanley Graanschuur, who was administrator at the Volksliedarchief ( = the Archive of Dutch folk songs) between 1969 and 1974. In real life his name was Nedly Elstak, who was a well known Dutch jazz trumpet player.

Nedly Elstak ( 1939-1989)

He played the trumpet in the sound track of a short film, titled Jasper en het rokertje by hippie, ( we called them provo's in those days) Robert Jasper Grootveld. Jasper has always fought against the tabacco industry - in the film you can see him writing the word kanker ( = cancer) on street advertisement posters for cigarettes.

Mind that Nedly Elstak isn't playing on this Vreemd Is Het Wel album ( It was recorded in July 2004, while Nedly passed away in 1989), but if you like to hear more of this neglected jazz musician, please try to find yourself a copy of the CD Nedly Elstak - trumpeter released by the Dutch Jazz Archive and BVHaast ( NJA 0102).

If you love to have all recordings by the Beau Hunks, you should try to find this collectors item and maybe you're a huge fan ( like me ) of the series Het Bureau by J. J. Voskuil, this record is a must-have !

Hans Koert

keepswinging@live.nl

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Nedly Elstak: trumpeter

( Naar de Nederlandse vertaling.) NEDLY ELSTAK: Trompettist
LORRAINE GELLER
Nedly Elstak is one of those musicians, active in the Dutch jazz scene in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, who is now almost forgotten. Almost, because Jazz music is no longer a hot item and only few listeners or musicians, will remember his great trumpet playing, but thanks to a great compilation record, released by the Dutch Jazz Archive (NJA 0102) some years ago, his musical heritage is available for everybody who is anxious to learn how he sounded.

Rein De Graaff, Leo de Ruyter, Tony Van Hal, Bon Byas, Nedly Elstak and Ferdinand Povel. ( photo archive Rein De Graaff).
Nedly Elstak was born in Semarang, on the isle of Java, part of the former Dutch Indies, now Indonesia January 1931. He left the Far East (seen with European eyes) in 1936 to settle in The Netherlands. He started to play the trumpet, when he was a young adult. He also learned to play the piano. He became active in the Amsterdam Jazz scene early 1950s, becoming a member of the Trio McAllen, which brought him even into Turkey for a tour. Later he founded his own quartet and played in the Theo Loevendie Workshop Quartet. Perdido is the oldest track available on the album, played by a tentette in Eindhoven (in the south of The Netherlands) May 1953. In the early 1960s he performed with the Rico Fernando South American Orchestra.

From the early 1960s you can find two tracks featuring Rein De Graaff, still active with his trio. ( On the 2nd of November he'll perform with his trio + Pete Christlieb and Ferdinand Povel at the Porgy en Bess Jazz Club - Terneuzen.) During the 1960s Nedly performed with Ornette Coleman and with the Theo Loevendie Consort. I remember that I heard this Theo Loevendie Consort several times at concerts of Nieuwe Muziek in the Stadsschouwburg of Middelburg, and in Goes in De Veste, both situated in the southwest part of The Netherlands, but I don't remember anymore if Nedly Elstak was present during these performances. During the 1970s he had a club in Amsterdam named De Masjien (= The Machine) and an octet formed with members of the Willem Breuker Kollektief. Later he stopped playing the trumpet and concentrated almost entirely to the piano. On the NJA record, simply labelled Nedly Elstak - Trumpeter he plays the piano on three tracks. I found a fragment around the Dutch vocalist Soesja Citroen who sings and is interviewed ( in Dutch) in a 1982 fragment. Nedly Elstak accompanies her at the piano; a historic document. Enjoy the tune: Where Flamingos Fly.

Nedly Elstak found work at the Meertens Instituut, part of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen (= The Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences). If you are a Dutchman (or Flemish) you might have enjoyed the books by J. J. Voskuil, who recently passed away (May 2008), titled Het Bureau. These book are a description of the daily life at the Meertens Instituut, simply labelled as Het Bureau (= the office). In the books Nedly Elstak is called Stanley Graanschuur.
Nedly Elstak (on the right) with Theo Loevendie (on the left) (photo Pieter Boersma)

Nedly Elstak received the highest award in Dutch Jazz, the Boy Edgar Award in 1983. During the 1980s he made some short tours with the Paradise Regained Orchestra. He passed away in 1989. This great document is to be obtained at the Dutch Jazz Archive, among dozens other great recording from the rich Dutch Jazz heritage. Get these small treasures in Jazz !

Hans Koert - keepswinging@live.nl

LORRAINE GELLER !!
Today, the 11th of September 2008, Lorraine Geller should have celebrate her 80th birthday if she didn't pass away on the young age of 30, October 1958. She was born as Lorraine Walsh in Porland OR (USA) on the 11th of September 1928, learned to play the piano, was part of the Sweethearts of Rhythm and married Herb Geller in 1951. She played in her husband's quartets for four years and together they made recordings with great names like Shorty Rogers, Red Mitchell, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. One of their most known recording together is the album The Gellers, I discussed some times ago. She passed away, too young, due to heart failure.

Keep swinging

Hans Koert

keepswinging@live.nl

Nederlands ( To the English translation )
LORRAINE GELLER !!
Vandaag, 11 september 2008, zou Lorraine Geller haar 80ste verjaardag hebben moeten vieren, als ze niet zo jong, op 30-jarige leeftijd, overleden was. Ze werd geboren als Lorraine Walsh in Portland OR (USA) op 11 september 1928, leerde piano spelen en werd lid van de Sweethearts of Rhythm. In 1951 trouwde ze altsaxofonist Herb Geller. Ze speelde vier jaar lang in zijn kwartet en dit leidde tot opnamen met grootten als Shorty Rogers, Red Mitchell, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie en Charlie Parker. Eén van hun mooiste platen vind ik The Gellers, die ik eerder in deze blog besprak. Ze overleed, op dertigjarige leeftijd, aan hartklachten.
Hans Koert - keepswinging@live.nl

NEDLY ELSTAK: Trompettist
Nedly Elstak is één van die muzikanten, vroeger actief in de Nederlandse jazzscene van de jaren zestig, zeventig en tachtig, die nu bijna helemaal vergeten zijn. Vergeten ..... toch zullen heel wat Nederlandse en Vlaamse bezoekers van deze blog, de naam Stanley Graanschuur kennen, één van de figuren uit de romancyclus Het Bureau van J. J. Voskuil. Dankzij een verzamelplaat van het Nederlands Jazz Archief is zijn muzikale nalatenschap voor het nageslacht bewaard. Lees er alles over in: Nedly Elstak: Trompettist.

Keep swinging

Hans Koert

keepswinging@live.nl

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Nedly Elstak: trompettist

( To the English translation.) NEDLY ELSTAK: TRUMPETER RAYMOND SCOTT (1908-2008)

Nedly Elstak is één van die muzikanten, vroeger actief in de Nederlandse jazzscene van de jaren zestig, zeventig en tachtig, die nu bijna helemaal vergeten zijn. Vergeten ..... omdat Jazz vandaag de dag geen hot item is; laat staan de Nederlandse jazzgeschiedenis. Niet vergeten echter door de weinigen die het spel van deze geweldige trompettist herinneren en zijn tijdgenoten, nu nog actief in de muziek. Dankzij een verzamelplaat van het Nederlands Jazz Archief is zijn muzikale nalatenschap voor het nageslacht bewaard.

Rein de Graaff, Leo de Ruyter, Tony van Hal, Bon Byas, Nedly Elstak en Ferdinand Povel. ( foto archief Rein de Graaff)
Nedly Elstak werd januari 1931 geboren in Semarang, op Java, één van de eilanden van het voormalige Nederland Indië - nu Indonesië. Hij vestigde zich met zijn familie voorgoed in Nederland in 1936. Op de middelbare school leerde hij trompet en piano spelen; twee instrumenten die hij later veelvuldig zou bespelen. Begin jaren vijftig werd hij actief in de Amsterdamse jazzscene en werd lid van het Trio McAllen, waarmee hij zelfs naar Turkije reisde. Later formeerde hij een eigen kwartet en speelde hij bij het Theo Loevendie Workshop Quartet. Perdido is het oudste nummer op deze plaat; een titel die hij opnam met een octet in Eindhoven mei 1953. Begin jaren zestig speelde hij bij het Rico Fernando South American Orchestra.

Uit de begin jaren zestig dateren ook twee titels met Rein de Graaff, die nog steeds actief is met zijn trio. Op 2 november, bijvoorbeeld, is hij te beluisteren met zijn trio met als speciale gasten Pete Christlieb en Ferdinand Povel in de Porgy en Bess Jazz Club - Terneuzen. Tijdens de jaren zestig speelde hij met niemand minder dan Ornette Coleman en met het Theo Loevendie Consort. Ik herinner me het Theo Loevendie Consort verschillende malen te hebben horen spelen in de jaren zestig en zeventig ( eens zaten er minder mensen in de zaal dan er leden in het orkest waren (!!)) tijdens concerten van Nieuwe Muziek in de Stadsschouwburg van Middelburg en in De Veste in Goes; alleen herinner ik me niet meer of Nedly Elstak hierbij aanwezig was. In de jaren zeventig had hij een eigen club in Amsterdam genaamd De Masjien en leidde hij een eigen octet, betaande uit musici uit het Willem Breuker Kollektief. Later hing hij zijn trompet aan de wilgen en legde hij zich helemaal toe op piano. Op de NJA plaat, eenvoudigweg Nedly Elstak - Trumpeter getiteld, staan drie pianostukken. Ik vond een fragment van en rond de Nederlandse zangeres Soesja Citroen, waarin ze geinterviewd wordt en zingt, met Nedly Elstak aan de piano: een zeldzaam historisch document. Luister naar: Where Flamingos Fly.

Nedly Elstak ging werken bij het Meertens Instituut, onderdeel van de Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen. Als je de boeken rond "Het Bureau" van J. J. Voskuil hebt gelezen ( hij overleed vier maanden geleden) dan ben je Nedly Elstak wellicht zonder dat je't wist tegen gekomen als Stanley Graanschuur.

Nedly Elstak (rechts) met Theo Loevendie (links) (foto Pieter Boersma)

Nedly Elstak ontving in 1983 één van de hoogste onderscheidingen in de Nederlandse Jazz, de Boy Edgar Prijs. In de jaren tachtig maakte hij o.a. korte tournees met de Paradise Regained Orchestra. Hij overleed in 1989.
Dit grootse document is te verkrijgen bij het Nederlands Jazzarchief , net als tientallen andere fraaie producties, die de hele Nederlandse Jazzgeschiedenis beslaan: een prachtige verzameling. Sla je slag ... zou ik adviseren !!
Keep swinging

Hans Koert

keepswinging@live.nl

English ( Naar de Nederlands-Vlaamse vertaling)
RAYMOND SCOTT ( 1908 - 2008 ):
Today we love to commemorate that Harry Warnow, better known as Raymond Scott, was born 100 years ago, in New York City. He started as the staff piano player for CBS during the 1930s and became known for his film music. I really like his recordings he made with his own band around 1940, known as the Chesterfield arrangments, well re-recorded by the Dutch Metropole Orkest and the Beau Hunks Sextette.

A lot of recordings are now well known like The Toy Trumpet, Celebration of the Planet Mars or Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals, recorded by his Wooden Indians. These recordings were re-recorded too by the Beau Hunks one and a half decade ago. Raymond Scott passed away February 1994, 85 years old. Visit the excellent documented website.

Hans Koert - keepswinging@live.nl

Enjoyed your latest issue of the "Keep Swinging" blog. Nice Stuff, keep it up. ( Mike Woitowicz - The Banjo Barons Ragtime Band - The Dixie Barons Dixieland Band )

NEDLY ELSTAK: TRUMPETER
Nedly Elstak is one of those musicians, active in the Dutch jazz scene in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, who is now almost forgotten. Forgotten, because Jazz music seems to be no longer a hot item, but musicians, still active, will remember his great trumpet playing. Thanks to a great compilation record, released by the Dutch Jazz Archive (NJA 0102), titled Nedly Elstak: Trumpeter his musical heritage is now available for everybody who is anxious to learn how he sounded. Learn more about it in the contribution: Nedly Elstak: trumpeter.

Keep swinging

Hans Koert

keepswinging@live.nl

Retrospect
Oscar Aleman Choro Music Flexible Records Hit of the Week-Durium Keep Swinging News letter Keep Swinging Contributions