DICK WILLEBRANDTS
Dick Willebrandts
During WW II pianist Dick Abraham Willebrandts (Rotterdam, 29 July 1911 – 29 December 1970) leads an orchestra which is by many considered to be the best Dutch swing big band in history. The German occupier uses radio recordings by the band for propaganda purposes. Broadcasts by Calais II (= ...
Mentioned in the biography of
1936
Boy Edgar
1940
Klaas van Beeck
Biography Dick Willebrandts
During WW II pianist Dick Abraham Willebrandts (Rotterdam, 29 July 1911 – 29 December 1970) leads an orchestra which is by many considered to be the best Dutch swing big band in history. The German occupier uses radio recordings by the band for propaganda purposes. Broadcasts by Calais II (= Hamburg), a branch of the Deutsche Europasender aimed at Britain, make use of recordings that are to sound as 'American' as possible. Hence the Dick Willebrandts Orchestra is able to play high level, undiluted swing music even in the years 1943-'44. After his debut at the age of thirteen in the combo of his drummer brother Philip, Dick Willebrandts joins bassist Jack de Vries's Internationals in 1935. Two years later he is the new pianist for the A.V.R.O. (broadcasting company) Dansorkest (Dance band). After the war he works as a bar pianist, and with the O.K. Wobblers, a trad jazz band led by trombonist-arranger Pi Scheffer.
1925 - 1935
He makes his debut in his brother Philip Willebrandts's sextet, for which he also makes the arrangements. He studies at the Rotterdam conservatory, with Max Velt and Gerard Hengeveld. Around 1928 Willebrandts becomes a member for a short while of several German and Danish dance bands performing in the Netherlands.
1935 - 1937
Willebrandts is the pianist of Jack de Vries's Internationals, one of the top-ranking orchestras in the Netherlands.
1937 - 1940
He can be heard on the radio frequently, as pianist and incidentally as arranger for the A.V.R.O. Dansorkest (Dance band), led successively by Hans Mossel and Klaas van Beeck. As an arranger he seems to be influenced by Fletcher Henderson, and Bob Haggart of the Bob Crosby band. Recordings from this period can be found on the CDs Het A.V.R.O. Dansorkest o.l.v. Hans Mossel and Het A.V.R.O. Dansorkest o.l.v. Klaas van Beeck.
1940 - 1942
The A.V.R.O. Dansorkest is disbanded, but Willebrandts continues to work for the radio. He leads his own Jonge Acht (Young Eight) and mainly accompanies entertainers.
1942 - 1944
With the help of a sponsor he is able to start his own big band, using the best (ex-) members of pianist Ernst van 't Hoff's orchestra, and of the A.V.R.O. Dansorkest. Decca makes recordings of the band, and sponsors tours. Kees Bruijn, Boy Edgar and others provide progressive arrangements; but it is arranger Pi Scheffer who is most vital to the orchestra's image. The band frequently plays for the nazified Nederlandsche Omroep (Dutch Broadcasting Company), and between August 1943 and September 1944 hundreds of propaganda recordings are broadcast by Calais II. Performances in all parts of the country sometimes lead to hysterical scenes, evoking anti-German sentiments.
1944 - 1959
Having worked for the Germans Dick Willebrandts is banned for six months from leading orchestras after the liberation. He works as a bar pianist in his hometown Rotterdam.
1960 - 1961
His former trombonist and arranger Pi Scheffer asks him to join the O.K. Wobblers, a trad jazz band.
1963
A stroke ends Dick Willebrandts's career. But his role in jazz has by then been over for nearly twenty years. In December 1970 he dies.
1989
Recordings by the orchestra are reissued on LP in 1984 ('t Komt Wel Weer In Orde) and on CD in 1989 (Dick Willebrandts En Zijn Orkest). The latter album receives an Edison (Dutch Grammy).
Discography Dick Willebrandts
Albums | Singles | Compilations | Other | Guestperformance
't Komt Wel Weer In Orde
Act | Dick Willebrandts |
Type and year | LP, 1984 |
Label | Panachord, H 2012 |
muzikant | Kees van Dorsser |
muzikant | Jan van Hest |
muzikant | Frans van der Meer |
muzikant | Louis de Haes |
muzikant | Pi Scheffer |
muzikant | IJsbrand van der Ven |
muzikant | Jan Koulman |
muzikant | Cees Verschoor |
muzikant | Tinus Bruijn |
muzikant | Kees Bruijn |
muzikant | Ben Libosan |
muzikant | Bep Rowold |
muzikant | Lex Vervuurt |
muzikant | Han de Willigen |
muzikant | Tony van Hulst |
muzikant | Wim Kroon |
muzikant | Aldert Dekker |
muzikant | Nelly Verschuur |
muzikant | Jan de Vries |
Dick Willebrandts En Zijn Radio-Orkest
Act | Dick Willebrandts |
Type and year | CD, 1989 |
Label | Grannyphone, D401 |
muzikant | Kees van Dorsser |
muzikant | Jan van Hest |
muzikant | Frans van der Meer |
muzikant | Louis de Haes |
muzikant | Cor van Lier |
muzikant | Pi Scheffer |
muzikant | IJsbrand van der Ven |
muzikant | Jan Koulman |
muzikant | Cees Verschoor |
muzikant | Tinus Bruijn |
muzikant | Kees Bruijn |
muzikant | Tony Helweg |
muzikant | Ben Libosan |
muzikant | Bep Rowold |
muzikant | Hans Vlig van der Sijs |
muzikant | Wim Sanders |
muzikant | Tony van Hulst |
muzikant | Wim Kroon |
muzikant | Aldert Dekker |
muzikant | Nelly Verschuur |
muzikant | Jan de Vries |
Yearning: Dick Willebrandts En Zijn Radio-Orkest 1943
Act | Dick Willebrandts |
Type and year | CD, 2011 |
Label | Doctor Jazz, DJ 008 |
Pi Scheffer - Charleston Time
Act | Dick Willebrandts |
Type and year | 7", 1960 |
Label | Artone, EPD 6706 |
muzikant | Harry Sevenstern |
muzikant | Leo Borgart |
muzikant | Tony Helweg |
muzikant | Dick Willebrandts |
muzikant | Guus van Hees |
muzikant | Joop Diepenbroek |
muzikant | Gerard van Bezeij |
Pi Scheffer - Pi Scheffer's O.K. Wobblers
Act | Dick Willebrandts |
Type and year | 7", 1961 |
Label | Artone, EPD 6715 |
muzikant | Harry Sevenstern |
muzikant | Jaap Leben |
muzikant | Leo Borgart |
muzikant | Tony Helweg |
muzikant | Bep Rowold |
muzikant | Dick Willebrandts |
muzikant | Guus van Hees |
muzikant | Joop Diepenbroek |
muzikant | Gerard van Bezeij |
Hans Mossel - A.V.R.O. Dansorkest o.l.v. Hans Mossel
Act | Dick Willebrandts |
Type and year | CD, 1993 |
Label | NJA, 9301 |
muzikant | David van Weezel |
muzikant | Willy Schobben |
muzikant | Ferry Barendse |
muzikant | Hans Maassen |
muzikant | Dick Lambrechts |
muzikant | Rinus van Zelm |
muzikant | Cor Koblenz |
muzikant | Eddy Develing |
muzikant | Ab Witteboon |
muzikant | Louis van Coevorden |
muzikant | Louis Ephraim |
muzikant | Dick Willebrandts |
muzikant | Frits Hes |
muzikant | Lion Groen |
muzikant | Freek Meijn |
Klaas van Beeck - A.V.R.O. Dansorkest o.l.v. Klaas van Beeck
Act | Dick Willebrandts |
Type and year | CD, 1995 |
Label | NJA, 9502 |
muzikant | Freek Meijn |
muzikant | Freddy Biermann |
muzikant | Lammy van den Hout |
muzikant | David van Weezel |
muzikant | Willy Schobben |
muzikant | Ferry Barendse |
muzikant | August Caron |
muzikant | Kees van Dorsser |
muzikant | Philip Netes |
muzikant | Hans Maassen |
muzikant | Dick Lambrechts |
muzikant | IJsbrand van der Ven |
muzikant | Aart van Ewijk |
muzikant | Ab van der Molen |
muzikant | Rinus van Zelm |
muzikant | Cor Koblenz |
muzikant | Jan Meijer |
muzikant | Tony Helweg |
muzikant | Ab Witteboon |
muzikant | Ab Struik |
muzikant | Dick Willebrandts |
muzikant | Frits Hes |
muzikant | Hans Vlig van der Sijs |
muzikant | Lion Groen |
muzikant | Aat Swart Jr. |
muzikant | Frans Ottenhof |
muzikant | Eddy Develing |
In the discography you will find all recordings that have been released listed chronologically. We restrict ourselves to the title, the type of audio, year of publication or recording, label, list of guest musicians, plus any comments on the issue.
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