Ger van Leeuwen

Pseudonyms

Jerry Van Lee, Jerry Van Lion

Ger van Leeuwen

Ger van Leeuwen (Amsterdam, 26 September 1919 – Bussum, late February 2008) became widely known for his activities in broadcasting during the first two decades after WW II. He leads various ensembles, from trio to big band, but never tours with any of them. He receives his first piano lessons ...
Full biography

Instruments

arrangeur, componist, dirigent, piano, tenorsaxofoon

Biography Ger van Leeuwen

Ger van Leeuwen (Amsterdam, 26 September 1919 – Bussum, late February 2008) became widely known for his activities in broadcasting during the first two decades after WW II. He leads various ensembles, from trio to big band, but never tours with any of them. He receives his first piano lessons at age seven, and also starts playing the tenor saxophone. At the age of sixteen he gains experience in trombonist/arranger Pi Scheffer's amateur band, the Blue Ramblers. During the German occupation he breaks off his economy studies, and starts writing arrangements for the orchestras of Dick Willebrandts and Ernst van 't Hof.

1945

He works in Belgium and France for British soldiers, as part of the ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association). Until February 1947 he plays with Lex van Spall.

1947 - 1948

Klaas van Beeck invites him to join his dance band, and from 1951 he occasionally subs on piano for Theo Uden Masman with the Ramblers. Various radio ensembles, including the Victorians, Maria Zamora and Jan Corduwener's band, make use of his services, as a pianist, but especially as an arranger.

Klaas van Beeck The Ramblers

1948

Klaas van Beeck's bassist, Henk Orthman, includes him in his newly formed sextet.

1950

Ger van Leeuwen replaces pianist Eddy de Jong in Jan Mol's Trio XYZ, which later becomes a quartet when a drummer is added. The group frequently performs for VARA radio. In the meantime he continues to arrange for various ensembles.

Jan Mol

1952 - 1956

When Jan Mol leaves for Indonesia Ger van Leeuwen takes over as leader of the trio. He adds tenor saxophonist Kees Bruijn to the line-up, making it the Ger van Leeuwen Quartet. The foursome regularly performs for the radio, sometimes augmented by a guest soloist. Van Leeuwen forms a big band, consisting of radio musicians, and records several albums with it. Early 1956 he signs with RCA, but the final output remains limited to an EP with Australian singer Shirley Ryan and two 78s with a number of medleys. The recordings he makes with Jerry van Rooyen and Babes Pronk's quintet on 25 May 1956 remain shelved.

Jerry van Rooyen Kees Bruijn

1956 - 1979

He makes a day job of accompanying, arranging and conducting for radio and record recordings – a job that usually remains anonymous.

Discography Ger van Leeuwen

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.

Photos Ger van Leeuwen

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