RARITY #45

FREDDIE BROCKSIEPER MIT SEINEM STAR-ENSEMBLE

SUPERTONE SU-45-116 (EP)

One could argue whether this EP – dating from c.1961 – qualifies as a “rarity”. Outside of Germany probably ?  Side B was re-issued on a double LP Munich Jazz 1950-1980 with a picture of Freddie Brocksieper in full drumming action on the cover.

Interesting character this Mr Brocksieper!  

Here’s what Wikipedia has to say:

Fritz "Freddie" Brocksieper (born August 24, 1912 in Istanbul, Turkey; died January 17, 1990) was a German jazz-musician, drummer, and bandleader.

He played professionally in Nuremberg beginning in 1930. In 1939 he went to Berlin. There he made recordings with the Golden Seven (1939), with Benny de Weille (1940) and Willy Berking (1940–1941), just as in the National-Socialist propaganda band Charlie and His Orchestra. His playing style on the drums was influenced above all by Gene Krupa.

The son of a Greek-speaking Jewish woman and a German engineer was able to get through National-Socialism as an essential swing musician. Freddie Brocksieper was considered a leading figure of early European big-band jazz. After the Second World War he led various bands in Stuttgart, Munich, and Berlin, and played also in American officers' clubs. With his bands he made it to the front page of Stars and Stripes. Beginning in 1957 Bavarian radio regularly broadcast live concerts from his studio in Munich.

From 1964 he played mainly in trios, and often with American soloists in Europe. In 1980 he received an award from the German Phonograph Academy.

I recommend reading the Wikipedia article on Charlie and his Orchestra.  Interestingly, it seems that  none of the musicians taking part in these propaganda recordings had much problem continuing playing after the war (although there were a couple of Belgians in the Orchestra who were considered collaborators by the Belgian authorities, and that put a stop to their musical career).

About this 45 rpm, the French would probably call it “ringuard”!  Not unlike the countless Hammond Favorites etc LPs recorded by Otto Weiss.  Much unfortunate as Otto could really swing when he wanted too.  Just listen to his contribution to Stuff Smith’s Black Violin on MPS or to Rudi Flierl ‘s Bostic Favorites on this blog.  You probably know Fred Spannuth already (see my post on Max Greger).

For completists only!

Credits

Fred Spannuth, tenor saxophone, clarinet and piano

Otto Weiss, piano, hammond-organ and vibraphone

Hans Vlig van der Sys, piano, guitar and arrangements

Helmut Wörsching, bass

Freddie Brocksieper, drums and leader

Tracks

Side A:  Teach Me Tonight (Cahn/DePaul)  2:59

Side B:  Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (Kern/Harbach)  2:53

Recorded ca. 1961 in Munich, Bavaria (most probably at the Universitätsreitschule).

With thanks to onxidlib for unearthing this obscurtiy.