JUAN DOCANTEZ
y sus companeros
TROPICAL
NIGHTS
25 cm Fiesta
Records 10010 Belgium, c. 1953-54
Douchamps(1915-1976) had a prolific career recording swing jazz, hawaian novelties, proto-rock and roll novelty, exotica, and anything in between. He was quick to spot a trend: When he spotted that South American / brasilian rhythms were the next big thing (following the success of Brasilan movie O Cangaceiro in 1953-54), he didn’t hesitate to reinvent himself and his band as Juan Docantez y sus companeros (in a previous incarnation they were Hawaians ...). He was among the first ones in Belgium to record “proto-rock and roll” (Crazy man, crazy – 1953) The fashion was to "englicize" names: Jean Douchamps and band became … John Sweetfield & his Petrolians!
Four tracks, four medley
Side 1
A1:
Tropical – O cangaceiro – la Fete des Fleurs – Somebody had stole the
wedding bells
A2: Baiao cacula – Brasileirinho
– Pourquoi la Casbah a brulé
Side 2
B1 : Sway – Comedie – El negro zumbon –
Delicado
B2: Uska Dara –Rio de Janeiro – Caceres – Signal Samba
Musicians : Jean Douchamps (leader, guitar)
no info on
the others. Not listed in the Belgian Jazz Discography (outside the scope of
the work).
Probably:
Georges Clais (tp), Frans L’Eglise (as, fl?), Emile Chantrain (ts), Marcel
Picavet or Gus Decock (piano), Jean Warland (bass), Jeff Deboeck or Jo Demuynck
(drums) ... just on educated guess based on the composition of the Petrolians in 1953.
Yes it is
the same Jean Warland who played with the Clarke-Boland
big band, Peter Herbolzheimer Brass Combination & Rhythm and on
countless MPS albums.
P.S : another pioneer
of proto-rock n roll in Belgium was guitarist Freddy Sunder who recorded a
series of great boogie in 53-54 on Ronnex records, sounding pretty
close to American hillbilly boogie.
