Swing in Berlin: Erhard Bauschke - At The Codfish Ball, 1937

Erhard Bauschke -- one of pioneers of the swing in Germany - played clarinet in James Kok Tanz-Orchestra, a dance band popular in Berlin, for its jazzy interpretations of international hits, who performed at Moka EFTI „white tie and tails" cafe, between 1929-32. When the Nazis took power James Kok, a Rumanian half -- Jew, attracted negative attention of the Reichmusikkammer (Music Board of the Third Reich) for his outspoken support to Jack Hylton's Orchestra, who, albeit very popular in Germany, was rather unpopular with the Nazis. The incident led to the work ban; Kok escaped to Englend and after the war he lived in Switzerland and Erhard Bauschke continued his work, leading the „Aryanized" band from summer 1935. Soon - together with Kurt Widmann's orchestra - he became one of two most popular dance bands in Germany, giving dozens performances, also by the radio, and recordings for the Grammophon and Polydor labels. His career was abruptly stopped by the outbreak of WWII and Bauschke's military service for Luftwaffe, in Noway. During his holidays from he continued, nervertheless, recording with a smaller studio band, he organised. In 1945, after the reconstruction of the big dance orchestra, Bauschke appeared back in the night clubs of Berlin's American zone, enjoying again the great popularity and applause. In 1945 he died tragically in the street, run over by the car. Recording: Erhard Bauschke m.s. Tanz-Orchester - At the Codfish Ball (Pollack), Grammophon 1937