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November 13, 2021: 149 The Ramblers (1)

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Jazz and dance music orchestra from the Netherlands lead by Theo Uden Masman from 1926 until 1964. It was a popular Dutch radio big band in the 1930s and 1940s widely credited for introducing jazz music to the Low Countries.

During the Second World War, The Ramblers played for the "Nederlandsche Omroep" installed by the invaders to replace the several broadcasting societies on the national station in Hilversum. The Jewish members Sem Nijveen and Sal Doof were sent away in 1941 by order of the Nazis. At the performances that followed, two empty seats could be seen. The Ramblers took care of the Jewish members during the war, including the opportunity to go into hiding. Doof did not escape the Germans. In 1942, the Department of Public Information and the Arts prohibited "Negroid and Negritic elements in dance and entertainment music". Also orchestras were not allowed to bear an English name. The Ramblers were forced to change their name to 'Theo Uden Masman en zijn Dansorkest'. Scat singing, the use of mutes and drum stops, and just about anything that makes jazz jazz, was also banned from 1942. Although the orchestra was very reluctant to accommodate them they performed for the Wehrmacht and German charities. 

The fact that Marsman and his dance orchestra had continued to work in public during the Nazification cost him dearly after the liberation. He was especially blamed for his appearances for the Wehrmacht and the Nederlandsch Arbeidersfront (the Nazi trade union movement). He was accused of collaboration.
The orchestra was banned from playing until January 1, 1946, and Masman was not allowed to lead the orchestra until May 5, 1946.
Nevertheless The Ramblers became popular again.They played outside the Netherlands in the first months after the liberation, under the baton of drummer Kees Kranenburg.
The first concerts in the Netherlands were tumultuous due to protests by resistance members.
Nijveen, the surviving one of the two Jewish members, returned to the orchestra. He said of the occupation: "They played on to survive". He did not agree with the image that The Ramblers had been "wrong in the war" and spoke highly of the tenacity with which Masman had always protected him and his companion Doof.

In 1955 The Ramblers performed together with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra in which Rolf Liebermann 's Concerto for jazz band and symphonic orchestra was performed. Also, with moderate success, connection was sought with young artists such as Rob de Nijs.

 On March 31, 1964. Masman gave the last performance for VARA with The Ramblers (which was broadcast on April 11); the broadcasting society continued with the 'VARA dance orchestra' conducted by Charlie Nederpelt. Masman passed away a year after.

In 1974 Jack Bulterman and Marcel Thielemans relaunched The Ramblers and they are still active: The Ramblers' Website

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