Miami Dance Band - New Charleston

This appears to be a pseudonym of René Demaret. Pianist, composer and conductor René Demaret of French origin, was a significant, yet unjustly forgotten figure of music hall and 1920s Belgian jazz. An avid aficionado of Broadway and American jazz music, he tried to give the Belgian scene its own syncopated music. The Miami Jazz Band seems to have been created in Brussels, probably late 1924. Its founder had a career in Belgium, mainly as a composer. 1925 was a busy year for Demaret, recording, conducting and composing. Personnel of the orchestra was probably all Belgian. In 1926, he was in Berlin, taking part in recording sessions by Efim Schachmeister’s Jazz Symphonians. The same year was published his most famous composition, "La rose bleue". Performed on stage by Gallez and Dalvares a.o, it was a major success of the year in Belgium and Canada. In 1927-1931, many more compositions were published. In 1932 was founded his new band, called Orchestre René Demaret. Gradually, public tastes changed and it seems his songs became less successful. His last traceable composition was written in 1937. However, after that year he sadly got totally lost in the fog of history. As for this excellent record, it was made in 1925.