Dutch Swing College Band

Sleek and smooth Dixieland

Seventy-five years ago a group of enthusiastic young people were determined to listen to and play jazz music in Holland even though it was banned there at the time. They rehearsed in secret, learned new songs from illegal radio programmes and resolved to establish a jazz school – The Swing College – once the Second World War was over. The members held readings, organised jazz meets and gave jazz lessons. In 1960 the band became a professional orchestra and won numerous prizes, and it continues to perform around the world enjoying great success to this day.