Jazz In Brussels - History Of Jazz In Belgium 19th century

Jean Moeremans was one of the foremost
Saxophone Soloists of the world. He studied
at the Royal Conservatory of Music at
Brussels, Belgium. He was also a member
of the Band of the Royal Guards. As soloist
with Gilmore’s famous band he madea reputation
as a Saxophone Artist second to none. Later,
he was soloist with John Philip Sousa, during
which period he toured the world. 

 The time before jazz developed was recognized as an individual style (1850–1900) and is now commonly knownas the Pre-Jazz period. In this period of the Minstrels, the end of the 19th century, the first recording techniques emerged, which was very important for jazz and for music in general. In 1877 Thomas Alva Edison developed the phonograph, which one year later was presented at an exposition in Brussels, in the 'Panopcticum de Monsieur Castan'. Belgium, however, had no recording studios of its own and therefore the spread of pre-jazz music for a long time (until after the First World War) relied on foreign record labels such as "Colombia", "Zonophone" and "Favorite".

Another invention which to a large extent contributed to the development of jazz music was Adolphe Sax's new instrument. By 1890 saxophones in the United States were made by the Conn and Buescher companies, and Belgian virtuoso saxophonists such as Jean Moermans of Sousa's Orchestra ensured the growing popularity of the instrument. The saxophone quickly became the symbol of a new music genre that emerged gradually by the end of the 19th century. Belgian musicians were among the first to make recordings of saxophone solos in America. Eugene Coffin, for example, made recordings on wax cylinders (1895–1896) and Jean Moermans on gramophone record in Washington D.C. (1897).

In 1881, the first American minstrel show was staged in Belgium.[ It was followed, over the years, by similar shows and performance.

.By 1900, Belgian music lovers had become acquainted with several American brass bands, the most famous of them being John Philip Sousa's orchestra. They played marches, symphonies, as well as "Cakewalks" and "Ragtimes", both characterized by syncopated rhythms. The Belgian composer Louis Fremaux followed in their footsteps and made a cakewalk composition entitled "Bruxelles Cake-Walk".

wikipedia

Jean H. B. Moeremans (18?? - ca 1937) was a Belgian saxophone and flute player who is known for creating the first ever saxophone solo grammophone record in 1897. This little piece was created two years later on a Berliner 7 inch (0607).