Uploaded June 2015 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
CANDID CLASSICAL COMPOSER CITATIONS - 3
"To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time."
LEONARD BERNSTEIN
(Most famous work (musical) : "West Side Story")
LADI GEISLER
Miloslav Ladislav "Ladi" Geisler was a German musician who established a high profile in the post-war German music scene. Best known for his work with Bert Kaempfert, James Last and Freddy Quinn, Geisler developed the distinctive "Knack-Bass" percussive bass sound that helped popularize the Bert Kaempfert Orchestra. He later released numerous records under his own name
While on a mission as a pilot during WWII he was captured by the British and was interned in a Danish POW camp. With the help of a fellow prisoner, Geisler built an electric guitar and learned as a self-taught player. His role model was Oscar Moore, guitarist of singer Nat King Cole. In the camp he also made the acquaintance of the German musician Horst Wende, who brought him after discharge to Germany and made him a guitarist of his "Horst Wende Trio."
Geisler did some work for the NWDR, and after the spin-off of the NDR in 1955, he received a permanent position as a guitarist in the NDR Dance Orchestra under the direction of Franz Thon. Continuing to play with Wende, he signed a contract with the record company Polydor.
At NDR he was used in many ways, such as with the NDR Symphony Orchestra and at the premiere of a work by Pierre Boulez at the Edinburgh Festival. In addition to Polydor, he also worked for other record companies and accompanied singers like Evelyn Künneke, Greetje Kauffeld, Friedel Hensch, Esther and Abi Ofarim and Hildegard Knef.
From composer and big band leader James Last, he bought a late 50s Gibson EB bass guitar, with which he developed his legendary "Knack bass" sound that would become an integral feature in the Easy Listening orchestra of Bert Kaempfert. Later, he used a Fender Jazz Bass model. Most recently, he used a Fender Precision Bass when he was invited to live or recording sessions.
In 1958, he recorded Happy Guitar / Samba estrella, his first solo record with the record company Telefunken. For Philips and Ariola, but mainly with Polydor, he recorded until 1965 several more solo albums, partly with the Polydor band "The Playboys". Under their label, he reached in 1961 No. 19 in the German charts with the cover of world hit Wheels. As a freelance musician, he was sought after by all the leading German record companies and worked, in some years, up to 1500 gigs. In 1988 and 1990 he went on tour in Japan, with the Alfred Hause Orchestra.
In 2003, Geisler was awarded the Louis Armstrong Memorial Prize for Swinging Hamburg.
VE SE GOSTAS
A so called "choro" written by Brazilian choro composer Waldir de Azevedo (who also wrote the famous "Delicado")
Azevedo wrote 130 compositions during his lifetime, including the Brasileirinho, and played the cavaquinho. He is considered to be the most successful musician of the genre.
"Ve Se Gostas" translates (more or less) as "See if you like (it)"
MHO
A wonderful piece of guitar music here with "Knack bass" specialist Ladi Geisler who kinda pays tribute to the Brazilian choro composer Waldir Azevedo. Geisler was a phenomenal guitar player, which explains why he was so popular with numerous bands and orchestras in the post-war Germany.
His sense of rhythm was legendary and it is remarkable how he, through self teaching (!) managed to master the guitar completely. When the passion for music takes over .... anything is possible ! Enjoy.
CANDID CLASSICAL COMPOSER CITATIONS - 3
"To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time."
LEONARD BERNSTEIN
(Most famous work (musical) : "West Side Story")
LADI GEISLER
Miloslav Ladislav "Ladi" Geisler was a German musician who established a high profile in the post-war German music scene. Best known for his work with Bert Kaempfert, James Last and Freddy Quinn, Geisler developed the distinctive "Knack-Bass" percussive bass sound that helped popularize the Bert Kaempfert Orchestra. He later released numerous records under his own name
While on a mission as a pilot during WWII he was captured by the British and was interned in a Danish POW camp. With the help of a fellow prisoner, Geisler built an electric guitar and learned as a self-taught player. His role model was Oscar Moore, guitarist of singer Nat King Cole. In the camp he also made the acquaintance of the German musician Horst Wende, who brought him after discharge to Germany and made him a guitarist of his "Horst Wende Trio."
Geisler did some work for the NWDR, and after the spin-off of the NDR in 1955, he received a permanent position as a guitarist in the NDR Dance Orchestra under the direction of Franz Thon. Continuing to play with Wende, he signed a contract with the record company Polydor.
At NDR he was used in many ways, such as with the NDR Symphony Orchestra and at the premiere of a work by Pierre Boulez at the Edinburgh Festival. In addition to Polydor, he also worked for other record companies and accompanied singers like Evelyn Künneke, Greetje Kauffeld, Friedel Hensch, Esther and Abi Ofarim and Hildegard Knef.
From composer and big band leader James Last, he bought a late 50s Gibson EB bass guitar, with which he developed his legendary "Knack bass" sound that would become an integral feature in the Easy Listening orchestra of Bert Kaempfert. Later, he used a Fender Jazz Bass model. Most recently, he used a Fender Precision Bass when he was invited to live or recording sessions.
In 1958, he recorded Happy Guitar / Samba estrella, his first solo record with the record company Telefunken. For Philips and Ariola, but mainly with Polydor, he recorded until 1965 several more solo albums, partly with the Polydor band "The Playboys". Under their label, he reached in 1961 No. 19 in the German charts with the cover of world hit Wheels. As a freelance musician, he was sought after by all the leading German record companies and worked, in some years, up to 1500 gigs. In 1988 and 1990 he went on tour in Japan, with the Alfred Hause Orchestra.
In 2003, Geisler was awarded the Louis Armstrong Memorial Prize for Swinging Hamburg.
VE SE GOSTAS
A so called "choro" written by Brazilian choro composer Waldir de Azevedo (who also wrote the famous "Delicado")
Azevedo wrote 130 compositions during his lifetime, including the Brasileirinho, and played the cavaquinho. He is considered to be the most successful musician of the genre.
"Ve Se Gostas" translates (more or less) as "See if you like (it)"
MHO
A wonderful piece of guitar music here with "Knack bass" specialist Ladi Geisler who kinda pays tribute to the Brazilian choro composer Waldir Azevedo. Geisler was a phenomenal guitar player, which explains why he was so popular with numerous bands and orchestras in the post-war Germany.
His sense of rhythm was legendary and it is remarkable how he, through self teaching (!) managed to master the guitar completely. When the passion for music takes over .... anything is possible ! Enjoy.
