Jo Ment
Encyclopedia
Jo Ment was a German musician. Born Jochen Ment in 1923, he became a successful musician in Hamburg
, Germany, showing proficiency on accordion
and saxophone
. In the 1950s, he became a member of the NDR
(Norddeutscher Rundfunk, or North German Radio) Big Band, then under the direction of Alfred Hause; his fellow bandmates included Bert Kaempfert
, James Last
, Horst Wende
and Ladi Geisler
. He also toured with Hause's popular tango orchestra. Ment was active as a session musician in Hamburg
, playing for many popular recording acts. He was also a charter member of the James Last Orchestra
, although he did not actually tour with Last until the 1980s.
During the 1960s, the big band pop sounds of Bert Kaempfert
and James Last
became popular throughout Europe and eventually around the world. Many imitation acts sprang up, and Jochen Ment led one of them. Signed to the German Ariola label, he recorded under the name Jo Ment and used many of the same musicians as Kaempfert and Last. Ment's albums were not as original as those of his mentors, but they were popular and sold well.
In the 1980s, the big band pop sound lost popularity. Ment discontinued making orchestral recordings and became a permanent touring member of the James Last Orchestra
, playing accordion and percussion. He was regularly featured as an accordion soloist on the popular live numbers "Biscaya" and "Jigs and Reels". Ment remained a member of the Last band until shortly before his death.
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, Germany, showing proficiency on accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
and saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
. In the 1950s, he became a member of the NDR
NDR
NDR may refer to:* Numalian Democratic Republic a Micronation within the borders of Malaysia.* Nador International Airport — IATA code Morocan airport* National Derby Rallies...
(Norddeutscher Rundfunk, or North German Radio) Big Band, then under the direction of Alfred Hause; his fellow bandmates included Bert Kaempfert
Bert Kaempfert
Bert Kaempfert was a German orchestra leader and songwriter. He made easy listening and jazz-oriented records, and wrote the music for a number of well-known songs, such as "Strangers in the Night" and "Spanish Eyes".-Biography:He was born in Hamburg, Germany - where he received his lifelong...
, James Last
James Last
James Last is a German composer and big band leader. His "happy music" made his numerous albums best-sellers in Germany and the United Kingdom. His composition, "Happy Heart", became an international success in interpretations by Andy Williams and Petula Clark...
, Horst Wende
Horst Wende
Horst Wende was a German bandleader, arranger and composer. He made easy-listening records under his own name as well as under the name Roberto Delgado...
and Ladi Geisler
Ladi Geisler
Ladislav "Ladi" Geisler was a Czech musician who established a high profile in the post-war German music scene. Best known for his work with German pop musicians Bert Kaempfert, James Last and Freddy Quinn, Geisler developed the distinctive “Knack-Bass” percussive bass sound that helped...
. He also toured with Hause's popular tango orchestra. Ment was active as a session musician in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, playing for many popular recording acts. He was also a charter member of the James Last Orchestra
James Last Orchestra
The James Last Orchestra is a German big-band orchestra with strings. The orchestra was established in 1964 as a studio orchestra, led by jazz musician Hans Last...
, although he did not actually tour with Last until the 1980s.
During the 1960s, the big band pop sounds of Bert Kaempfert
Bert Kaempfert
Bert Kaempfert was a German orchestra leader and songwriter. He made easy listening and jazz-oriented records, and wrote the music for a number of well-known songs, such as "Strangers in the Night" and "Spanish Eyes".-Biography:He was born in Hamburg, Germany - where he received his lifelong...
and James Last
James Last
James Last is a German composer and big band leader. His "happy music" made his numerous albums best-sellers in Germany and the United Kingdom. His composition, "Happy Heart", became an international success in interpretations by Andy Williams and Petula Clark...
became popular throughout Europe and eventually around the world. Many imitation acts sprang up, and Jochen Ment led one of them. Signed to the German Ariola label, he recorded under the name Jo Ment and used many of the same musicians as Kaempfert and Last. Ment's albums were not as original as those of his mentors, but they were popular and sold well.
In the 1980s, the big band pop sound lost popularity. Ment discontinued making orchestral recordings and became a permanent touring member of the James Last Orchestra
James Last Orchestra
The James Last Orchestra is a German big-band orchestra with strings. The orchestra was established in 1964 as a studio orchestra, led by jazz musician Hans Last...
, playing accordion and percussion. He was regularly featured as an accordion soloist on the popular live numbers "Biscaya" and "Jigs and Reels". Ment remained a member of the Last band until shortly before his death.