Eric Ineke

Eric Ineke

Eric Ineke (Haarlem, 1 April 1947) is one of the most in demand drummers in the Netherlands. He already has thirty years of professional experience under his belt when he starts leading his first band. He does, however, work every night, and his telephone is always ringing. His music of ...
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drums

Biography Eric Ineke

Eric Ineke (Haarlem, 1 April 1947) is one of the most in demand drummers in the Netherlands. He already has thirty years of professional experience under his belt when he starts leading his first band. He does, however, work every night, and his telephone is always ringing. His music of choice is 'bebop and beyond', as he calls it in the liner notes to his CD Xpressions In Time. But he doesn't shy away from freer forms, and effortlessly plays in swing and Dixieland bands. He himself even has lost count of the number of soloists he accompanied over the years – usually in conjunction with pianist Rein de Graaff. Visitors to the site www.ericineke.com who read the 'biography' and click on 'people' will find a list of some 150 VIPs, ending with the telling phrase 'and many more'.

Played in

Neerlands Hoop   drums

1965 - 1967

While his contemporaries listen to beat music Eric Ineke only wants one thing: to become a jazz drummer. For a number of years he takes private lessons with John Engels, until the latter decides that it's time for him to figure things out on his own. His first gigs are with singer Henny Vonk and tenor saxophonist Ferdinand Povel. In the daytime he works in his brother's Persian carpet shop in The Hague, where he has moved in the meantime.

1968 - 1970

Ineke becomes a full time professional musician when he is offered a long series of educational concerts with the Stork Town Dixie Kids. He regularly works with the pianists Rob Agerbeek and Irv Rochlin, both in their own groups, and as rhythm sections for American soloists, like Ben Webster and Dexter Gordon. Jazz critics are not all thrilled by the young bespectacled drummer, taking into account a number of reviews in the magazine Jazzwereld. His beat is called 'tight but rigid', and his response 'leaves a lot to be desired'.

1971 - 1998

Pianist Rein de Graaff asks him to join his quartet as its regular drummer, and also employs him for all his other projects. It turns out to be a decision with far-reaching consequences, for De Graaff's trio (with Henk Haverhoek, Koos Serierse and Marius Beets as its consecutive bass players) becomes in demand as a rhythm section for touring Americans. It is telling that Ineke has played every single North Sea Jazz Festival, from the very first edition in 1976. In the 90s he starts teaching at the Koninklijk Conservatorium (Royal Conservatory) in The Hague. In the years 1989-'94 the drummer does some turbulent tours with the high energy Ben van den Dungen/Jarmo Hoogendijk Quintet.

1999 - 2010

Ineke starts leading his own bands; at first as co-leader with the young pianist Wolfert Brederode, who offers Ineke a chance to prove himself in less obvious musical directions. The twosome leads various groups, including Nimbus. In 2006 Ineke starts his own JazzXpress. This band also features musicians from a younger generation, but is more rooted in the jazz tradition. Criticism starts to become more favorable. In the interview quoted earlier Ineke himself states that Elvin Jones taught him to interpret the beat freely 'If I make an eight bar break, I always stick to that eight bar length, even if you can't always count them.' Philly Joe Jones taught him to phrase. Working with Johnny Griffin has already given him great stamina. Ever since that confrontation Ineke is able to continue drumming for long periods of time, at breakneck speeds, and with extremely high intensity.

Discography Eric Ineke

In the discography you will find all recordings that have been released listed chronologically. We restrict ourselves to the title, the type of audio, year of publication or recording, label, list of guest musicians, plus any comments on the issue.

Photos Eric Ineke

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