FRANS VAN BERGEN

Frans van Bergen

The father of Frans van Bergen (Utrecht, 11 August 1929 – Maarssen, 21 March 1991) is an antique collector, his mother a dentist. At the age of seven he receives private violin tuition, studies hard, and qualifies for a conservatory training. As a second instrument he opts for piano, ...
Full biography

Instruments

piano, viool

Mentioned in the biography of

1964   Mat Mathews

Biography Frans van Bergen

The father of Frans van Bergen (Utrecht, 11 August 1929 – Maarssen, 21 March 1991) is an antique collector, his mother a dentist. At the age of seven he receives private violin tuition, studies hard, and qualifies for a conservatory training. As a second instrument he opts for piano, is taught composition by Wouter Paap and studies the violin with Piet Hartveld and Jan Keessen. After hearing Van Bergen as a jazz violinist Piet Hartveld is quoted to have said: 'I wish I could play the violin like you can; don't alter anything!' Frans van Bergen himself had this to say about his conservatory training: 'There wasn't a single piece that really interested me. I did have the impetus to play, but I did so in the hall at home, when we had company. I improvised like crazy on the national anthem, just making a sound. I played the weirdest stuff, but when I see a piece of sheet music, I go nuts. I can play it, but I don't want to.'

Played in

Millers  

1953 - 1955

With guitarist Huug van der Voort he founds the Hot Strings, and starts winning prizes at various competitions: in the Utrecht region of the AVRO (Dutch broadcasting company) Jazz Competition, Alkmaar, Brussels, Coup de Louis Armstrong in Paris.

1955 - 1960

Does radio work and moves to Germany.

1961 - 1962

For a short while he becomes a member of the Millers. He starts his own trio with vibraphonist Coen van Nassou and bassist Koos Serierse, which unfortunately made no recordings.

Millers

1966

Causes a stir with a non-commercial, difficult to obtain, high quality album: 4 In Conversation. From Frank Visser's review in Jazzwereld: 'far above the average international jazz level'. Works as a freelancer in broadcasting, and makes some albums in the soft swing genre with the Millers, Mat Mathews and studio bands of his own.

Audio/Video Frans van Bergen