JOHN ENGELS

John Engels

For more than half a century John Engels (Groningen, 13 May 1935) has been an in-demand drummer in most conceivable jazz styles. He prefers swing and (neo-)bop, but doesn't shy away from freer types of music. Colleagues praise his brush technique, band leaders and soloists like to employ him because ...
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Instruments

drums

Mentioned in the biography of

1949   Pia Beck
1955   Rob Peters
1959   Jacques Schols
1960   Louis van Dijk
1967   Leo van Oostrom
1987   Arjen Gorter
1988   Dick de Graaf
1998   Hermine Deurloo
2001   Piet Noordijk
2011   Joris Teepe
2013   Fay Claassen
2014   Ruud Breuls
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Biography John Engels

For more than half a century John Engels (Groningen, 13 May 1935) has been an in-demand drummer in most conceivable jazz styles. He prefers swing and (neo-)bop, but doesn't shy away from freer types of music. Colleagues praise his brush technique, band leaders and soloists like to employ him because of his empathy, enthusiasm, flexibility and relentless swing (according to newspaper Het Parool in 1988 when he is awarded the de Boy Edgar Prijs – the major Dutch jazz award). He hates long intervals, and his motto is: 'It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing'.

Played in

Barnicle Bill Trio   drums
The Diamond Five   drums

Photos John Engels

Audio/Video John Engels