Dutch drummer and multi-instrumentalist Han Bennink is playing a concert tonight at Columbia University in New York. The show is part of a tour that celebrates his 70th birthday.
The tour was organised on Columbia’s call, besides concerts it includes workshops that will be held by Bennink at the famous La Guardia. He will be joined at tonight’s concert by Richard Teitelbaum, Ray Anderson, Mark Dresser, Uri Caine, Michael Moore, Thomas Heberer and Mary Oliver.
This Dutch avant-garde artist was born on 17th April 1942 near Amsterdam. He was a recognized, versatile drummer in the Netherlands when he was only 18 years old. He played with big names like Sonny Rollins, Ben Webster, Wesa Montgomery and Johnny Griffin.
At the same time Bennink participated in creating European improvised music that started to develop beside jazz, this was an opportunity for him to work with notable European names. He founded Instant Composers Pool in 1967 together with Misha Mengelberg and Willem Breuker. Today it gathers avan-guard musicians with the common idea that improvisation is nothing else than immediate composing.
He has been performing with Mengelberg for 40 years as a permanent member of his quartet with which he has played in Sarajevo at the Jazz Fest 2008, when he also had a solo concert. His first visit to Sarajevo was in 2005 for the Jazz Fest as well when he prooved that his concerts are a unique experience that leaves no one indefferent.
“In plentifulness of the avarage on the musical scene, it is almost not up-to-date to be multisided as Bennink”, this was written by a journalist who alluded on Bennink’s ability to get along with a wide range of styles – from dixieland to free jazz, and his faultless technique. He is a true artist, known for his unconventional approach to drumms – he uses his legs, mouth, and makes fire on his drum – but also for his rare ability to create music no matter what object he uses to do it.
Han Bennink is a graduated graphic artist as well. He has exhibited his paintings, drawings and instalations at numerous exhibitions. He is author of many cover designs for his own and friends’ albums.