JOHN ENGELS 70th BIRTHDAY CONCERT
with a.o. Jesse van Ruller-guitar, Frans van de Hoeven-double bass, René van Beeck-double bass, Harry Emmery-double bass, Benjamin Herman-alto saxophone, Rob van Bavel-piano, John Engels-drums en many more
Since over 50 years, Amsterdam drummer John Engels Jr. has been the busiest drummer of the Netherlands. The eternally ‘young at heart’ John comes from a family of drummers. His grandfather, father, an uncle, two brothers, one sister and John himself all suffer from the Engels disease, as he calls it. He worked, and still works, with all Dutch musicians of importance and toured with American musicians in the league of Dizzie Gillespie, Ben Webster, Stan Getz and Chet Baker. Engels always swings but never falls back into a routine. To quote John: ‘I always play as if it where my last time’. When he dies, preferably behind his drum kit, but not for a long time: tonight he celebrates his 70th birthday with a a selection from his favorite musicians of various generations.