Tender is the keyword on birthday concert of the 90-year-old John Engels, the ‘king of the brushes’

He is the « uncrowned king of the brushes”, The percussionist who already entered the business in 1953. Yes, we heard brushes plenty, the softer, intimate sound in the jazz created by forming with fan -shaped sticks over the drums, even singing melodia lines. In it drummer John Engels (90) is a master in May 11 with a long time. Jazz musicians are ninetieth birthday.

The musician is one of the best known percussionists in the Netherlands, a name that he is during the more than two -hour anniversary concert John Engels 90 made more than true. He would rather not do breaks, so the richly varied performance with ballads, blues, jazz songs and a few hefty-corner bebop songs sounded like a whole, dedicated to English ‘drumstel, generous brought by musicians such as Jan van Duikeren (Trompet), Tobias Nijboer (Piano), Joost Swart and Juraj Stanik).

English left his place behind the drum set with light reluctance to come forward a few times: to blow out a birthday cake with candles, for example, but especially to receive the Lifetime Achievement Edison from the hands of trumpet player of Duizeren. This prize, awarded to Engels for the first time, is not a jury prize but one on the recommendation of musicians. A condition is that the artist is professionally professional for 35 years and must have ‘a thorough oeuvre and a special live reputation’.

The miracle of English ‘style is that he, in addition to rhythms, also creates melodies on percussion

Engels was involved in more than 250 plate recordings and performed with jazz greats such as Stan Getz, Boy Edgar, Nina Simone, Chet Baker (during his famous tour Chet Baker in Tokyo1987), Elvin Jones, Johnny Griffin and also with chansonnier Ramses Shaffy. He himself was part of the Hardbop band Diamond Five, the most famous Dutch jazz band from the fifties and sixties, and the Trio Louis van Dijk.

Fingertips

Another praise applies to English, according to the Lifetime Achievement: « Great and Inspirational ». As a tribute to Diamond Five sounded Johnny’s Birthdayone of the traditionals. Jazz vocalist Francien van Tuinen sang her translation of Tenderly from Sarah Vaughan as Light. « Not specially dedicated to John, » as she said, but still, « Tender » was the key word of this birthday session. The miracle of English ‘style is that, in addition to rhythms, he also creates melodies on percussion. Not with brushes alone, even with sticks, with or without felt heads, and even his fingertips along the cymbals (basins).

He often took the initiative and led with a great beat ‘chikke boom‘(as he would call it) in a new song. Because he wanted that: nothing but play. About the only words that English spoke about his solar drum, on which he plays half a century: « It is timeless, just like me. »

With saxophonist Candy Dulfer, English and his band swing plenty, with sharpness and energy. His partner Liz Horvath, singer of Easy Swingbrought the final song, What a Wonderful Worldaccompanied by piano, sax, trumpet, bass and the drums of English: vital and energetic. English often says that when he plays, he is in a different dimension, he proves that in an unbroken way again and again.

John Engels 90. Heard 11/5 Bimhuis, Amsterdam. Including John Engels, Jan van Duikeren, Candy Dulfer. Info: Bimhuis.nl

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