If it’s at all possible he will start drumming on his chair. But other objects will do, too. Drummer Han Bennink (1942), this year’s Artist In Residence, can rightly be called ‘an elder statesman of Dutch jazz’ and not just because of his respectable age. Bennink is an incredibly versatile percussionist, who is particularly active on the so-called improv scene, but he also has ‘the chops of a very hip prebop swing-band drummer’, according to jazz author Kevin Whitehead. Besides his professional drumming, Bennink has also developed another talent; that of a visual artist with a preference for using found objects. His album sleeves have always been very original. His musical career is impressive; he has played at the Newport Jazz festival, worked with legends from the improv scene, was one of the founders of the Instant Composers Pool and made an impression with his solo work as well as in duos and larger ensembles. Bennink will perform with clarinetist Joachim Badenhorst and pianist Simon Toldam.
