Han Bennink (born 17 April 1942) is a Dutch jazz drummer, percussionist. He is also a talented multi-instrumentalist, and on occasion his recordings have featured his playing on clarinet, violin, banjo and piano.
Though perhaps best-known as one of the pivotal figures in early European free jazz and free improvisation, Bennink has worked in essentially every school of jazz, and is described by critic Chris Kelsey as "one of the unfortunately rare...
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Han Bennink (born 17 April 1942) is a Dutch jazz drummer, percussionist. He is also a talented multi-instrumentalist, and on occasion his recordings have featured his playing on clarinet, violin, banjo and piano.
Though perhaps best-known as one of the pivotal figures in early European free jazz and free improvisation, Bennink has worked in essentially every school of jazz, and is described by critic Chris Kelsey as "one of the unfortunately rare musicians whose abilities and interests span [jazz's] entire spectrum." Known for often injecting slapstick and absurdist humor into his performances, Bennink has had especially fruitful long-term partnerships with pianist Misha Mengelberg and saxophonist Peter Brotzmann. Han is a brother of saxophonist Peter Bennink.
Bennink was born in Zaandam, the son of a classical percussionist. He played the drums and the clarinet during his teens.
Through the 1960s he drummed with a number of American musicians visiting the Netherlands, including...
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