Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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BENNINK, Han

(b 17 April '42, Zaandam, Netherlands) Percussionist. Played with visiting Americans, with Eric Dolphy on album Last Date '64, also with John Tchicai, Cecil Taylor, Gary Peacock, Paul Bley, Steve Lacy, Derek Bailey etc '60s--70s; like Lacy and Bailey now prominent in free improvisation in Europe, a scene with its own integrity not dependent on American influence. Many albums as leader, co-leader, sideman on labels incl. ICP, Incus in UK, others. Albums on Soul Note in groups under the name of Misha Mengelberg (Change Of Season, Dutch Masters) or Roswell Rudd (Regeneration); worked in duo with reedman Peter Br”tzmann; about twelve albums by them on FMP (Free Music Production) alone, most with Br”tzmann as leader or co- leader. FMP is a musicians' collective which organizes concerts and festivals as well as records. Br”tzmann also played in Last Exit (see Bill Laswell); played in small groups' recordings on Snipe, Horo, Data, Soul Note, Incus; released trio Noci ... Strani Frutti on Leo '90, solo No Nothing '91 on FMP, duo Serpentine '96 on Songlines with trumpeter Dave Douglas.