Drummer John Engels started his professional career sixty-seven years ago in 1953. He has since become one of the grandmasters of Dutch jazz and has accompanied many legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Ray Brown, Louis van Dijk and Toots Thielemans on stage. He also did two tours through Japan with trumpet player Chet Baker. John Engels has played on more than 250 records, among which several have been awardad with Edisons, he received a Bird award, the prestigious Boy Edgar award. John has been knighted in the Order of the Dutch Lion and recently received the Frans Banninck Cocq Penning.