Dre Pallemaerts

Born in Antwerp in 1964, Dré PALLEMAERTS receives his first drums at the age of 15. In 1975, he starts studying music at the Academy in Antwerp. At the age of 15, he discovers jazz playing charts by BASIE and ELLINGTON in big bands.

At 17, he meets American bassist John CLAYTON, known for his collaboration with Monty ALEXANDER. John CLAYTON brings Dré in contact with drummer Jeff HAMILTON, who invites him to study with him in the U.S. in 1984.

Some of Dre's accomplishments:

• In 1985, Dré appears at the Singapore Jazz Festival, sent by the Belgian Ministry of Culture. Back in Belgium, Dré rapidly integrates the local scene, playing with the best Belgian jazzmen : Steve HOUBEN, Jacques PELZER, Michel HERR, Bert JORIS, Charles LOOS and others...
• Dutch pianist Jack VAN POLL hires him for his trio with bassist Hein VAN DE GEYN. The trio accompanies several soloists such as Arnett COBB, Spike ROBINSON, Dave PIKE, and several American singers, such as Etta CAMERON, Deborah BROWN and Dee Dee BRIDGEWATER.
• With singer Dee DANIELS, he tours throughout Europe, Africa and the US, where he stays for a while in Seattle, and works with singer Ernestine ANDERSON, pianist James WILLIAMS and trumpeter Art FARMER.
• With pianist Michel HERR and bassist Hein VAN DE GEYN, he accompanies several soloists : Slide HAMPTON, Wolfgang ENGSTFELD, John RUOCCO. With HERR, VAN DE GEYN and trumpet player Bert JORIS, he tours and records with American saxophonist Joe LOVANO.
• In 1988, he stays eight months in New York, playing with Judy NIEMACK, John CAMPBELL, Fred HERSCH, and David KIKOSKI.
• Back in Belgium, he joins guitarist Philip CATHERINE's Trio, with Hein VAN DE GEYN, and tours throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. He also tours and records with French guitarist Serge LAZAREVITCH.
  In 1991, he receives the Prize of "Youth and Music Flanders".
• He teaches at the Jazzstudio in Antwerp, at the Lemmens Instituut in Leuven, gives workshops everywhere, at the Rotterdam Conservatory, the Swiss Jazz School in Bern, etc.
• He was a member of the Bob BROOKMEYER Quartet (1 awarded CD), Toon ROOS Quartet, Kurt VAN HERCK Quartet, Kris DEFOORT Trio, Erwin VANN Trio & Quartet, WORLDS, MOTHER, the BRUSSELS JAZZ ORCHESTRA, Michel HERR Trio, European Quintet, MÄÄK's SPIRIT, the Frank VAGANÉE Trio etc...
• One of Belgium's most active drummers, he appeared with many soloists, such as Toots THIELEMANS, Junior COOK, Teddy EDWARDS, Mal WALDRON, Norma WINSTONE, Red HOLLOWAY, Archie SHEPP, John SCOFIELD...
• Dré PALLEMAERTS also owned a recording studio, for which he was one of the engineers.
• In 1998, he participated in the recording of the Bert JORIS soundtrack for the movie "Bal Masqué" (Julien VREEBOS), available on CD.
• He recently started a bass 'n' drum trio, MOTHER, with saxophonist Erwin VANN and bassist Otti VAN DER WERF, now a quartet with Anne VAN DER PLASSCHE on vocals.

SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:

• "Swing Sing Songs" Bill Carrothers (Birdology, March 2001 release)
• Three-oh in One" Jack Van Poll
• "Oscar" Philip Catherine (Igloo)
• "London Baby" Serge Lazarevitch (Igloo)
• "Heart of the Matter" Hogendijk-Van den Dungen (Timeless)
• "Till next Time" Ben Sluijs (September)
• " Moon to your Sun" David Linx (Crepuscule)
• "If One More Day" Diederik Wissels-David Linx (Crepuscule)
• "Walk with a Lion" Serge Lazarevitch (Igloo)
• "The Human Feel" Toon Roos (September)
• "Lust for Jazz" Charles Loos (Lyrae)
• "Film soundtrack of Bal Masqué" Bert Joris (Polygram)
• "Passages" Kris Defoort (Werf)
• "Worlds" Erwin Vann's Worlds (JAS)
• "Sweet Seventina" Bert Joris (Jazzcats)
• "Touch of Colour" Tars Lootens (T-T Prod.)
• "Solid Steps" Joe Lovano (Jazz Club)
• "Some Sounds" Erwin Vann (Jazz Club)
• "Song for Mbizo" Chris Joris (Parsifal)
• "Make Someone Happy" Mary Kay-Toots Thielemans (Gam)
• "No wall, No war" Charles Loos (B-Sharp)
• "Claire Foster sings Wayne Shorter" (Boudisque)
• "Another day, another dollar" Kurt Van Herck (Igloo)
• "Live" Brussels Jazz Orchestra (BRTN R3)
• "Notes of Life" Michel Herr (Igloo)
• "Two Trios" Frank Vaganée Trio feat. John Ruocco (Werf)
• "Second Step" Andy Sherrer (TCB 20352)