Dré Pallemaerts

After starting to perform dance music with his brother at the tender age of 10, Belgian jazz drummer extraordinaire Dré Pallemaerts had an early start in jazz, and already went to Los Angeles at 17 to study with Master drummer Jeff Hamilton.

Back home the next year, Pallemaerts was soon integrated the local scene, playing with heavies such as Steve Houben, Jacques Pelzer, Charles Loos, as well as visiting American soloists with Jack Van Poll’s Trio, such as Arnett Cobb, Spike Robinson, Deborah Brown and Dee Dee Bridgewater. He toured in quartet with Michel Herr, Hein van de Geyn, and Bert Joris, and recorded in quintet with Joe Lovano.

In ’88, he stayed for 8 months in New York, playing a.o. with Judy Niemack, David Kikoski, etc.

Back in Belgium, he joined guitarist Philip Catherine’s Trio for three years. In ’91, he was awarded the Prize of “Youth and Music Flanders”.

He was a member of the Bob Brookmeyer Quartet, Toon Roos Quartet, Jeanfrançois Prins Trio, Kris Defoort Trio, Erwin Vann Trio & Quartet, the BRUSSELS JAZZ ORCHESTRA, Michel Herr Trio & European Quintet, MÄÄK’s SPIRIT, Frank Vaganée Trio,etc…

One of Belgium’s most active drummers, he appeared with many soloists, such as Mal Waldron, Archie Shepp, John Scofield, Tom Harrell, Chris Potter, …

In 2007, he was awarded the Klara Prize (jazz) for his first album as a leader “Pan harmonie”, and the Belgian Django d’or in 2008.

In 2010, Dré Pallemaerts created the record label and mix/mastering studio company 52creations which released his second CD as a leader “Coutances” , and his third “Winter”. He is currently working on a personal electronic music project under the name DP.

Dré Pallemaerts teaches at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique of Paris (F) and at the “Lemmens – LUCA” in Leuven (B).

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