Claudine François "Post Bop" Quartet

Photo : Franck Vorgers

John Betsch was born on October 8, 1945 in Jacksonville, Florida. His mother was a church organist and pianist; his older sister a dramatic soprano singer. John began playing drums in the school orchestra at the age of nine.
At age 18, while still a student at Fisk University (Nashville, Tenn.), he began playing professionally with pianists Bob Holmes, Ernest Vantrease, and trumpeter Louis Smith.

John studied at the Berklee School of Music in Boston and the University of Massachusetts Amherst under Max Roach and Archie Shepp. He has taught at UMASS and in the state prison education programs.
In 1975 he moved to New York City where he played with Roland Alexander, Dewey Redman, the Paul Jeffrey octet; vocalists Jeanne Lee, Abbey Lincoln, and the Ted Daniel big band.He toured extensively in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Africa, notably with Max Roach (Newport 1974), Dewey Redman (1979), Kalaparusha (Berliner Jazztage 1976), Adullah Ibrahim (1979), the Klaus Konig Orchestra and Steve Lacy. Since moving to Europe in 1985, where he is now based, John has participated in recordings and tours with saxophonists Mike Ellis, Hal Singer and Jim Pepper; vocalists Ozay and Annette Lowman; pianists Mal Waldron, Alain Jean-Marie, Claudine François and Kirk Lightsey. He has toured Japan with Steve Lacy, Mal Waldron, Eric Watson and Michel Sardaby. John Betsch is currently working with Steve Lacy, Achille Gajo, Karen Edwards and Alain Jean-Marie.

Discography:

The Fire Within with Billy Bang, Earth Blossom for John Betsch Society, “The Journey” & “Africa Tears and Laughter” with Dollar Brand, “Nightwork” & “Red, White, Black and Blue” with Marty Cook, “Live in Berlin” with Marilyn Crispell, “What Else is New?” with Mike Ellis, « Camargue », « Healing Force » & « Lonely Woman » with Claudine François, « Lazy Afternoon » with Alain-Jean Marie, « Kwanza » with Kalaparusha, « Times of Devastation” with Klaus Konig, ”Anthem”, “Monk’s Dream”, “The Rent”, “Bye-Ya” , “Clangs”, “Revenue” with Steve Lacy, “Inside Lookin Out” with Simon Nabatov, “The Path”, “Dakota Song”, “Remembrance” with Jim Pepper, “I Was Just…” with Elvira Plenar, “Conversations » with Dan Rose, « I Know About the Life”, “My Man” with Archie Shepp, “When Was That” , “Just the Facts and Pass the Bucket” & “Subject to Change” with Henry Threadgill, “No More Tears”, “Spring in Prague”, “Mal, Dance & Soul” & “Live at Utopia Vol. I & II” with Mal Waldron