in 1955 he built himself a home-made drum kit and initiated a dixieland band (even played as supporting act of louis armstrong). via swing-and hardbop-groups, he became in the seventies part of the amsterdam free jazz scene, played years in trio oaao (later on oba0) with a lot of national and international guests, among others with elton dean, ab baars and luc houtkamp.
in recent years he performs, besides with occasional groups, with the quartet haffah.