Adrie Braat

Adrie studied classical music at the Amsterdam Conservatory, after which he took lessons from John Clayton of the Count Basie Orchestra. When he was 24 he joined Boy Edgar’s Orchestra, played in Jeff Reynolds’ Big Band and from 1981 – 1988 with the Dixieland Pipers led by Bert de Kort. He also played with the sextet of clarinettist Jan Morks. Adrie made CD’s with amongst others Menno Daams, Spiegle Willcox, the Dixieland Pipers, Jan Morks’ Jazzmates and (as conductor) Zeppos’ Big Band. Today, Adrie is conducting with great succes the Biggles Big Band. His first contact with the Dutch Swing College Band was in 1986 when Adrie replaced Henk Bosch van Drakestein on their tour through Australia and Britain and by October 1988 he became a member of the band. His favourite bassists are Ray Brown and Oscar Pettiford. Adrie is famous for his superb Asian cooking and collects old 45 rpm jazz records, specially those made by the Dutch Swing College band.