Drummer and percussionist Jean-Luc van Lommel got the drum virus (depending from viewpoint it might as well be qualified as a "gift", or … a "blessing"!) in his early teens.
After several years of playing by ear, he followed a classical schooling in Leuven and Mechelen and he soon switched to the drum set, practicing all styles of "light music", which, as opposed to classical percussion, adds controlled feet work to the musical game.
Daily practicing - even on pads, or telephone books - is still part of his discipline and life enjoyment.
Revealing the depth of his passion is the fact that his thesis to obtain a university degree in clinical psychology (UCL 1970) was dedicated to "a Phenomenology of Jazz", which draws a direct link between the succession of jazz styles and the psychological-social-political evolution of the afro-americans since the early 1900 till 1969, and tries also an approach of psychological characters according to choosen instrument.
Musically Van Lommel is touching as many colours of the practical percussion pallet as possible: from "harmonies" and brass bands to rhythmic support to poetry, theatre, Vlaamse Kleinkunst (playing live with major references like Johan Verminnen and Zjef Van Uytzel, Raymond van het Groenewoud, and recording with many other VK artists in The Flanders), some Walloon "chanson engagée" experiences (André Bialec), international dancing & folklore bands, Zydeco-Cajun (Cuisine Cajun, Express Cajun), Yiddish Klezmer (KJB), Rhythm & Blues (Roland and the Blues Workshop), playing different jazz styles following the leading artist (live tours around the Benelux with Bill Coleman, the Blues Dusters, Gene "Mighty Flea" Conners, Champion Jack Dupree, Joe Newman, Hal Singer, Toots Thielemans, Didier Lockwood, The Feetwarmers), drummer of the internationally renowned Jazz Circle (CD "Sun Games") and also, occasionally, big band jazz (Big Band Sound of Wetteren, Brussels Big Band, BRT Radio Big Band).
Jean-Luc van Lommel loves to play at an acoustical volume, loves to play the brushes and other variations of sticks, which makes him a preferred "side man" for piano players (William Albimoor, Philippe Decae, …) and vocalists (BéBé Suong, Jacqueline Renard, Martine Cohen, Yvan Marccson). Completely stoned by Scottish pipes and snare drum bands, and … the human contacts reached during musical performances, beyond words.
