Bengt Stark

Swedish jazz drummer, percussionist, composer and arranger, born January 29, 1962 in Jakobsberg. Bengt Stark studied classical percussion at Ingesund Academy of Music between 1981 and 1985, and since 1990 he has been teaching jazz drumming at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, where he is senior lecturer in drumming. He has played with most Swedish jazz musicians such as Bernt Rosengren, Putte Wickman, Monica Zetterlund, Alice Babs, Rolf Ericson, Nils Lindberg, Jan Allan and Arne Domnérus. Foreign artists he has performed with include Thad Jones, Barney Kessel, Tim Hagans, Clark Terry, Benny Bailey, Bobby Shew, Kenny Drew, Horace Parlan, Doug Raney, Red Mitchell, Kenny Wheeler, Flip Philips, Dick Oatts, Billy Hart , Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Roland Hanna, Bob Brookmeyer, Jim McNeely, Rufus Reid and more. In 2006, Bengt Stark wrote and arranged a suite for the Norrbotten Big Band, with tenor saxophonist Bernt Rosengren as soloist. In 2009 he received the Association Jazz in Alingsås drummer award.