Born on may 6th, 1968 in The Hague, Holland, young Taco Gorter got his first pair of drumsticks at the age of 6 from “Flairck” drummer Robert “Bokkie” Vink. Being raised in a music loving family and living in a city loaded with musicians, Taco grew up in the perfect musical environmentAlthough his only means of expressing his rhythmical talent were the buckets, pots and pans from his moms kitchen, everybody could hear that a great drummer was to emerge.Still it took up to his 13th , till grandmother Gorter realised that a kid like Taco wouldn’t survive without a drumkit, and she got him one.From that time, things began to speed up. Taco was glued to his kit, absorbing all kinds of drumstyles, listening to Billy Cobham, Wheater Report, Alphons Mouzon and the Police, to name just a few.Along with the inspiration of the worlds greatest drummers, Taco took lessons, played in school musicals, amateur big bands, and went to the “Havo voor ballet & muziek” where children had a thorough musical education, together with the conventional school teachings. You can imagine that the choice between schoolbooks and drumsticks wasn’t too hard for Taco
Aside from school, Taco took lessons from “Focus” drummer Hans Cleuver in his new drummers school. But within three years, Taco was teaching himself.It was time for the real thing, so Taco applied for the Conservatory of Rotterdam, and was of course more than welcome. But taco was already playing so much in the various clubs all over Holland, that a good night sleep was scarce. He decided to end his study and focus on his career as a professional drummer/percussionist/composer.Taco developed a great sense of various authentic styles by playing with everybody who wanted to hire him. So, it didn’t take too much time until he appeared daily on TV, played for the Dutch royal family, toured with the great names throughout Europe and recorded several CD’s.For years at a stretch Taco played with various formations at various festivals,not to mention the North Sea Jazz Festival jam sessions afterwards with Roy Hargrove or McCoy Tyner.
Now, Taco Gorter is known in – and outside – Holland as one of the most creative, groovy, versatile, friendly, funny, but most of all loving-to-play-great-music drummers of his generation. He masters Funk as well as Jazz, he will rock you, but he will reggae your dreads as well if needed. He is a Batucada specialist, plays Latin, Salsa, Samba with the big ones.
Aside of playing live, Taco teaches drums and percussion to upcoming talents as well as professionals who need an inspiration boost, he produces his own sample CD’s and owns a great studio in the center of The Hague to do so.
