Jos started playing trumpet at age 10. He was admitted to the Hilversum Conservatory in 1980 and took lessons with Ack van Rooyen, Ferdinand Povel, Frans Elsen and Jerry van Rooyen. After two years, he switched to the double bass under Prof. Victor Kaihatu, who taught him his special thumb technique. Before long he was asked to work with musicians such as Frans Elsen, Wim Overgauw, Rob Madna, Hein van der Gaag, John Engels and Cees Slinger.
In 1985, Jos moved to Madrid to teach at the Taller de Musicos, where he also worked with Dave Schnitter, Perico Sambeat, Jorge Pardo, Pedro Itturalde and others.
He went back to the Netherlands in 1987 and became a member of the Rick Hollander quartet, with which he toured all over Europe and made the cd ‘Private Ears’. During that time he also frequently collaborated with guitarist/vocalist Cris Monen as well as the Lost and Wondering Jazzband, of which Madeleine Peyroux was a band member at the time.
From 1990, he was part of the Maarten van der Grinten/Benjamin Herman quartet. He recorded 4 cd’s and several more with the Benjamin Herman trio and quartet.
In 1992, he moved to Kansas City to work with pianist Bram Wijnands, who had a permanent contract at a local Jazz bar. After two years, he moved back to the Netherlands and took up his life as a freelance musician. He was part of a theatre tour with singer Astrid Seriese as well as some tours with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. He was also a member of the Toon Roos quartet, and was a regular sub in the Metropole Orchestra and Concertgebouw’s Jazz Orchestra, playing projects with Dave Liebman, Jens Winther, Bob Brookmeyer, Rob van Kreeveld etc.
In 1999 he was asked by the Brussels Jazz Orchestra to take the bass chair. Since then, he has been a regular member of the orchestra, performing in concerts with for instance Maria Schneider, Kenny Werner, Dave Liebman, Mcoy Tyner, Kenny Wheeler, Phil Woods, Lee Konitz, Tom Harrel, Toots Thielemans, Bert Joris, Philippe Catherine, Wallace Rooney, Richard Galliano, Joe Lovano, The Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra and Brussels Philharmonic. He recorded roughly 10 cd’s with the band.
He is also a member of the Andrea Pozza European quintet, the Ben van Gelder trio, the Mike del Ferro/Frank Vaganee Group, the Bart Defoort quartet, Floriaan Wempe quartet, The Rebirth Collective, piano trio De Looze/Machtel/De Waele, A.C.T. Collective Wim Leysen, Ariadne & La Belle Équipe and 'A Tribute to Cole Porter' with Wilfried Van den Brande.
Website: www.josmachtel.com
Opleidingsonderdelen: hoofdvak contrabas