Tim Kliphuis (1974), began at the age of 7 playing the violin. In his student years, when he joined the student band Ricciotti ensemble, he played for the first time music of Stephane Grappelli, who made a profound impression on him. This inspiration he used in his next band, a band Hot Club style of Django Reinhardt and Grappelli. Tim was admitted to the Amsterdam Conservatory to study classical violin, where he learned everything about the technique of violin playing.

In late 1995 Tim attended one of Stephane Grappelli's last concert in Munich, where he got encouraging words of the master, after Tim played for him backstage. In 1998, after a while of working with the Dutch group Hot Club 'Poly Tour, Tim received the request from gypsy guitarist Fapy Lafertin to play together. Their first joint album, "Star Eyes" came out in 2000, which led to a revival of Fapy's career and the start of Tim. They toured together in Europe and the United Kingdom. In 2001 the CD "Fleur d'Ennui" was published, a combination of Gypsy Jazz, Fado and Choro music. They played this  music in many Dutch concert halls. In the same year the Amsterdam Conservatory offered Tim jazz classes at the top saxophonist Ferdinand Povel, well known from the Dutch bepop scene. In 2002 Tim graduated with a half classical, half jazz concert, for a commission containing Povel and Frans Poptie, jazz violin legend from the 50 - and 60-years.

In 2003, the latest CD from Fapy and Tim saw the light, "Fine and Dandy." All their CDs have received critical acclaim, both nationally and internationally. This led to Tim's reputation as one of the world's topviolisten in the Grappelli style. A tour of the UK introduced him to the Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club and the Edinburgh and Brecon Jazz Festivals. Tim was working together with other gypsy jazz musicians including Boulou Ferré, Samson Schmitt and Stochelo Rosenberg.

In 2005 Tim released his first solo CD "The Grappelli Tribute" with the assistance of Grappelli's bassist in the old times, Len Skeat. In 2006 Tim played with Martin Taylor, Grappelli's former guitarist. During a tour in the USA Tim gave Django-workshops throughout the country and met the late Les Paul in New York. Because Tim was asked so many violinists of how they could play the gypsy jazz style, he began to write on a book on the subject.

In January 2007, Tim has decided to make a CD with Skeat, because of the great success of their crossover style of classical and jazz. The title: "Swingin through the Classics", with works by Mozart, Faure, Tchaikovsky, Brahms and others, who they saw for a jazzy touch. Also that year, Tim made a CD together with Nigel Clark (guitar) and Roy Percy (bass), as the Scottish Trio, entitled 'Live in Glasgow ". This CD includes swing versions of traditional Scottish music. When this trio got an invitation from the Irish Derry Fiddle Fest, they played with the top Irish fiddler Frankie Gavin.

December 2007, Tim got a request from Stochelo Rosenberg to play with the Rosenberg Trio on their new CD "Tribute to Stephane Grappelli". As they worked out the arrangements and the recordings, they became good friends. In 2008, Tim had a lot of success with the Rosenberg Trio and played the repertoire of their new CD on the great French "Samois-sur-Seine & Jazz" and Touraine festivals, and a sold-out hall of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In November, Tim's Mel Bay course book was published, entitled "Stéphane Grappelli Gypsy Jazz Violin". There was a huge response among students and rave reviews in the press. It is, until this moment, the only course book on Grappelli's music that coaches students from beginners to advanced level. Tim was asked by the Conservatory of Amsterdam and Tilburg to give improvisation workshops to the string department.

In 2009 Richard Galliano invited Tim to Beirut, Lebanon, to come to play with him. Galliano's repertoire, a mix of tango, musette, classic and jazz was very inspiring for Tim and made him search for new musical paths outside his existing mix of jazz, folk and classical music. This was soon reflected in a duo with pianist David Newton, with whom he played in a unique new style of folk, latin, gypsy, tango, jazz and classical elements, completely acoustic. Also with the Scottish top violinist Charlie McKerron he played a mixed style, this time a mixture of jazz and classical chamber music.

In addition to all his performances Tim also finds time to help students further along in the world of improvised play. He still has the jazz violin chair at the Tilburg Conservatory and he organizes one weekend a year a masterclass Gypsy Jazz.

http://www.timkliphuis.nl

photo: Marco Borggreve

Patrick Lauwerends (1956), passionated (contra) bass player, was born in Paramaribo, Suriname, and lives since 1970 in Rotterdam. In the 80's he started his musical career. He played with Paul Centerline, Erwin "Mr. B Soul" Bouterse, the then very popular Dutch big band "Dutch Rhythm Steel & Show Band", which he toured nine months in Germany, France and Switzerland. In the USA he toured 7 weeks with the famous African band "Tulipa Negra". On Curaçao, he toured 6 weeks with the Dutch "Kramer Guno Jazz-Rock Fusion Band." In Indonesia, he toured for 3 months with the funk group "Enjoy", led by Andro Biswane.

Because of his vast experience, he was often asked by bands for tours abroad. This way, Patrick built contacts with many musicians. After his many travels, he decided it was time for a break and began studying at the Conservatory of Rotterdam. During the training he befriended the great bass player James Long, who soon felt like his "musical father". James taught him to play the double bass and introduced him into the world of jazz. He played in this time including Roy Campbell, Art Foxall, Mark Lewis, Zane Masseys, when they were on tour in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, Patrick also played in musicals like "A Night At The Cotton Club" and "Let's Talk About Sex". He was also involved in several television productions such as "Fellow Citizens" (like Sesame Street), "Cuba As A Holiday Destination", "The Domburg Family" and a 4-part documentary entitled "The Life Of An Artist".

Since 1989 Patrick also did a lot of composing, arranging, teaching and he lead workshops. For three years he worked with Ronald Snijders, resulting in a live CD titled "Sarramacca". Patrick also organized musical events and jazz sessions in Odeon, Theater "t Kapelletje" and The New Bird cafe, all in Rotterdam. Here very famous names performed, like Larry Rice Wild Swinging Chicago Blues Brothers, Thys Van Leer, Rosa King, Archie Shepp, Sue Challenger, Wendell Morrison, Deborah Carter, Anna Montan, Adrienne West, Oscar Harris, Rob Agerbeek and many others.

Since 2001, Patrick played in Suriname with the gospel band "The Carmenians", the famous Caribbean pop band "Trafassi", "Anna Montan Group", "Triba in Asia" (tour in Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta Java Jazz Festival, Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Denpasar in 2008) and his own bands:
- "Adyakasa", a 9-man strong bond with his own compositions in a crossover style of jazz and Kaseko
- "The Patrick Lauwerends Jazz 5tet, a jazz band with funky influences
- "B 2 B Accompany" formerly "The Patrick Lauwerends Dance & Show Orchestra", a backing band for national and international artists
- "The Adyakasa Project", a musical project that Patrick is returning to his roots and traditional African-Surinamese music Surinamese (kaseko) mixed with jazz and funk. In 2008, Patrick reached the semifinals of the Dutch Jazz Competition with Adyakasa.

Ook schreef hij nog de muziek voor anderen zoals in 2010 voor de documentaire “Oorlogs Liefdekind” in opdracht van de VPRO en in 2011 de muziek voor de CD 'Cinta' van Anna Montan.

From 2008 to present, Patrick is a teacher at music school Rootz in Delft and Pijnacker, the Netherlands. As a music teacher Patrick enthusiastically promotes the development of the creative spirit of his pupils, because he believes that music contributes to the overall welfare of people. A known saying of Patrick: "Music is the food for our body & soul!"

Ines Leijen (1966) studied at the Utrecht Conservatory Music School, Diploma (1st degree) in 1989. As minors she chose piano and saxophone, with choral conducting and music theory as important components in her study.
Initially she gave saxophone lessons and workshops in singing, ensemble, jazz, musical theater, improvisation and instant composing. She specialized in world music, Brazilian music initially, later Cuban (salsa) and later music from the Balkans.

To create an opportunity for her saxophone students to play together, she founded the saxophone orchestra "Tutti Saxi". This orchestra was later extended by a percussion group and can still regularly be found in the streets of Utrecht. Many creations followed, and leading choirs became more and more important. Vocal Choirs "Sophie's Voice", "Where the asphalt ends", "Furore" and "t Zamiko", orchestra "Parnassos house band", bands "Conjunto para ti" (Salsa), "Bonanska", "Bikavar" and "Tylynka" (Gypsy), saxophone quartet "Squif" are all initiated by Ines Leijen.

For the salsa band "Conjunto para ti" she wrote many arrangements and became proficient, resulting in music for theater (played by the "Parnassos House Orchestra"), "The Little Mermaid," "In the spotlight," "The Addams Family" and many other pieces. With "District C on the stage", she performed "de Jantjes" with the celebrated farmer chapel "de Dombloazers". For "Port betaald" she wrote music for "Icarus","Cranky Box" and "20, 000 Leagues Under the Sea".
Now she is musical director and arranger / composer of musical theater group "Port betaald". For her choirs, she wrote numerous choral arrangements and a few compositions.

Besides working with choirs and ensembles Ines also leads workshops including "Buitenkunst", "Huismuziek" en "Stichting Jazz Utrecht".

http://www.inesleijen.nl

photo: Gert Jan Kamphorst

Michiel Ockeloen (1977), got his training in Accordion (classical music) at the conservatories of Arnhem and Enschede, and followed masterclasses with Claudio Jacomucci, Sanne Möricke, Alan Bern, Petar Ralchev, Pete Sokolov, Friedrich Lips and Juri Schischkin. He is a sought-instrumentalist and also gives workshops on topics ensemble interplay, improvisation, music theory, klezmer music, French musette and world music. Among others for the "Stichting Volksmuziek Nederland" and Pigini accordions.

Michael conducts and arranges for world music group "Ravelijn" in Utrecht. He gives private lessons accordion and band coaching in Arnhem and taught at several music schools. He arranged the book "All time Klezmers" for publisher De Haske.

Michael has performed in numerous theatrical, musical and dance performances.

He played in the following bands:
2007-2010 Shtetl Band Amsterdam (Klezmer, www.joodsemuziek.nl)
2008-2010 Kasha Nasha (Balkan-Jazz, www.www.kashanasha.com)
2003-2007 Bandera Latina (Rumba-Flamenca)
Michael also plays Klezmer with Michel Marang and Gottfrid van Eck and he also played with the Rotterdam Klezmer Band and Vanessa Vromans. In addition, he gave many concerts, both as a solo accordionist and with various choirs, ensembles and projects.

http://www.myspace.com/michielockeloen

Dolf Pleiter (1957), multi-saxophonist, has been professionally involved in music since 1983. From that time he was a bandleader and played in various jazz-salsa bands. Dolf was often asked as an instrumentalist for performances with orchestras (Urban Dance Squad) and on television. Also, he toured several times through Europe with various bands.

In France he organized from 1993 to 2008 the international festival "Jazz du Bout du Monde" in Sisteron (les Alpes d'Haute Provence) among others with Guillaume Orti and Jorrit Dijkstra. From 1997 to 2008 he was artistic director of the world music festival "Meigenoegen" in Amsterdam. Simultaneously Dolf was a bandleader / arranger for several big bands such as "Timbuktu Big Band", "Los Lamalos Leerorkest" , "Toeters en Bellen" "Harlem Street Orchestra", "BBBZ-Haarlem" and the "Lodewijk Schommel Dance Orchestra".

Since the beginning of his career until now, alongside his many musical projects, he works as a saxophone teacher in the "Muziekpakhuis" in Amsterdam.

From 2009, Dolf lives in Marseille, France, a city brimming with music from all corners of the world. This place fits Dolf's versatility as a musician perfectly.

Dolf's musical development was initially concentrated on jazz-oriented music to the broad spectrum of world music. He is at home in South American styles such as Cuban (salsa, danzon, cha cha, son, mambo), Brazil (choro, samba and bossa nova), Columbian (cumbia), Surinamese (kaseko), Argentine tango, etc.

In France, his repertoire broadened even further, from French musette to French gypsy jazz, called in France "manouche" or "Hot Club de France". This was an inspiring addition to his extensive experience with "normal" jazz. The basis of the manouche is the rhythm pumping guitars, usually completed with a violin or guitar solo. When Dolf fills the solos with his saxophone, the music gets a whole new touch, which is particularly inspiring for the other manouche musicians. Dolf is therefore a much sought-instrumentalist since his introduction in this music and plays regularly with manouche musicians such as Cyrille Levy, Alexandre Morier, Jeremie Schacre, Nicolas Koedinger, Guillaume Mongens, Pee Wee Steverlinck, Jean-Chrisophe Gairard, etc. He also plays in the "Ouch Men Orchestra", a collective of 13 manouche musicians, for whom he writes most arrangements.

In addition to the Ouch Men Orchestra Dolf is currently active as a saxophonist and arranger in the following other bands: Musica Dolphao, Hysteresis, and Macho Mambo Sir Duke. Also he still works as an arranger / composer for others, including the Middle Sea Jazz Orchestra.

http://www.dolfpleiter.eu
http://benjaminguyot.free.fr/dolf/

Paulus Schäfer (1978), from the Dutch Sinti community, began at a very young age playing guitar. Apart from listening to records of Sinti groups and artists - especially his idol Django Reinhardt - it were mainly Wasso Grünholz and his cousin Stochelo Rosenberg, of the famous Rosenberg Trio, from whom he learned the intricacies.

Shortly after Paulus took the place of Jimmy Rosenberg in the group Gipsy Kids, he founded his own group which he recorded the album "Into the Light" recorded in 2002. This album had many imitate, which gave him a place in the book "An Illustrated History of Gypsy Jazz by Michael Dregni as one of the most promising new artists and yielded many performances on both foreign and domestic prestigious venues such as Sziget Festival Budapest (H), Khamoro Prague (CZ), International Gipsy Guitar Fesival Gossington (UK), Django Reinhardt Festival Samois-sur-Seine (FR), Gipsy Festival Anger (FR), International Gipsy Festival (NL), Amersfoort Jazz (GB), Haarlem Jazz (GB), Folkwoods Festival (NL), to name a few.

Paulus is a popular musician and has played with The Rosenberg Trio, Tim Kliphuis, Prisor Jazz Band, Andreas Öberg, Jimmy Rosenberg, and can be found on several albums. He and his group recorded in 2006 'Desert Fire', and after this, in 2011, they went back to the studio to record a new CD with a band of his own, consisting of his cousins ​​Nous'sche Rosenberg on rhythm guitar and Stochelo Rosenberg as a guest on solo guitar. The CD has been published by Moncq Records.

Paulus has a unique and recognizable sound. Although Paulus is always very faithful to the characteristic Gypsy Jazz / Swing sound, he is always looking for innovation. Not only to his own horizons, but also a more representative sound for the 21st century Gypsy Jazz.

http://www.paulusschafer.nl