Van Merwijks Music Machine

Jazzprofiles.com: ‘Lucas van Merwijk is one of the great drummers of our time. He lays down so much good stuff that even the eyes of a trained drummer can't catch it all...’

Drummer, percussionist and bandleader. Lucas has been at the forefront of the European jazz, latin and percussion scene for 30 years.
Drummer, percussionist and bandleader. Lucas has been at the forefront of the European jazz, latin and percussion scene for 30 years. He was elected 'Best Jazz drummer' in the Benelux countries by the readers of De Slagwerkkrant many times between the years running years 1993 and 2015.

Lucas van Merwijk

Professor drums at the Jazz Department of the Conservatory of Amsterdam, (CVA, The Netherlands), Professor Drums and Latin Percussion at the World Music Department of Codarts (The Netherlands) Teacher and clinician at 9Beats (Tianjin, Beijing China)

Founder/leader/conductor/arranger/musical director of international percussion group Drums United. Founder/leader/conductor/musical director of the Cubop City Big Band (CCBB, The Netherlands), Co-director of Tam Tam Productions (TTP Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Expert in latin drums; drummer/percussionist, composer/arranger.

Lucas plays Zildjian cymbals | Pearl Drums | Remo Drumheads

Drummer Lucas van Merwijk has been at the forefront of the European Jazz, Latin and percussion scene for over 25 years.

He was elected 'Best Jazz Drummer' and 'Best Fusion Drummer' in the Benelux countries by the readers of dutch drum magazine De Slagwerkkrant many years running between 1993 and 2015.

After an intensive study of Afro-Cuban drums with drummer Oscarito Valdes (Irakere) in Cuba in the early eighties, Lucas van Merwijk has been active with a variety of projects.

At the moment Lucas is the initiator and leader of four ensembles: the world-percussion group Drums United, Van Merwijks Music Machine (with a changing line-up every year), Drumix! with master percussionist Aly N'Diaye Rose, and the 20 piece salsa and Latin Jazz ensemble The Cubop City Big Band.

Besides this Lucas is in demand as a drummer with various groups and artists throughout Europe, in particular with the internationally acclaimed group Nueva Manteca.

All of these experiences have made him develop his own special style, a mix of Cuban, Brazilian and North American rhythms, characterized by powerful percussion and splendid technical skills.

Van Merwijk has been staff teacher for drums and percussion at both the World Music department of the Rotterdam Codarts conservatory as well as the Jazz department of the Amsterdam Conservatory since 1986.

In 2010 Lucas wins the Global Act Award 2010, for remaining continuously successful as a leading international Artist in world music, over a long period of time. In 2013 he publishes his drum book World Beat, world rhythms for drum set.

1961 Born in De Bilt, The Netherlands

1970 starts playing drums

1980 till 1982 studies at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam

1980 starts working in the Salsa and Jazz scene in the Netherlands

1982 till 1986 Boulevard of Broken Dreams Orchestra

1984 till 1987 Henri Guedon, Paris

1985 till 1992 Maarten van Nordens Future Shock

1886 Studies in Habana, Cuba with Oscarito Valdez

1986 1989 teaching Latin Percussion at the Hilversums Conservatory

1986 Tour with Chris Hinze Combination



1987 till present Drums with Nueva Manteca

1887 till present Drums at the drumfaculty at CODARTS Insititute

1987 till present Drums & Percussion at the Amsterdams Conservatory



1988 Azie tour with Future Shock

1989 playing with Nicky Marrero, Nueva Manteca

1989 till 1991 TV show Jansen & CO



1990 starts trio Sticks & Strings with Leonardo Amuedo

1991 till 1994 Denise Jannah 4tet

1991 Hans Dulfer Band

1992 Cd URU Sticks and Strings



1992 Studies in Habana Cuba with Oscar Valdez by readers Slagwerkkrant Drummagazine



1994 Chosen best Jazz Drummer of 93/94 by readers Slagwerkkrant Drummagazine

1994 Chosen best Fusion Drummer of 93/94 by readers Slagwerkkrant Drummagazine

1994 Nueva Manteca Leeds International Music Festival

1994 Tour with Sticks and Strings

1994 Clinictour Germany with Martin Verdonk



1995 Nueva Manteca tour with Bobby Sanabria

1995 starts CUBOP CITY BIG BAND

1995 Tour USA Nueva Manteca

1995 Nueva Manteca tour with Claudio Roditi

1995 Chosen best Jazz Drummer of 94/95 by readers Slagwerkkrant Drummagazine

1995 Chosen best Fusion Drummer of 94/95 by readers Slagwerkkrant Drummagazine

1995“Award for outstanding service to jazz education” in Los Angeles

1995 Nueva Manteca tour Danmark

1995 Nueva Manteca tour Germany

1995 CD recording the Machito Project CUBOP CITY BIG BAND



1996 Chosen best Fusion Drummer of 95/96 by readers Slagwerkkrant Drummagazine

1996 USA tour Nueva Manteca

1996 Nueva Manteca on Trinidad & Tobago

1996 Cubop City Big Band tour with Chocolate Armenteros

1996 North Sea Jazz Festival Cubop City

1996 Nueva Manteca Jazzfestival Kouvola Finland

1996 Cubop City Big Band tour with Chocolate Armenteros



1997 Cubop City Big Band recording Moré and More

1997 Concerts Cubop City Big Band with Edy Martinez

1997 Nueva Manteca tour Danmark & Finland

1997 starts record label Tam Tam Records

1997 recording Sticks & Strings CD JAMFEVER

1997 Chosen best Jazz Drummer of 96/97 by readers Slagwerkkrant Drummagazine



1998 Tour Dutch Antilles with the Cubop City Big Band

1998 Nueva Manteca tour with Luis Conte

1998 Clinic Journees de la Percusion Paris

1998 Nueva Manteca at Salsa Festival Turku Finland



1999 Live in the Hague Cubop City Big Band on Tam Tam Records

1999 Tour Female Factory Moskou and Madrid

1999 Tour Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Curaçao & Aruba with the Cubop City Big Band

1999 North Sea Jazz Festival

1999 Chosen best Fusion Drummer of 98/99 by readers Slagwerkkrant Drummagazine

1999 Concerts Cubop City Big Band with percussionist Armando Peraza

1999 Concerts in Colombia with pianist Edy Martinez



2000 Concerts with spanish percussiongroup Nits de la Mediterania

2000 Nueva Manteca tour Israel

2000 Bomba Moderna festival Torres y Salsa France

2000 starts duo DRUMIX! with senegalese percussionist Aly N'Diaye Rose.

2000 Chosen Jazz Drummer of 99/00 by readers Slagwerkkrant Drummagazine

2000 starts percussiongroup DRUMS UNITED

2000 starts Tam Tam Productions foundation

2000 CD Drumix! on TAM TAM Records

2000 Theater tour She Got Game



2001 STICKS & STRINGS becomes 'Trio Amuedo, van Merwijk, Vierdag'

2001 Teaching at Manhattan School Of Music Summercamp

2001 Theater tour She Got Game

2001 Live cd Trio Amuedo, van Merwijk Vierdag, 'Live in Amsterdam on Tam Tam Records

2001 Cubop City Big Band concerts with trésplayer Nelson Gonzales

2001 Cubop City Big Band Torres y Salsa France

2001 Euro Radio Big Band Jazz Meeting for EBU

2001 Concert for Nelson Mandela, Carré, Amsterdam

2001 Concerts with Percussion group Amsterdam



2002 Theater tour Drums United program HIT

2002 Teaching at Manhattan School Of Music Summercamp

2002 Nueva Manteca tour with Ralph Irrizarry

2002 Theater tour She Got Game

2002 Theater tour Made in Holland

2002 Cubop City Big Band cd 'Arsenio' on Tam Tam Records



2003 Concerts with Slagwerkgroup Amsterdam

2003 tour Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz with Nueva Manteca

2003 Nueva Manteca tour "The Westside Story" with Jeroen van Merwijk

2003 Teaching at Manhattan School Of Music Summercamp

2003 Theater tour She Got Game

2003 Theater tour Made in Holland

2003 Cubop City Big Band Tour 'The Mambo Kings'



2004 Manhattan School Of Music Summercamp

2004 Nueva Manteca tour with Orestes Vilató

2004 Theater tour She Got Game too

2004 Theater tour Drums United 'World of Rhythm'



2005 Nueva Manteca tour "My Fair Lady"

2005 Theater tour Drums United 'World of Rhythm'

2005 Theater tour Amuedo van Merwijk Vierdag trio

2005 Theater tour Cubop City Big Band ‘Tribute to Afro Cuba’ 10 year anniversary!

2005 Theater tour van Merwijk Corsen Vierdag trio

2005 Theater tour Cubop City Big Band ‘Latin Guitar Explosion’10 year anniversay!

2005 Theater tour Amuedo van Merwijk Vierdag trio

2005 2006 Nueva Manteca



2006 Theater tour Cubop City Big Band ‘Latin Vocal Explosion’ 10 year anniversay!

2006 Theater tour Drums United 'World of Rhythm' (reprise)

2006 DVD recording Drums United 'World of Rhythm'

2006 Caribbean tour Cubop City Big Band to Bonaire & Curaçao

2006 Tour Colombia with Nueva Manteca

2006 Theater tour Drums United ‘Ritmo Inferno’

2006 Clinic Tromp Percussion Biennale



2007 Theater tour Cubop City Big Band ‘Latin Diva’s

2007 Van Merwijk’s Music Machine with Konkie Halmeyer, Carlo de Wijs and Roberto Vizcaino

2007 Clinic tour in Germany for Pearl Drums

2007 Drums United tour to Bulgaria and Serbia

2007 Cubop City Big Band with Drums United Grachtenfestival Amsterdam

2007 Theater tour Drums United ‘Ritmo Inferno’ (reprise)

2007 Chosen to ‘Hall of Fame’ by readers Slagwerkkrant Drummagazine

2007 Drumix! Theater Tour ‘The World of Drumix!

2007 Nueva Manteca Motown Mambo! concerts



2008 Van Merwijk’s Music Machine with Theodosii Spassov, Martin Verdonk, Reno Steba, Stormvogel.

2008 Drums United tour to Cyprus and Germany

2008 Cubop City Big Band with Drums United Tilburg

2008 Dutch Theater tour Drums United Slaat Door!

2008 SA Tour Cubop City Big Band Colombia, Surinam, Aruba, Curacao

2008 CD Cubop City Big Band ‘Que Sensacion!’

2008 Cubop City Big Band Tribute to Tito Puente with special guest Andy Gonzales on Bass



2009 Van Merwijk’s Music Machine ‘Latin Soul & Boogaloo’

2009 Drums United tour to Mexico

2009 Drums United tour to Norway

2009 Drums United tour to Germany

2009 Drums United Theater Tour ‘Slaat door!’

2009 Drumix! Theater Tour ‘Amsterdam Dakar’

2009 dvd Music Machine & Theodosii Spassov

2009 dvd Music Machine & Konkie Halmeyer

2009 dvd Drums United Ritmo Inferno



2010 Van Merwijk’s Music Machine & Manou Gallo

2010 Cubop City Big Band Otro Mundo ‘Venezuela’ met Roberto Quintero

2010 cd Drums United Heartbeat

2010 Drums United Canada concerts (London) Algoma)

2010 Van Merwijk’s Music Machine & Manou Gallo (Cyprus)

2010 Lucas wins the Global Act Award 2010. Prestigeous Dutch World Music Award



2011 Nueva Manteca Tango con Clave Theater tour

2011 Nueva Manteca Requiem Tour Israel

2011 Cubop City Big Band Otro Mundo ‘Colombia’ with Edmar Castañeda

2011 Drums United Germany

2011 Van Merwijk’s Music Machine & Manou Gallo Canada tour

2011 Drums United Canada concerts (Montreal, Fredericton, Sherbrooke)

2011 Drums United European Heartbeat (Ireland) with Eamon Murray, Bohdran drum

2011 Nueva Manteca Chicano Rock Theater Tour





2012 Cubop City Big Band Otro Mundo ‘Uruguay’ met Beatriz Aguiar, José Lopretti, José Perez

2012 Drums United European Heartbeat (Turkey) with Misirli Ahmet, Darbuka

2012 Drums United Heartbeat tour Netherlands, Germany, Usa, Canada, Norway, Turkey, Luxembourg

2012 Tour Van Merwijk’s Music Machine & Manou Gallo (reprise)

2012 Music Machine ‘Cuban Golden Classics’ Cyprus

2013 Marco Toro Ensamble Salsafestival Toros y Salsa Dax, France



2013 Drums United Heartbeat tour Netherlands, Thailand, Germany, Usa, Canada, Mexico

2013 Music Machine ‘Cuban Golden Classics’ (Sunfest) Canada

2013 Voted Best World/Fusion Drummer of ‘12/’13 by readers Slagwerkkrant Drummagazine

2013 Los Misticos Salsafestival Dax, France

2013 Los Misticos concerts with Jimmy Bosch, Franky Vasquez and Herman Olivera

2013 Lucas van Merwijk publication ‘WorldBeat’ drumbook



2014 4Beat tour China Tour

2014 Drums United Colombia Tour

2014 Drums United China tour & Nine Beats Clinics

2014 Lucas van Merwijk Los Angeles concerts tribute to Beny Moré

2014 4Beat tour China tour

2014 Drums United Album ‘Rhythm Dreams’

2014 Drums United China & Thailand Tour



2015 200 Year Kingdom concert Drums United

2015 Best Fusion/World Drummer 2015

2015 Music Machine China Tour

2015 Music Machine IndiaTour

2015 Drums United China Tour

2015 Music Machine Cabo Verde Tour

2015 Music Machine Cote Ivoire Tour



2016 China Clinic tour 9Beats

2016 Album Release Star Cubop City Big Band

2016 China Beijing 1st Percussion Festival Clinics and jury

2016 Drums United Tour Surinam

2016 Drums United Tour China

2016 Lucas van Merwijk 9Beats Summercamp







AS A LEADER

Cubop City Big Band (since 1995)

Drums United (since 2000)

Drumix! (since 1999)

Van Merwijk’s Music Machine

Van Merwijk’s Music Machine Hammond & Steel

Van Merwijk’s Music Machine Theodossi Spassov

Van Merwijk’s Music Machine Latin Soul & Boogaloo

Van Merwijk’s Music Machine Manou Gallo

Van Merwijk’s Music Machine Cuban Golden Classics





LATIN/LATIN JAZZ

Nueva Manteca (since 1985)

Sticks and Strings

Edy Martinez

Andy Gonzalez

Alex Acuna

Orestes Vilato

Giovanni Hidalgo

Roberto Vizcaino

Arturo Sandoval

Luis Conte

Dave Valentin

Nicky Marrero

Timbazo

Batida

Bobby Sanabria

Armando Peraza

Alfredo 'Chocolate' Armenteros

Nelson Gonzales

Nicky Marrero

Michel Camilo

Ralph Irizari

Leonardo Amuedo

Paquito De Rivera



Theater

Ramses Shaffy

She Got Game

Female Factory

Leoni Jansen

Liesbeth List

Laura Fygi

Karin Bloemen

Paul de Leeuw

Made in Holland

West Side Story Nueva Manteca Jeroen van Merwijk

Boulevard of Broken Dreams



JAZZ

Chris Hinze

Joe Pass

Claudio Roditi

Denise Jannah

Future Shock

Rick Margitza

Benjamin Herman

George Mraz

Future Shock

Georgy Fame

Cyrus Chestnut

European Broadcast Union Big Band

Jazzorchestra of the Concertgebouw



POP/ROCK

Candy Dulfer

Hans Dulfer

Rory Block

Tavares

the Three Degrees

the Trammps

Boudewijn de Groot

Donovan

Hennie Vrienten

Tuck & Patty

Lois Lane

Bob Fosko

the New Cool Collective

Acda & de Munnick

Trijntje Oosterhuis

Jan Akkerman



WORLD

Glenn Velez

Henri Guedon

Lotz Of Music

Rosenberg Trio

Aly N'Diaye Rose

N'Gueng Le

Theodosii Spassov

Hossam Ramzy

Carmen Linares

Carel Kraayenhof



CLASSICAL/CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL

Jessey Norman

Het Metropole Orchestra

Slagwerkgroep Amsterdam

Nits de La Mediterania

Circle Ensemble



DANCE

Andrés MarÌn

Nuria Manglano

LuÌs de LuÌs

Tap Dogs