Niek de Bruijn is a rising talented jazz drummer in The Netherlands. Despite of his age (21), Niek is a busy man playing with different artists in various styles and settings. Musicians prize him for his creativity and his energetic, dynamic playing.



Over the past few years Niek has been on stage with artists like Rudresh Mahanthappa, Giovanca, Pete Philly, Kris Berry, Marjorie Barnes, Ben van den Dungen, Maarten Hogenhuis, Lars Dietrich, Jasper van Damme, Floriaan Wempe, Karel Boehlee, Rob van Bavel, Miguel Rodriguez, Thierry Castel, Stefan Lievestro, Marius Beets, Frans van Geest, Durk Hijma, Reinier Baas, Ed Verhoeff and many others.



Niek is the fixed drummer of ‘NJJO‘, ‘Stephanie Francke Quartet’, ‘Baer Traa Quartet’, ‘EDWIN.‘, ‘Bianculli Band’, ‘Bianculli Piano Show’.



Besides these bands, he is studying in the 4th year bachelor of the Jazz Academy at Codarts Rotterdam. Here he takes drum lessons from Hans van Oosterhout and Joost Patocka.



In 2013 Niek was the winner of the prestigious Erasmus Jazz Prize. One year before, this prize was won by Stephanie Francke. As a member of her band Niek plays on her debut CD that will be released in april 2013.



Niek also has lots of experience playing in several big bands en musical orchestras. He played at the North Sea Jazz Festival 2012, being the drummer of the Codarts & Royal Conservatory Big Band (led by Ilja Reijngoud) with special guest Rudresh Mahanthappa, whose complex compositions were played.

This year he was selected to be the drummer of the ‘Nationaal Jeugd Jazz Orkest‘, conducted by Eric Vloeimans. The tour with this orchestra will start in may 2013, and will end in july with a gig on the North Sea Jazz Festival.



From the age of 18, Niek is drum teacher. He has worked at Drumschool Mark Eeftens and was a substitute at De Nieuwe Veste and H19 for great drummers such as Chris Strik, Mark Stoop, Mark Schenk and Toon Oomen. Since last year Niek occasionally works as a substitute for the great Joost Patocka at The Royal Conservatory in Den Haag.