Where groove
Meets freedom.

02 / The band

Four musicians. One movement.

With Wilte de Haan on keys, Chas Krijnen on bass, Marcel Jaspers on drums and Gertjan Schurer on guitar, the music grows out of interplay. The musicians listen, respond and challenge one another.Est. 2007 — Founded by Wilte de Haan & Theo Kikkert

1. 01Marcel JaspersDrums

   Marcel received his first drum kit from his grandmother at the age of ten, but it wasn’t until he was sixteen that he began to take drumming seriously. Music was never far away at home. His father was a professional musician and became an important source of inspiration as Marcel began to find his own path as a musician.

   Early on, Marcel discovered the playing of Dennis Chambers. Countless hours spent listening to recordings and watching videos helped shape his development as a drummer. Today, he also draws inspiration from players such as Steve Jordan and Keith Carlock — drummers for whom groove, timing and musicality are every bit as important as technique.

   That philosophy is reflected in Marcel’s own playing. To him, drumming is about much more than simply laying down a rhythm: groove, dynamics, interplay and interaction determine how the music evolves. From behind the kit, he can shape the direction of a band, create space, and allow the intensity of a composition to build or recede.

   Marcel is active in several projects within the Groningen music scene, spanning styles from pop and blues to funk and fusion. In Fuladja, these different musical worlds come together, with his dynamic, groove-driven playing providing an essential foundation for the band’s sound.

2. 02Chas KrijnenBass

   
   Chas Krijnen began studying classical guitar at the age of seven and continued his formal training for twelve years. At fourteen, he discovered an old Vinyl "Gratitude" with the music of Earth, Wind & Fire and became captivated by the sound and distinctive role of the bass guitar. From his teenage years onwards, he increasingly devoted himself to the instrument, developing largely through his own musical exploration.

   Over the years, Chas gained extensive stage experience across a wide range of bands and musical styles. As a bassist, he accompanied Puck Cyson, performing with him at Festival Cult Royale and for Radio Drenthe. He also appeared at Eurosonic and performed with Fuladja at Metropool Hengelo as part of SmoothJazz Europe.

   His playing is characterised by an open, articulate tone, precise timing and a dynamic, often staccato approach. Technique always remains at the service of the music. Chas seeks to connect rhythm and melody while shaping the dynamics that allow a band to perform as one. His sound is clear and transparent, yet retains warmth and depth.

   His six-string bass enables him to move beyond the traditional foundation, adding subtle chords and melodic lines where the music allows. Even so, his approach remains primarily supportive and musical: always serving the composition while retaining a distinctive voice of his own.

   Within Fuladja, Chas connects rhythm, harmony and melody. Inspired by fusion, funk, jazz and world music, he aims to keep challenging the band, elevate its collective musicianship and bring its music to life on a wide variety of stages.

3. 03Gertjan SchurerGuitar

   

   Gertjan Schurer has been playing guitar since the age of seven and has developed over the years into a versatile guitarist with a deep passion for the instrument. His playing moves effortlessly between jazz, blues and rock, with his broad musical interests and curiosity continually shaping his own distinctive style.

   Alongside Fuladja, Gertjan is also a member of the progressive rock band Perfect Storm. His playing has gained recognition beyond his work with these bands as well: in both 2025 and 2026, he was nominated for Best Pop/Rock Guitarist in the Benelux.

4. 04Wilte de HaanKeys

   

   Wilte de Haan is the keyboardist and one of the composers in Fuladja, having written several pieces in the band’s repertoire.

   His musical journey began at the age of six, when he took his first piano lessons from Mrs Jansma. She taught him how to read music, but more importantly introduced him to chords. A seed was planted that would ultimately become a defining part of his musical life. The seemingly endless possibilities of combining chords, discovering new harmonies and turning them into something of his own increasingly fascinated him.

   Wilte started composing at an early age. One of his first pieces was appropriately titled Hazeltje en Barreltje, named after his parents’ two wire-haired dachshunds. His enthusiasm for composing grew when he realised that writing music came naturally to him and that his pieces were enthusiastically embraced by the musicians around him.

   Bands such as Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Ekseption and Solution made a lasting impression through their strong compositions and virtuosity. Later, Wilte found major inspiration in keyboardist Joe Sample, as well as in the distinctive, percussive playing style of Tania Maria. These influences helped shape his own musical approach, in which harmony, rhythm, melody and room for improvisation naturally coexist.

   Over the years, Wilte played in several bands, starting with the Leeuwarden-based group Deuce, followed by Cantina View and De Pleegzusters. Each formation contributed in its own way to his development as a keyboard player and composer.

   For Wilte, a good composition is never simply a collection of notes. A piece should be carefully structured, leave room for solos and contain a musical turn that gives it something unexpected. In his own playing, he is less concerned with being in the foreground and more interested in finding the harmonies and sounds that support the composition and the other musicians. Improvisation plays an important role, but always in service of what the music needs.

   That approach fits naturally within Fuladja, where there is plenty of room for individual input and improvisation. As the senior member of the band, Wilte also brings a wealth of musical experience and, as he puts it himself, a fair amount of wise input. For him, the real magic happens when everything comes together: a beautiful sound, strong interplay and musicians finding each other at exactly the right moment.

   His instruments have also played an important part in shaping his musical development. The characteristic sound of the Fender Rhodes left a lasting mark on his musical palette, although its considerable weight eventually proved persuasive enough to let it go. Today, Wilte plays a Nord Stage 4, always searching for sounds that do more than simply sound good — sounds that give the overall character of the band an extra lift.

   Ultimately, his musical motivation has remained refreshingly simple: to create music that makes people feel good. The chord-shaped seed planted during those first piano lessons has since grown to bear a great deal of musical fruit.