About

Drummer Jean-Clair de Ruwe completed his studies at the Utrecht Conservatory of Music cum laude in 2004. In 2016, he received a scholarship from the Mignon Music Fund on which he spent 3 months in New York and was able to study with Rodney Green and Kenny Washington. Jean-Clair has shared the stage with the likes of Philip Harper, Charles McPherson, Roy Hargrove, Gael Horrelou, Ken Fowser, Howard Alden, Bert Joris, Ferdinand Povel, Ack van Rooyen, Denise Jannah, Majorie Barnes, Bert van den Brink and Millenium Jazz Orchestra, JazzArt Orchestra, Westcoast Bigband and the Skyline Orchestra. Jean-Clair was also the drummer for Frank Sinatra impersonators, Peter Douglas (bandleader) and Frank In Person. In that period he worked also with dutch singers such as Babette van Veen, Maud and Do.

Jean-Clair de Ruwe can also be heard on various recordings including 3 CDs with trumpeter Gidon Nunes Vaz’s sextet.
He is active as a teacher in his private studio in The Hague and at X TU Delft university. Currently he is working with the creative minds of guitarist Martien Oster and pianist Edwin Berg. Beside of that he is active producing live music events. Jean-Clair is endorsed by Canopus Drums.

“Jean-Clair is one of those fine drummers who plays the drums with respect for the past. He absorbed the language and carries on the tradition like all accomplished jazz musicians. But most of all his playing is honest, supportive, swingin’, personal and sensitive at the same time. Jean-Clair is a team player and great guy to work with. He is both connected to the new and established generation jazz musicians. He takes care of business and is serious in the projects he is involved in.”

John Marshall, former trumpet player WDR Big band