Rutger's life is dominated by music and creation.
When he was six years old he learned to play the piano. After a classical education, he opted for a jazz education at the art school. There he discovered his love for the chromatic harmonica. Rutger is now studying this amazing instrument at the jazz master's program at the Codarts conservatory in Rotterdam (NL).
After winning the Toots Thielemans Challenge in 2022, organized by Toots' management, his career shifted up a gear. He is now supported by the same management. In the wake of his win, he played for the royal family of Belgium, went to play in Berlin in November 2022 and played at the Brussels Jazz Festival in 2023.
In addition to his solo career, he continues to build on his projects that seem far apart, but always have Rutger's unique harmonica touch in common. Including his "Duo Gaitar" with his former teacher, the Dutch guitarist Marijn van der Linden. They play a quirky mix of jazz, chanson and Brazilian music on stages such as the North Sea Jazz and Brussels Jazz Festival. Together with his old schoolmates, he also has a funk-fusion band: Shikata Ga Nai, with whom he played at the Gent Jazz Festival. Their debut album will be released in October 2023. In addition, he also leads the Mercier/Mathys Quartet, with which he won the Dinant Jazz Contest in July 2023. Besides all this he is active in theater projects, tango and choro groups, ... In short:
He is working on numerous projects, both within the borders of music and beyond and most of all: across them!
The Frisbee
Dinant Jazz Contest
North Sea Jazz Festival
Brussels Jazz Festival
Mercier/Mathys in Berlin
Stereo Stuff Royal
Rutger & Grégoire Maret at Jazz Middelheim
Stereo Stuff S1E1
Single Release "The Wrong Chair"
Ghent Jazz
The Shape of Me to Come
Recordings Brunner Choro
Album Recordings Shikata Ga Nai
Wanderlust
Codarts Pop Orchestra 
Finals Sound Track
Het Verloren Akkoord @Urspelt
Preliminary Sound Track
Brand New Jazz Festival
The Rob Franken Electrification
Diner Macabre
#tegendegroei
Joie De Trois
Ars Musica Fest
Back In Time
Une Belle Histoire
Music By CandlelightNovember 25 - 27, 2022
Berlin
Together with the Toots Thielemans Legacy, Steven de Bruyn, Jasper Houtekiet and Maël Mercier, we went to Berlin to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Toots at the Belgian embassy. We also played at the Zig Zag jazz club, together with Bert Joris and his band.
December 11, 2022
Aalst
I did this concert at the request of Ella Michiels together with Wido Uvin, an interesting, unique guitar player from Aalst. His distinct way of combining styles forced me out of my comfort zone and made me play in ways I never played before.
January 14, 2023
Brussels
We closed of the Toots 100-year with a concert that was worth it. Duo Gaitar played at the Brussels Jazz Festival in Studio 1 in Flagey. Toots's widow, Huguette was there to listen.
February 20, 2023
Ruiselede
After meeting him this summer, I got the chance to play a few tunes with my big hero Philip Catherine in the legendary jazzclub "Banana Peel".
March 2, 2023
Delft
A moment we've long been waiting for. The recordings of Duo Gaitar's debut album. We were finally ready and are very happy with the result of our work at Marmalade Music! This will be heard in the fall of 2023...
May 28, 2023
Brussels
The very first gig of the Mercier/Mathys Quartet in the legendary jazzclub l'Archiduc. Together with pianist and co-founder Maël Mercier, Toon Rumen on bass and Gabriel Moraes on drums.
July 7, 2023
Rotterdam
A dream come true: playing at one of the largest jazz festivals in Europe. It became reality with Duo Gaitar when we were played at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam on July 7th.
July 29, 2023
Dinant
Only a few months after the creation of the Mercier/Mathys Quartet, we took part in the Dinant Jazz Contest. With success: our very first competition immediately gave us first place. With a cash prize, two studio days and a spot on the festival calendar as a reward.
September 7,
Ertvelde
The release of our music video and final single before our album release: "The Frisbee". We gathered together with our fans in the cozy cinema of the Oemtata to watch our video before showing it to the general public.
May 29, 2022
Brussels
This edition of the Brussels Jazz Weekend was all about Toots Thielemans, who would have turned 100 this year! We are very happy that we could celebrate his birthday with Duo Gaitar.
July 13,
Rotterdam
My final exam at Codarts… I was able to conclude my four-year bachelor's degree with a smashing performance in Bird! Together with my friends from Duo Gaitar and Shikata Ga Nai I got a 9/10!
June 25, 2022
Brussels
Toots would have turned 100 in 2022. There were plenty of activities to celebrate, including a contest bearing his name. I can proudly say that I won this award and am grateful to be a part of this Toots year in that way!
July 12, 2022
Ghent
Shikata Ga Nai got to play at the 21st edition of this amazing festival in our hometown! We're so grateful that we got the chance to be on the same stage as our heroes!
July 18, 2022
Spotify
Shikata Ga Nai's very first single on Spotify... After three weeks we already had more than 4000 streams! That's a good sign for our debut album, which will be released in the spring of 2023.
August 03, 2022
Ghent
The very first episode of a new project with my good friend Elias: Stereo Stuff. With the support of Suzuki and Hammond, we look for intersections in our music and the boundaries of our harmonica-hammond duo.
August 12 - 14, 2022
Antwerp
As a result of the Toots Challenge, I was allowed to follow one of the best harmonica players in the world: Grégoire Maret. It was a great, instructive weekend with a concert by the Brussels Jazz Orchestra and the Metropole Orkest at Jazz Middelheim as a closing!
August 21, 2022
Cobra Museum Amstelveen
Duo Gaitar got the chance to do a "Vrije Geluiden" session for the Dutch production house VPRO. This was in the wonderful Cobra modern art museum. We are very honored to be part of this program!
September 23, 2022
Bruges
The first live performance of Stereo Stuff as our own support act. That of Shikata Ga Nai in the Izzy Jazz Club in Bruges. We never ment to play gigs with this project, but this groovy set has changed our minds.
October 6, 2022
Brussels
The Jazz Station Big Band has invited me to join them on their first concert of the season. This happened in one of the most famous jazz venues in Belgium: Jazz Station in Brussels. This is how I followed in the footsteps of my great hero Grégoire Maret.
November 6, 2022
Oudenaarde
A nice new step for Stereo Stuff in our partnership with Suzuki Hammond Europe. We were guests at the international Hammond Festival to represent our instruments.
November 24, 2022
Brussels
Stereo Stuff was asked to play for the Belgian the king and queen during the visit of the Swiss president at the MIM in Brussels.
May 18, 2021
Rotterdam
This was a very special concert, since this livestream was the first gig I did since corona corona. But even more important: this was the very first concert we did with Duo Gaitar.
July 22, 2021
Aalst
The first live gig of Duo Gaitar in the cozy summer bar Bloom!
October 22, 2021
Eeklo
What started as a small project just for fun is running more and more out of hand. The passage of Shikata Ga Nai has not gone unnoticed during the preliminary's of Sound Track Oost-Vlaanderen. We even got a ticket for the finals.
October 23, 2021
Wondelgem
One of my dreams is getting true with this project. David Maes and I have been approved by the management of Music School Ars Musica to start a music club where live music can be heard every month. This was the first night of many!
October 30, 2021
Urspelt
The very last gig of Het Verloren Akkoord...
October 21, 2021
Tielt
Together with 65 musicians, two choirs and movie director Jan Verheyen, I joined the Royal Harmony of Tielt in their tribute concert to the great "Maestro" Morricone.
December 18, 2021
Ghent
We had a blast with Shikata Ga Nai during the finals of Sound Track in the Vooruit in Ghent. No price, but definitely a night to remember!
March 26, 2022
VTM
A short but powerful passage in the VTM program I Can See Your Voice. I got the chance to show my voice and harmonica skills for Jonas van Geel and Natalia.
April 14, 2022
Rotterdam
On my 22nd birthday, I got the chance to play some features with the Codarts Pop Orchestra: an orchestra of young, talented people under the direction of Ronald Kool.
April 21, 2022
Rotterdam
This was my first live experience with the Brunner Choro Group. I'm grateful that I can play this wonderful Brazilian music with these great musicians!
April 25 & 26, 2022
Ghent
At the end of April we went into the studio with Shikata Ga Nai to record our first album! Recording on tape all in one room... That's the old-school vibe that Shikata is all about!
May 25, 2022
Rotterdam
We had the opportunity to inaugurate the new Codarts studios with the Brunner Choro Ensemble. For me, these were the very first recordings with a traditional Brazilian “Roda”!
January 19, 2019
Dendermonde
A resumption of this great concept on a very special location: the prison of Dendermonde. This was the first time I played in a prison and was a very unique and rewarding experience.
March 2, 2019
Doornzele
This was the first living room concert we gave with HVA. The beginning of a series of entertaining performances and forerunner of the 'HVA smaakt' concept.
March 29 - 30, 2019
Wondelgem
Back with the youth choir Glissando, but not behind the piano this time. Sebastiaan and I were responsible for the presentation of this spring concert.
May 5, 2019
Wippelgem
At this festival we tried something new with HVA: an hour of self-penned Dutch-language pop songs, brought with a full-band. This was a very successful evening. After this concert we decided to combine the best of both worlds and integrate the band in our cabaret show.
July 20 & 28, 2019
Ghent
A resumption of our show in theater tinnepot during the Gentse Feesten.
July 22 & 27, 2019
Ghent
With our friends from Dragidoro and Glissando we played our trio concert once again during the Gentse Feesten.
July 19, 2019
Eeklo
Together with my partner in crime and pianist Elias d'Hooge I provided a little jazz at this cozy festival in Eeklo.
September 14, 2019
Rotterdam
The birth of "The Chairleaders". Together with my buddies of the the secondary art school, we put together this funk project to perform in the opening program of a.o. Bruno Castelluci and Theo de Jongh in LantarenVenster. The evening was dedicated to Rob Franken.
September 28 - 29, 2019
Wippelgem
When the fanfare of your village reaches its 150th anniversary, it should be celebrated. And that's what they did in Wippelgem. Along with the brass band, dancers and actors, HVA made it a real "Great Spectacle".
October 31, 2019
Wippelgem
This concept show was all about music, theater and food. Together with Frank Hoelen, I talked the people through this spooky Halloween night.
November 16, 2019
Wachtebeke
The last edition of "Joie De Trois" so far...
December 21 - 22, 2019
Doornzele
Sebastiaan and me were the host of this Christmas concert of Ars Musica.
May 1 - 3, 2015
Ghent
This was my first concert with the Ars Musica Ensemble. I sang and played the harmonica. It is also here that my love for the chanson arose.
December 28, 2016
Kluizen
The first Christmas concert of the youth choir Glissando. I accompanied these ladies for three years on the piano.
November 18 - 19, 2017
Wachtebeke
A precursor of the 'Joie De Trois' series. In this concert we worked together with the amazing tango Dancers of Tangorrion.
February 3, 2018
Ghent
I played together with my dear friends Elias d'Hooge (piano) and Tibo Polleunis (drums) during this edition of the Light Festival. This was in the beautiful showroom of the piano store Quatre Mains. What a wonderful location!
Februari 24-25, 2018
Ghent
The next project of the Ars Musica Ensemble. We brought some of the most iconic film music to life on stage. I played harmonica and percussion.
June 1, 2018
Ghent
A choral project of which I am very grateful that I was allowed to be a part. This was a collaboration of the MUDA Choir, the Vocal Ensemble VOKAMANDO and the Koningklijk Harmonieorkest Vooruit.
Juli 14 & 17, 2018
Ghent
A collaboration with youth choir Glissando, the chamber music ensemble Dragidoro and Het Verloren Akkoord. We let people enjoy a mix between tango, cabaret and pop.
October 5 - 6, 2018
Ghent
A milestone in the young history of Het Verloren Akkoord. #tegendegroei was our first cabaret show that we brought to stage. We have written the music and lyrics of this show all by ourselves.
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