Bands and projects
Elvis tribute artists
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The last few years, Ruben played a lot in Elvis tribute shows, as a member of the Graceland band (Wales) or Celebrations (Germany) accompanying European and world champion ETA's. He is also playing a tour with Erwin Nijhoff singing the music of Elvis.
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Titus en Fien 'Oliebollenband'
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In this revue like Kids show, Ruben plays the trombone. Titus and Fien are 2 green characters who play funny sketches accompanied their own 'Oliebollenband'.
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All together now / The Masked Singer/ I can see your voice
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Vocal talent shows on national tv (RTL). In collaboration with Willem Laseroms and Dieter Kranenburg, Ruben and Fenna recorded all the horns for the orchestral tapes seasons 1, 2 and more. They also recorded some tracks for the movies 'F*ck de liefde' , 'Just Say Yes', 'Fien en Teun Circus op de Boerderij', 'KLEM' and backing tracks for the musicals 'Assepoester' and 'Rapunzel'. Other artists they recorded horns for are: 'Fenna Ramos', 'Kinderen voor Kinderen' en Club van Sinterklaas'.To hear all recordings available on Spotify check this link.
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Plunck
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One of the main bands of Ruben. This small 5 member band brings you high energy pop and soul covers from the 80's till now.
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Son de aqui
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Son de Aquí is a Latin band originally from Mexico City. It's music is explosive, party-able and danceable and is inspired by the links that traditional music from Mexico, Cuba and Colombia share. Now they are based in Rotterdam working with musicians from Holland, Mexico, New-zealand, Germany and Spain, presenting material from their two albums "Traigo Sabor" and "De aqua son"from Mexico and ''Al Otro lady del mar'' recorded in the Netherlands.
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https://sondeaqui.com/la-banda/
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Benedict
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'When you first hear Benedicts’ epic and pensive ballads, it’s hard to picture the cheeky crooner responsible for the notes.
Benedict live, is like an Old Fashioned cocktail of Mad Men and Twin Peaks with Lana Del Rey’s counterpart as your bartender.'
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Step The Gap
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This Disco Funk and Soul coverband is well known for their Disco medley's. With 2 horn/percussion players and 2 beautiful front singers the songs of KC and the sunshine band, Donna Summer and many more come alive.
Step the Gap. Keeps the Soul alive!
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Surili Orchestra
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A big formation with 5 man on percussion, bass, guitar, 3 horns and 2 keyboard players that plays Bollywood music and other Indian songs in theaters in holland. During each concert there are differtent guest singers, as well famous Dutch Indian vocalists as Stars from India. Surili Orchestra even played the concert hall Ahoy Rotterdam last November!
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https://www.facebook.com/suriliorchestra/
Yourband
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This All-round coverband plays every tune on request. The band offers your guests the opportunity to pick songs, which the band will rehearse and play on the evening of the party! Ruben plays the trombone in this band.
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Your Band,
You decide,
We Play!
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The Love Bells / Brass Bells​
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Initially, this horn quartet performed especially in the december month. Players Fenna Volmer, Max Groenen, Monique Horlings and Ruben van der Kleij play at several christmas markets and in shopping malls to bring the shoppingpeople in a real christmas mood. On occasion, the brass bells play gigs for the holiday of Sinterklaas, weddings, summer events or other occassions as well. in 2020, they started their own foundation called 'Stichting Muziek Zonder Grenzen' to bring music to people in need in Corona times.
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stichtingmuziekzondergrenzen.nl
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MTM horn-section​
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The MTM - horns are the same hornplayers as the brass bells. They can be hired to play along with originalwork- or coverbands when the bands like to make an event extra special. In this way, MTM only plays along with the larger gigs. They write their own arrangements. Bands they already played with are: 'Morgan', 'Tosca' (and other afterlife Hermes house band), 'Yourband', 'Soulworkxx', 'Prin6', 'Sly and the family stone tribute', 'Feelings' and 'Lisa and the Lumberjackets'.
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Afterlife 'Hermes House Bands'
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The 'Hermes House band', a dutch student band known for it's version of 'I will survive' by Gloria Gaynor, is still performing. Once the students graduate, they have to leave the band and often start a new band with the same repertoire. Ruben is often asked to join this bands and has played in a lot of after life bands like: 'Rob en de biefstukjes',''Party Penguins;', 'De tosca's', 'Funky fandango's', 'The Bikini bluesband' and 'The Bonaparties'. Ruben is a fixed member of this last band.
DJ-gigs​
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On occassion Ruben plays with various DJ's. He has played a lot in Amsterdam with the DJ duo Bromimic. ​
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Church-gigs​
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On occassion, Ruben plays at holidays, weddings and funerals in church. He is often asked to play 'The Last Post' at memorials. Ruben also did a few organ concerts with organ player Jan Teeuw.
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Coming up
Ruben has been recording a lot of music lately and is expecting the releases of various albums. Artists he recorded for are 'Ringroad Sessions', 'Willie D Wallace', 'Rhona Roode', 'Guy Rooks', 'Benedict', 'Michael Barkey', 'Son de Aqui', 'the Skillz', 'Tariq Saqal', 'KLEM movie', 'Skunk Funk', 'Marsha', 'Ewald Ebing', 'I can see your voice season 5', 'Ruji', 'Hans van der Sloot', 'MENN' and the movie 'Fien en Teun, Circus op de boerderij', 'Kinderen voor kinderen', 'Assepoester musical', 'Rapunzel musical', 'Sifra', 'Fenna Ramos', 'Pappenheimers', 'Club van Sinterklaas en 'Jules Deelder/Aad van Pijlen'.
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Previous projects:
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Soldaat van Oranje
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In 2023 Ruben played a couple of shows as orchestra member in the famous Dutch musical 'Soldaat van Oranje'.
Tribute bands
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Ruben played in various tribute bands such as the Prin6 (Prince tribute band), Beatles/Paul Mccartney tribute, Elvis, George Michael tribute, Sly and the Family stone tribute band, Earth wind and fire tribute band and the Kool to the Gang band Europe (Kool and the Gang tribute band). The tribute bands deliver a complete show from the highest professional level, just like the original artist!
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Let's be gypsies
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All dressed up in peaky blinders style, with the sound of Django Reinhardt, Let's be gypsies brings you back to old France. The horn section makes this hot club de France band extra special, sounding almost like a bigband. Let's be gypsies toured with gypsy guitarist Mozes Rosenberg.
Ruby and the Blizzards​
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Rubens own coverband! This band has 3 horns and plays a mix of blues, rock and roll, nowadays music and 80's pop and soul covers. All the bandmembers have studied at the conservatory of Harlem. Ruby and the Blizzards is known for it's charity events. This band did save already 34 Elephants an 24 Tigers in cooperation with the WWF and performed at lots of other different events like for instance the Burn Foundation and Rotary.​
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