Heiko Dijker is an Amsterdam based Tablaplayer-Producer whose playing is marked by enthousiasm and energy, depth of knowledge and rythmic poetry. 
After years of traditional training with Shri Bhaswaraj Bhendigeri in India, he continued to learn with grandmaster Faiyaz Khan in the Guru-Shisya (Master-Disciple) system. Holding a Masters-degree in classical Tabla of the Rotterdam Conservatory, where he studied with Ted de Jong and Ustad Faiyaz Khan, Heiko has been working with great Indian classical and not so classical musicians and dancers, as well as with fusions of traditional and innovative music and dance.
 Just to name a few: RaviChandra Kulur(Magical Bansuri), Sandhya Sanjana (Indian vocal), Neela Bhagwat(Indian vocal), Pandit Birju Maharaj(the legendary Kathak dancer), Ustad Fariddudin Dagar, Bahauddin Dagar (Roudra Veena), Amine and Hamza M'raihi(Tunesian Oud and Kanoun), Het Nieuw Ensemble (contemporary western), Scapino Ballet, Concerto Rotterdam (with Jacob ter Veldhuis), Lenneke van Staalen, Taal Vadya(rythm group with South-Indian percussionists), Shinske Ishihara(Japanese Marimba virtuoso).
 Next to enjoying his performances, he is an accompanist of great masters like Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia(Bansuri) and Pandit Buddhadhitya Mukherjee(Sitar) at the Indian classes at the Rotterdam Conservatory, and a teacher at the SKVR music school in Rotterdam. CHECK ALSO HIS MORE ELECTRONIC EXPLORATIONS COMBINING GROOVING TABLA WITH LIVE LAPTOP-LOOPS AND MANIPULATIONS.....

Dutch keyboardplayer, producer, composer and singer based in Amsterdam. Styles vary from soul, funk, jazz and worldmusic to EDM, lounge and electro.


ARA'S CIRCLE delivers a fresh mix of Funk, Pop, Brazil & Latin Jazz.

Energetic music basically influenced by Latin, funk and jazz which make Ara’s Circle a beautiful danceable and challenging mix of arrangement and improvised music. During the process of rehearsing, building up and becoming a band, Ara’s Circle got great accompaniment and acknowledgement by its musicians who are highly educated and experienced performing around international stages.

Line-up:
Ara Do Brasil: pathfinder
Maria Fernandez Alvarez: vocal
Peter Wenk: piano | keys
Guy Nikkels: guitar
Tie Pereira: bass
Florian Sperzel: trumpet
Steven Dietvorst: tenorsax
Tuur Moens: drums
Arndt Beckmann: percussion | compositions | arrangements

History:
Once....in a land far, far away, a bird called Ara do Brasil was dreaming about a circle of musicians, who would accompany him on the path through tropical, funky and jazzy music. The music had to be challenging and danceable.
Finally,...after thousands of miles in a far, cold country just beyond the ocean his dream were about to come true. He saw a small light in the distance. It was a cozy fire surrounded by a group of open-minded and warm-hearted musicians.
After a while the musicians agreed to fly with Ara. He was very happy and started to find the path for ARA'S CIRCLE.


Followers of Ara&#x27;s Circle

Followers of Ara's Circle