Drummer/percussionist, band leader and composer Ron van Stratum (born 1961) has a reputation for feeling at home in a wide variety of musical styles: from jazz to pop, from Latin to rock. Having studied both classical percussion and jazz/pop drums, he can draw on a huge technical and above all musical vocabulary. He has taught Drums and Combo in the Jazz department of Conservatorium Maastricht since 1992.
Van Stratum has played with many big names in jazz, including Mike Stern, John Beasley, Mike Mainieri, Randy Brecker Jim Beard, Margriet Eshuis Band, Jo Lemaire and many others, at venues in Europe and beyond. He is the drummer/percussionist of Belgian vocalist Nadine Nix, plays in bands with Enrique Tarde, the Henk de Laat trio, the Frank Peeters band, and has his own Ron van Stratum Band.
He has played in theatre productions such as Ramses Shaffy and Harry Belafonte & Nat King Cole.
Van Stratum gives clinics and workshops at the Latvian Academy of Music in Riga and for renowned drum, cymbal and percussion brands such as YAMAHA drums, TAMA drums and Meinl cymbals. To date, he has released three albums as a band leader, the latest being the internationally acclaimed Swingin' In the Swamp, featuring keyboardist Jim Beard and guitarist Jon Herrington (both of Steely Dan fame).
Publications:
Ron van Stratum - Going Out CD
Ron van Stratum - Plain View CD
Ron van Stratum - Swingin' in the Swamp CD
Nadine Nix- Asempa CD
Nadine Nix- Mwanga de Brumes CD
Frank Peeters - Little Paintings CD
Enrique Tarde - Bragasinga CD
Enrique Tarde - Breaking Through the Shadows CD
Margriet Eshuis - Shadow Dancing CD
Time Design - Time Design CD
Whapzz - Bound West CD