Bert Brandsma

Founder and bandleader of the Dixieland Crackerjacks is Bert Brandsma. He is one of the few saxophonists in the Netherlands to have earned Bachelors degrees in music for both Jazz and Classical music. Besides playing all members of the saxophone family, ranging from C-soprano till Bass saxophone and the clarinet, his activities also include singing, arranging, composing and even being assistant drummer.
Starting at the age of twelve, he lives his passion for the classical jazz music.
Initially as a passionate youth, then as an engaged music student and eventually as a fulltime performing artist.
He guested with numerous bands worldwide, like: The Storyville Brassband (USA), Dukes of Dixieland (USA), Maryland Jazzband (Ger), Uralsky All Stars (Russia), New Orleans Syncopaters (NL), Dutch Palladium Orchestra (NL), Jazz-O-Matic-Four (NL), and soloists like Beryl Bryden, Ian Wheeler, Tony Nüsser (First drummer of the Dutch Swing College Band in 1945), Lee Towers, Georgie Fame and Olivier Franc.
Besides this, he performed more than a 100 concerts in the Cologne Opera House, recorded a lot of CD's at various studios and played concerts in classical music with symphony orchestra, saxophone quartet or as a soloist.
Under his guidance and leadership the Dixieland Crackerjacks has rapidly grown to a top quality band that is much in demand.