Dutch composer, guitar-virtuoso and multi-instrumentalist Jan Dumee (born April 6, 1965 in Rotterdam) is widely acclaimed for his rich and surprising compositional work and guitar playing that draws on a palette of many expressions, sounds and great musical taste.

As an unique composer with a strong own signature his work is highly praised and got particularly attention in Brazil, Europe and Japan. 

The music of Jan Dumée is described in the reviews as ‘very creative’, ‘non-conformist in approach’, ‘ear-tickling’ and ‘knowing no bounds’. In an extra-ordinairy way he showed this with his O Septeto Plus, with musicians from Brazil, Senegal. Argentina, Holland and Croatia. With this ensemble he recorded the album ‘Rodinha‘. ‘Rodinha’ was recognized in 1998 as one of the best Dutch music productions in the category worldmusic by the press, the foundation Conamus, Radio Holland (world broadcast) and the reviews.

Since 1991 he regular visits Brazil to do what is called ‘work in the field’, studying Brazilian music and culture, which helped him become a versatile composer in different Brazilian music styles.

During the period of 2001 – 2006 Jan got international attention  due to his performances  as guitarplayer/composer in  Dutch’ foremost progjazzrock-group of all times: Focus, playing with Dutch icons Thijs van Leer and Pierre van der Linden.  He recorded with Focus the albums: ‘Focus 8‘ , ‘Live in South America‘ and the dvd/cd ‘Live in America‘. With this group Dumee performed on important festivals and venues in many countries in the world.

During his time with Focus, Dumee recorded in Rio de Janeiro in 2003 his solo-album ‘Rio on the Rocks‘ : a blend of (prog)rock-, jazz-, Brazilian- and classical- music with renowed musicians as to name: Xande Figueiredo, Marvio Ciribelli, Marcos Suzano, Chico Batera, Luis Alves, Arthur Maia, Carlos Duba and many others.

Since 2007 Dumée is leading together with ex-Uriah Heep/Lucifer’s Friend singer John Lawton the multi-national rock band called On The Rocks, known as OTR. Together (again) with musicians from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They recorded their first CD ‘Mamonama‘ released in  the United States, Europe and Japan by the rocklabel Lion Music.

Since 2000  Jan has involved  in  ‘The Cubrabop Quintet‘ (Brazilian/Cuban/jazz, with musicians from Holland, France and Germany  (with a most surprising  Cd coming out in july  2011 named; ‘Cubrabop’) and the Jan Dumee/Magda Mendes Quartet.

Most recently his musical creations  in  ‘Impressionistic Brazilian Jazz’ can be listened with the heartwarming and virtuose quintet  Dumee & Dijkgraaf Quinteto, with some of the finest musicians from Brazil, releasing its first Cd ‘Heloisando‘.