Photography by Vincent Baake (2025)
Fee Aaij (2004) is a female Dutch (jazz)pianist, composer and aspiring art historian, based in Arnhem (NL). Both as soloist and bandleader she writes and performs aesthetic piano music in which the common thread is a search for the beauty found in sadness and the sadness found in passion. Her melancholic songs carry a rebellious spirit, showing fervent characters. She reinforces this realm by using conceptualism and visual aesthetics on and off stage, subtly, no music theatre.
It was the church organ that introduced little Fee to music and in a way the dramatic quality of this instrument has never left her. In her teenage years the tables turned towards rock and jazz. At age 15 she got admitted to the ArtEZ Conservatory in Arnhem, thanks to the guidance of her first teacher Hans Kwakkernaat. At ArtEZ she was mainly tutored by pianists Robert Jan Vermeulen, Jeroen van Vliet and Aljosja Buijs. Currently she is studying classical music with René Maurer.
Watching them from afar, The Joker laughs silently…
The Fee Aaij 4tet present Gloomy New Wave Jazz in the shape of a strong but fragile character called The Joker. In May 2025 their conceptual debut album 'I Am The Joker' was released on ZenneZ Records. The project draws life from the creativity of David Bowie, the energy of McCoy Tyner, the sadness of Frédéric Chopin and the quirkiness of Thelonious Monk. The indefinable dark sound of the players will most definitely grab your heart and squeeze it.
The last couple of years Fee brought the Joker to unique venues such as De Roode Bioscoop Amsterdam, Podium Azijnfabriek Den Bosch and Théâtra de l’Ile Saint-Louis Paris. Michiel Braam nominated her band for the prestigious Conservatory Talent Award 2025, where she also performed with the Paradox Jazz Orchestra. She was a guest artist at Benjamin Herman’s NPO ‘Get In’ podcast and at the injazz 'On The Road’ series.
-
Fee Aaij - piano and compositions
Pauline Timmerbeil - bassguitar
Daniel Louis - drums
Bene Müller - electric guitar
Huub Schoolkate - electric guitar on album
Photography by Alina Timmerbeil (2023)
Design by Petra Louis (2025)
Acknowledgements
"When you dare to step into the musical universe of Fee Aaij, you take a free dive into the unknown. But I assure you that you will float into a miraculous soundscape that needs no defining. Just close your eyes and take the leap. You won't regret it."
-Marieke Meischke, Jazz Maastricht/Orange Jazz Days
“Stubborn and atonal like Bowie could do well in his Ashes to Ashes-period.”
-Dietmar Terpstra, Jazzism (interview)
“Fee uses melancholy as a vehicle for her music. Melancholy that isn’t oppresive at any time, created by the variety of the songs. The calm passages are melodic, fragile but powerful. The uptempo passages are rough, with villainous punk-riffs. (...)‘I Am The Joker’ is distinctive, captivating, and an exceptionally engaging musical experience.”
-Emil Roes, Jazzism (review)
“Deeply personal, hyper-interactive music, with a strong cinematic quality, also reflected in their visual art. During their live show the band covered a wide array of dynamics and textures, without ever losing coherency. It sucks you in and never lets go. This music is really out there.”
-Mete Erker, saxofonist & composer
Grants / Nominations
Cultuur Academy Stroomversneller Arnhem fund (2023)
Music Support Gelderland fund (2023)
Amarte X De Roode Bioscoop (2023)
Conservatory Talent Award (2025)
23/6 - 3/7 2026 Fee Aaij "Joker 4tet", Turkey Tour (Chilly Chilly Agency):
23/6 Fstop, Ekisehir
24/6 Fabrika, Ayvalik
25/6 Monk Community, Izmir
26/6 Bodrum Jazz Festival, Bodrum
28/6 Dadya Dostane Kültür, Datça
29/6 Echo Bar, Kas
1/7 251 The Soul, Antalya
2/7 251 The Soul, Antalya
3/7 Nardis Jazzclub, Istanbul
24/10/2026 I Am The Joker (Fee Aaij 4tet), Pop & Jazz Hilversum Festival
-
Previous highlights
2026
30/1/2026 MonkeyJam, Uitnacht 2026, Luxor Live Arnhem
30/1/2026 Fee Aaij solo - Songs of The Joker, Uitnacht 2026, Rozet Arnhem
22/3/2026 Fee Aaij solo - Songs of The Joker, Kleintje Oversteek, De Refter Ubbergen
18/4/2026 I Am The Joker (Fee Aaij 4tet), Booster Festival, Jazzpodium De Tor Enschede
7/5/2026 I Am The Joker (Fee Aaij 4tet), Teatro Munganga Amsterdam
28/5/2026 Fee Aaij Solo - special live registration of Songs of The Joker, Rozet Arnhem
2025
4/1/2025 Norman Samuels Trio, Rabo Open Stage Tivoli Vredenburg Utrecht
6/1/2025 Nelson Jazz Monday with Mete Erker, Nelson Arnhem
30/1/2025 Norman Samuels Trio, CODC Nijmegen
8/2/2025 Fee Aaij solo - Songs of The Joker, Théâtre de l'île Saint Louis Paris
14/3/2025 I Am The Joker (Fee Aaij 4tet), single release 'RED' on ZenneZ Records
30/3/2025 Fee Aaij solo - Songs of The Joker, randprogramma Piano Biënnale 2025 Musis Stadstheater Arnhem
31/3/2025 Trio with Mete Erker and Leander Seekings, Nelson Bar Arnhem
5/4/2025 Fee Aaij solo - Songs of The Joker, randprogramma Piano Biënnale 2025 De Vereeniging Nijmegen
6/4/2025 Norman Samuels Trio, Gigant Apeldoorn
11/4 I Am The Joker (Fee Aaij 4tet),single release 'Solitary Soul' on ZenneZ Records
30/4/2025 MonkeyJam, Café Bosch Arnhem
7/5/2025 Get In! Podcast met Benjamin Herman, Sociëteit De Kring Amsterdam
10/5/2025 I Am The Joker (Fee Aaij 4tet), Conservatorium Talent Award Podium Azijnfabriek 's-Hertogenbosch
16/5/2025 I Am The Joker (Fee Aaij 4tet), album release on ZenneZ Records
17/5/2025 I Am The Joker (Fee Aaij 4tet), releaseshow Brebl Nijmegen
9/6/2025 The Starpeople, Music Meeting Festival Nijmegen
22/6/2025 MonkeyJam, Park Open Festival 2025 Sonsbeek Park Arnhem
20/9/2025 Kunstnacht Nijmegen met Rocco Hueting (De Staat) en Daniel Eskens, Nyma Makersplaats Nijmegen (Doornroosje)
24/9/2025 MonkeyJam, Café Bosch Arnhem
27/9/2025 Fee Aaij solo - Songs of The Joker, Kasteel Doornenburg
29/10/2025 MonkeyJam, Café Bosch Arnhem
31/10/2025 Norman Samuels Trio - Festival Jazz International Nijmegen, Brebl Nijmegen
26/11/2025 MonkeyJam, Café Bosch Arnhem
28/12/2025 Big Brebl Bubble, Brebl Nijmegen
2024
26/1/2024 Fee Aaij solo piano, CAPS LOCK Arnhem Uitnacht 2024
5/2/2024 Norman Samuels Trio, Science Café Nijmegen
5/3/2024 I Am The Joker live at De Roode Bioscoop Amsterdam video releaseby X Amarte
28/3/2024 Norman Samuels Trio, De Basis Nijmegen
29/3/2024 Fee Aaij solo, International Piano Day Libertas Arnhem
8/5/2024 Norman Samuels Trio Jazzbites Jamsession, Brebl Nijmegen
25/5/2024 Fee Aaij solo x AVA Trio, Brebl Nijmegen
3/10/2024 Norman Samuels Trio, Libertas Arnhem
30/10/2024 Norman Samuels Trio, Touchstone Utrecht
5/11/2024 JIGSAW blackhole, ArtEZ University of the Arts Arnhem
12/11/2024 Norman Samuels Trio, Café Classen Arnhem
2023
8/3/2023 JIGSAW, International Women's Day Brebl Nijmegen
28/5/2023 The Starpeople, Thiemeloods Nijmegen
29/9/2023 The Starpeople, EP release 'Happening #1'
17/10/2023 The Starpeople jamsession with Mete Erker, Paradox Tilburg
28/10/2023 I Am The Joker (Fee Aaij), Amarte Studio Concert x De Roode Bioscoop
5/11/2023 I Am The Joker (Fee Aaij), Doesburg Jazz Festival
Photography by Vincent Baake (2025)
Copyright © Fee Aaij
