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 Danish-born, Claus Tofft is the percussionist for both Zuco 103, a Dutch band that combines elements of Brazilian, Cuban and African music brilliantly with jazz, funk, and break beats; and Nueva Manteka, a salsa band whose music grew out of the enormous Latin and salsa rage in Europe during the 1970’s. Claus currently lives in Holland where he earned his degree from Rotterdam Conservatory studying under Nicky Marrero and Lucas Van Merwijk. He has also studied with Johnny Almendra in New York and with Miguel Anga in Cuba.
Zuco 103 was formed when vocalist, Lilian Vieira, drummer Stefan Kruger, and keyboardist Stefan Schmid began collaborating in 1998. Claus joined the group in 2000. With the release of its first album, “Outra Lado”, in 1999, Zuco 103’s eclectic, electronic sound gained a loyal following, which grew even stronger with the band’s second and third CDs, “Tales of High Fever”, released in 2002; and “One Down One Up” released in 2003. With its ability to set dance floors on fire using an energetic mix of samba, bossa, hip hop, and electronic music, Zuco 103 has become one of the best live bands on the Dutch scene.
Conceived in 1982 by bandleader, Jan Laurens Hartong, and originally known simply as Manteka, Nueva Manteka is the result of changing the musical concept of the original group in 1989 so that it became more focused on the original Cubop concept. Creating a synergy between Cuban music and jazz music, Nueva Manteka, is not just another good Latin jazz band, but is unique in performance, style and repertoire.
Along with his busy schedule playing percussion for two complex and exciting European bands, Claus finds time to contribute to other musical projects and to teach percussion at DJAM, a private school in Amsterdam, which offers training in jazz and contemporary music.
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