A modest and enthusiastic pianoplayer with a lot of experience as musician, composer, conductor and teacher. Last 20 years he played in several formations with jazz and latin as the main factor. He also conducted the Imperial City Orchestra and has given worksops for organisations such as Stichting Buitenkunst and Stichting Jazz Utrecht. Besides Candela, Ludo also plays in the ‘Steamteam’ and the ‘Bobby Gantt Quartet’. Ludo is also working as a music teacher and program developer at the Highschool of Arnhem and Nijmegen.

Bas Rietmeijer
Bas Rietmeijer is an often asked bassplayer because of his finetouched bassplaying combined with virtuosity and musicality. During his musical career he joined several international tours. One of them was the succesfull tour with the ‘Markus Schinkel Trio’ in Vietnam. At this moment Bas plays in several groups such as ‘Het Gijs Hendriks 4-tet’, Oostenwind (Hardbop), Marcus Schinkel Trio, Maikel Thijssen 4-tet (with Eef Aalbers). In the past he also performed with great musicians such as Bob Mintzer, Ben v.d. Dungen en Jigs Wigham.

Ewout Dercksen
This saxopfonist had the fortune to grow up in a family where music was always present. At the age of 8 years Ewout started playing guitar and at the age of 14 he continued performing as bass player and saxophonist in several local bands. Since his graduation at the conservatorium of Arnhem, he has been working as musician, teacher, workshopleader and conductor.
After a trip of almost one year in Spain and Canada, he recorded his solo album ‘Wayout-Ewout’ which he describes as his personal soundtrack. Ewout also writes songs for Candela such as ‘Lunes a Domingo’ and ‘No entiendo’. At this moment Ewout is performing in Jamsquare (dance), Born to Groove (soul) and his own formation saxopfoon quartet Hardrubber (jazz).

Micha Schellhaas
Micha is a real cat behind his guitar. A huge love for jazz but as well a lot of passion and feeling for fusion, funk en latin. His diversity distinguish Micha from a lot of other guitar players. On stage Micha is always enthousiastic with a full contribution towards each note he playes. He finished the conservatorium in Arnhem in 2005 and is now joining the second phase to receive his master degree.
Micha likes to arrange and write own songs. (listen to Last Minut) and is also leading his own group 4AM (jazz). www.jazzat4am.com

Sascha Pöpping
Finishing the consercatorium in 2004 with a repertoire from ‘Zappa’ till ‘Tony Martinez’ makes clear that Sascha is a drummer with a broad view. At this moment he is finishing the second phase drums and percussion at the conservatorium in Arnhem. A big love for Cuban music became part in the musical world of Sascha when he started playing as a timbalero in the salsaband Conjunto con Clave. At this moment Sascha plays in ‘Viva Zapata’ (gypsy swing) and Tulp (pop) and he is teaching at the school of music in Bochelt (Germany).

Wouter Helmig
Wouter is the creator of the band Candela. He received a scholarship in 2001 from the asociation ‘fundatie vrijvrouwe van Renswoude’ to study percussion at the ‘Instituto Superior del Arte Habana’ in Cuba. Wouter studied tumbadora (conga), shekere, and batá, taught by El Panga ( Cubanismo) and Yaroldi Abreu (Chucho Valdes). Inspired by the Cuban music, specifically latin jazz, Wouter decided to create his own band Candela to play danceable latin jazz. “It is great to see that people dance on our music. It’s the latin vibe which makes you move your hips. But I also see the jazzlovers who prefer to sit and listen. I think this combination is what makes our music attractive. (listen to Candela: "And when Sammy walked in"), written by Michel Camilo)
Wouter played conga’s and bongo in several salsabands (Conjunto con Clave, Salsabor) and performed as percussionist in numerous bands such as Sunday Soul Ensemble (jazz-funk), PGP (Soul) en Grooville (soul-funk). In 2005 he joined the tour with the ‘Paul van Kemenade Quintet’ and the South African Connection. As a freelance percussionist, Wouter also gives (private)lessons and workshops percussion at schools.