JORRIT DIJKSTRA
Genres: Avant-Garde Jazz, Third Stream, Jazz Related Improv, Composition • Netherlands

The music of saxophonist and composer Jorrit Dijkstra (Eindhoven, Netherlands, 1966) draws from the jazz tradition in spirit and sound, but has crossed stylistic and cultural borders in order to express a strong, evolving personal vision. He spent his formative years in Amsterdam’s vibrant improvisation community playing jazz, free improvisation, and world music. Since moving to the United States in 2002, Dijkstra has deepened his affinity with the experimental forces of American music, while staying in touch with his Dutch musical roots. Dijkstra’s recent projects include The Whammies play the Music of Steve Lacy, an all-star group with leading improvisers for the Chicago, Boston and Amsterdam, and an electro-acoustic duo with New York drummer/composer John Hollenbeck. Dijkstra’s use of analog electronics – including the Lyricon, a vintage electronic wind instrument from the seventies – extends his already flexible saxophone sound into an idiosyncratic mix of cool jazz, free improvisation, avant-rock and read more...