The Boy Edgarprijs, the most important prize in the Netherlands for jazz and improvised music, has this year been awarded to guitarist, composer and bandleader Reinier Baas.

Reinier Baas has been one of the most distinctive musicians in Dutch jazz for years. According to the Boy Edgarprijs jury, ‘Baas pulls jazz into the present. With humor, lightness and depth, he innovates, builds bridges between scenes and generations, and dares to take risks time and again.’

His versatility knows no bounds: from four #oneminuteradio solo albums featuring only one-minute compositions to the surrealist jazz opera Reinier Baas vs. Princess Discombobulatrix, from the album Smash Hits with partner-in-crime Ben van Gelder and the Metropole Orkest to the supergroup Deadeye with Kit Downes and Jonas Burgwinkel. Baas continually challenges and renews himself. Additionally, he takes responsibility for the next generation of jazz musicians through his work at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Jazzcampus Basel and as artistic director of the Nationaal Jeugd Jazz Orkest.

Program

Bennink/Baas/van Gelder + Joris Roelofs
Ben van Gelder alto sax, Joris Roelofs bass clarinet, Reinier Baas guitar, Han Bennink drums

Nationaal Jeugd Jazz Orkest
Carolina Gemmell vocals/guitar, Karlina Priedena vocals/flute, Irene Caumel Carrasco alto sax/baritone sax, Dion Hoorn alto sax, Max van Houtum tenor sax/baritone sax, Nick van der Woude clarinet, Laura van Eerd trumpet, Romain Gachot trumpet, Lezaam Beets trombone, Maximilliano Horcajo trombone, Youk den Haan guitar, Evan van der Feen keys, Sara Brink-Nielsen harp, Rasmus Vik Lakerberg vibraphone, Ton Felices bass, Alejandro Martin Puchau drums, Reinier Baas artistic leader / conductor

The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble
Maarten Hogenhuis alto sax, Ben van Gelder alto sax, Reinier Baas guitar, Sean Fasciani bass, Mark Schilders drums

About the Boy Edgarprijs
The Boy Edgarprijs is the most important prize in Dutch jazz and improvised music. The prize is named after Amsterdam jazz trumpeter and big band leader Boy Edgar, who made an important contribution to the recognition of jazz as a high-quality art form. The Boy Edgarprijs is awarded to musicians who distinguish themselves in their field, who advance the genre, and who make a meaningful contribution to the Dutch music landscape. Since the prize was placed under the stewardship of Fonds Podiumkunsten (Performing Arts Fund) in 2022, the Fund guarantees the continuity and reputation of the award, ensuring that the prize maintains a strong position within the cultural field in the future. The prize is supported by Buma Cultuur, Sena Performers, and North Sea Jazz. Previous winners include Tony Roe, Monica Akihary, and Ronald Snijders.