Berthil Busstra
Marnix Busstra
Frans van Geest
Chris Strik
The Busstra brothers come from a musical family. Berthil’s natural talent on the piano showed as soon as he started playing, at a very young age. With classical piano lessons as a basis, Berthil's greatest talent was readily apparent when he started improvising. Very early on, it was obvious that he would be a professional musician.
Among his main sources of inspiration are pianists Herbie Hancock, George Duke, and Keith Jarrett, along with the late musicians Miles Davis and Michael Brecker, and bands like Earth, Wind & Fire.
Berthil appeared on stage with Mike Mainieri, Ben Herman (New Cool Collective), Rinus Groeneveld (Greenfield), Toon Roos, Peter Tiehuis, Carl Schultze, Fred Berkemeyer, Frans van der Hoeven, Rosanie Reis, Bernard Reinke, Hans Eijkenaar, Leo Jansen, Theo de Jong, Gijs Hendricks, and many others.
Berthil currectly teaches at the Conservatories in Rotterdam and Alkmaar. See: www.berthilbusstra.nl
Among his main sources of inspiration are pianists Herbie Hancock, George Duke, and Keith Jarrett, along with the late musicians Miles Davis and Michael Brecker, and bands like Earth, Wind & Fire.
Berthil appeared on stage with Mike Mainieri, Ben Herman (New Cool Collective), Rinus Groeneveld (Greenfield), Toon Roos, Peter Tiehuis, Carl Schultze, Fred Berkemeyer, Frans van der Hoeven, Rosanie Reis, Bernard Reinke, Hans Eijkenaar, Leo Jansen, Theo de Jong, Gijs Hendricks, and many others.
Berthil currectly teaches at the Conservatories in Rotterdam and Alkmaar. See: www.berthilbusstra.nl
Guitarist Marnix Busstra has distinguished himself as one of the prominent contemporary jazz guitarists and composers in the Netherlands. Besides the Buzz Bros Band he leads the Marnix Busstra Trio, and he is main composer for Dutch theatre diva Karin Bloemen.
As said before, Marnix and Berthil have a very musical family. Their father, Jan Busstra, is a musician and piano teacher with a great love for jazz, and their sister Margreet Busstra is a very talented professional saxophonist and singer.
At an early age, Marnix tried his hand at the piano, the drums and the trumpet. It wasn't until he turned fifteen that he finally found ‘his’ instrument, the guitar.
Although he briefly attended the Hilversum Conservatory, he is truly a self-taught musician. Developing his own style of playing and composing, Marnix has always been inspired by the great jazz musicians of all times, as well as by music from around the world. These influences can be heard in most of his work.
In addition to his collaboration with major players in the Dutch jazz scene such as Yuri Honing and Eric van der Westen, and his work as a composer, Marnix frequently works and tours with award-winning vibist Mike Mainieri (Steps Ahead), and he writes music for vocalist Dianne Reeve, who recognized Marnix' talents as a composer.
For more information about Marnix Busstra, see: www.marnixbusstra.nl
As said before, Marnix and Berthil have a very musical family. Their father, Jan Busstra, is a musician and piano teacher with a great love for jazz, and their sister Margreet Busstra is a very talented professional saxophonist and singer.
At an early age, Marnix tried his hand at the piano, the drums and the trumpet. It wasn't until he turned fifteen that he finally found ‘his’ instrument, the guitar.
Although he briefly attended the Hilversum Conservatory, he is truly a self-taught musician. Developing his own style of playing and composing, Marnix has always been inspired by the great jazz musicians of all times, as well as by music from around the world. These influences can be heard in most of his work.
In addition to his collaboration with major players in the Dutch jazz scene such as Yuri Honing and Eric van der Westen, and his work as a composer, Marnix frequently works and tours with award-winning vibist Mike Mainieri (Steps Ahead), and he writes music for vocalist Dianne Reeve, who recognized Marnix' talents as a composer.
For more information about Marnix Busstra, see: www.marnixbusstra.nl
Bass player Frans van Geest was born in New York in 1968. He started to play the violin at the age of seven, he started to play the bass guitar when he was fifteen.
He went to the conservatory when he was nineteen and studied the bass guitar for two years. Then he switched to the Double Bass. When he finished his final exam he already played with Dutch finest jazz musicians like Ferdinand Povel and Wim Overgauw.
Nowadays he is one of Netherlands's busiest bass players and sought after accompanist of major American and European jazz musicians. As a member and pro-founder of the ‘Jazz Orchestra of the Concertbuilding’ he played with a.o. Monty Alexander, Johnny Griffin, Joe Lovano, Lee Konitz, Toots Thielemans, Pat Martino, Joe Henderson, Elvin Jones and Chick Corea.
In small groups he accompanied a.o. Curtis Fuller, Slide Hampton, Bobby Durham, Roy Hargrove, Joe Cohn, Harry Allen and Scott Hammilton.
Frans is playing in a lot of Dutch Jazz Groups, a.o. Peter Beets trio, Jesse van Ruller 4tet, Martijn van Iterson 4tet, The Reeds, European Jazz Quintet, 4beat6 and Bert van den Brink trio.
He went to the conservatory when he was nineteen and studied the bass guitar for two years. Then he switched to the Double Bass. When he finished his final exam he already played with Dutch finest jazz musicians like Ferdinand Povel and Wim Overgauw.
Nowadays he is one of Netherlands's busiest bass players and sought after accompanist of major American and European jazz musicians. As a member and pro-founder of the ‘Jazz Orchestra of the Concertbuilding’ he played with a.o. Monty Alexander, Johnny Griffin, Joe Lovano, Lee Konitz, Toots Thielemans, Pat Martino, Joe Henderson, Elvin Jones and Chick Corea.
In small groups he accompanied a.o. Curtis Fuller, Slide Hampton, Bobby Durham, Roy Hargrove, Joe Cohn, Harry Allen and Scott Hammilton.
Frans is playing in a lot of Dutch Jazz Groups, a.o. Peter Beets trio, Jesse van Ruller 4tet, Martijn van Iterson 4tet, The Reeds, European Jazz Quintet, 4beat6 and Bert van den Brink trio.
Drummer Chris Strik comes from a musical background as well. His father was a musician, and he grew up with music all around him. Chris started out on accordion when he was 6, but soon switched to drums. He started to practice seriously in his early teens, and did his first studio session at the tender age of 12.
Seven years later, Chris was admitted to the Utrecht conservatory, with teachers David Weiss and Gerhard Jeltes. In 1993, he graduated with the highest possible marks. He currently teaches at de Nieuwe Veste in Breda.
Chris frequently tours internationally with pianist Amina Figarova (www.aminafigarova.com)
He has played with Gary Willis, Niels Henning Pedersen, Bob Mallach, Denise Jannah, Hein van de Geyn, Deborah Brown, Kenny Wheeler, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ferdinand Povel, Piet Noordijk, Hans Dulfer, Michiel Borstlap,Trijntje Oosterhuis, Jocelyn Brown, Eef Albers, the New Cool Collective, the Metropole Orchestra, Ad Colen 4, F.L. 4., and others.
For more information about Chris Strik, see: www.chrisstrik.com