Gijs Idema
Guitarist/composer
Amsterdam based guitarist and composer Gijs Idema plays with musical extremes and is constantly searching for the balance between improvisation and composition. His playing is characterized by lyricism, rhythmic outbursts, rich harmonies, and meditative silences. With his distinctive approach, he creates music with a broad sonic palette, leavingroom for influences from a wide range of musical genres.
In 2021, he completed his Master’s degree at the Conservatorium in Amsterdam. Prior to that, he studied for a year at the Manhattan School of Music with composer Jim McNeely. Idema has long been active with his own trio and has led various ensembles, including Time-Lapse (featuring, among others, Ben van Gelder, Mo van der Does and Ella Zirina) and with vocalist Anna Serierse (duo, Idema/Serierse Quartet and with the ADAM Quartet). He is also a member of several bands such as NABOU, William Barrett Band and the DutchBrewHouse. He has won the Expression of Art Award (2018), Keep an Eye The Records (2019), and the Conservatorium Talent Award (2020).