Tijn Wybenga
Composer/Conductor of AM.OK
AM.OK is the Amsterdams Modern Orkest, a reflection of the current Dutch sound of jazz and beyond. Their music fits no label; chunky grooves, captivating ballads, wild soloing and spacey soundscapes – everything is possible. Led by composer Tijn Wybenga, the orchestra was founded with the goal of combining the most exciting new players, and blend their signature sounds into something new. Music that reflects a generation and transcends the jazz idiom.
The widely acclaimed debut album Brainteaser (2021) was awarded ‘Best International Debut Album’ by the German Jazz Prize 2022. It contains five pieces that Wybenga and his thirteen-member orchestra recorded in the influential Amsterdam jazz venue Bimhuis. On the album, he worked with improvising musicians like Alistair Payne, Kika Sprangers, George Dumitriu and Jamie Peet. Wybenga re-used small, improvised pieces as the basis for newfound grooves, beats and melodies.
AM.OK does what it was set out to do; lead the way. Wybenga dares to be unapologetic, yet playful, with the orchestra showing great promise both as a group as with its members.
- After our successful showcase last year at jazzahead!, it’s now time to meet the European scene again and talk about the future plans of AM.OK. With a promising tour this year in Germany, France, Austria and Turkey, we are now looking ahead and will meet new promoters, festivals and venues to share our music further into Europe!