Guitarist and composer Reinier Baas has received the Boy Edgar Prize 2025 at the Bimhuis in Amsterdam, the Netherlands’ most prestigious award for jazz and improvised music. The prize recognises Baas as one of the most innovative and influential musicians of his generation.
A distinctive voice in jazz
The jury praises Baas as “an authentic innovator” who brings together tradition and experimentation in a highly individual way. With humour, lightness and depth, he effortlessly brings jazz into the present and makes it accessible to a wide audience. His playing is described as technically virtuosic, rhythmically free and strikingly flexible: “Time and groove are elastic with Baas.” An excerpt from the jury report was read out during the evening by Viktorien van Hulst, Director of the Performing Arts Fund NL.
Celebratory presentation with a diverse musical programme
The award ceremony featured performances that highlighted Baas’s versatility. A specially formed quartet with Han Bennink, Ben van Gelder and Joris Roelofs performed, alongside the National Youth Jazz Orchestra led by Baas and The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble. The evening celebrated not only his artistic range, but also his role as an inspiration to young musicians.
An eclectic and layered sound world
The jury commends Baas’s distinctive style: an eclectic blend of jazz, hip hop, lo-fi punk and classical music, forged into a clearly personal signature. Even in small ensembles, his music sounds “like a full orchestra”, as he allows space for risk, rough edges and unexpected turns.
A key figure in the Dutch jazz landscape
With two Edison Awards, a wide range of international collaborations and projects spanning from solo work to large-scale productions, Baas is among the most prominent jazz musicians of today. He is also active as a teacher and as artistic director of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, where he is committed to developing young talent.
About the Boy Edgar Prize
The Boy Edgar Prize is awarded to musicians who make an exceptional contribution to jazz and improvised music in the Netherlands. Since 2022, the prize has been administered by the Performing Arts Fund NL, with support from Buma Cultuur, Sena Performers and North Sea Jazz. Previous recipients include Corrie van Binsbergen, Ack van Rooyen and Benjamin Herman.