‘Pianist, composer and band leader Tony Roe is a versatile musician. His mastery of the instrument is indisputable, but it is his free-spirited approach to the piano that sets his work apart. Roe brings a unique mix of jazz and technology, freely crosses genre boundaries, and adds a new dimension to the audience experience. He is intelligent, passionate, and an innovator in jazz and improvised music.'

Tony Roe is a creative and versatile jazz pianist, born in Amsterdam. He combines elements of classical music, electronic music and Latin-American rhythms to create a completely unique musical experience. Roe studied classical piano at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and jazz piano at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. With Jamie Peet and Pat Cleaver he forms the jazz piano trio ‘Tin Men and the Telephone’, for which he composes the music, creates interactive visuals, and always engages with the audience using self-developed software. His show ‘Modular Piano’ is a collaboration with audiovisual artist Marcel Wierckx, in which synthesizers and interactive projections are controlled by the grand piano.

Roe regularly plays with diverse artists and ensembles, including Nai Barghouti, Vernon Chatlein, NBE and Ben van Gelder. Prior collaborations were with the Metropole Orkest, ISH Dance Collective, Noord Nederlands Toneel (NNT), Asko|Schönberg Ensemble, Room Eleven, and Janne Schra. Roe has performed on stage in countries including Argentina, Canada, England, Egypt, Japan and South Africa.

The jury of the 2024 Boy Edgar Award consisted of Cécile de Vos (chair), Mike Bindraban, Marieke Meischke, Bart Maris, Maite Hontelé, Corrie van Binsbergen, Shishani Vranckx, Bert van den Brink and Raluca Baicu.

The award ceremony will take place in the autumn. Roe will receive the prize sum of € 25,000 as well as the bronze trophy sculpture ‘John Coltrane’, made by Jan Wolkers.

The Boy Edgar Award is the most prestigious award in Dutch jazz and improved music. The award is named after the Amsterdam jazz trumpet player and big band leader Boy Edgar. Edgar made a significant contribution to the recognition of jazz as a worthy form of art.

The Performing Arts Fund NL has organised the selection process since 2022. Every year it bestows the award on a performing musician who notably contributes to the genre. The award is supported by Buma Cultuur, Sena Performers and North Sea Jazz. Previous award winners include Monica Akihary, Ronald Snijders, Ack van Rooyen and Tineke Postma.