Sjoerd Van Eijck
Biographie Sjoerd Van Eijck
Sjoerd van Eijck
(Breda, 1992) is a pianist, composer, and educator. He graduated in 2016 from the Tilburg Conservatory, where he studied under renowned pianists such as Jeroen van Vliet, Rembrandt Frerichs, Harmen Fraanje, and Wolfert Brederode.
In recent years, Van Eijck has established himself as a distinctive voice within the Dutch jazz scene. His lyrical playing style is characterized by a classical approach to the piano, a refined touch, and a rich tonal palette. Melody, timbre, and space are central to both his compositions and improvisations, seamlessly blending influences from classical music, free improvisation, and contemporary jazz.
In 2021, he released his debut album, *Aurora*, with his quartet OAK—comprising trumpeter Koen Smits, bassist Nathan Wouters, and drummer Willem Romers—on the ZenneZ Records label. The album was well received by the press, audiences, and concert programmers alike. OAK continued this artistic trajectory with their follow-up album, *Eight*. Released in 2024, the album was nominated for an Edison Jazz Audience Award and solidified the quartet's standing in the Dutch jazz world. OAK is known for a unique musical language that fuses influences from classical music, Scandinavian jazz, minimalism, and free improvisation into an intimate, layered sound.
In addition to OAK, Van Eijck forms the trio Mudita alongside trumpeter Koen Smits and vocalist Sanne Rambags. With this ensemble, he recorded two albums, including *Listen to the Sound of the Forest*, which won an Edison Jazz Award.
As a sideman, Van Eijck has collaborated with numerous prominent musicians from the Netherlands and abroad. He has been a member of the Efraïm Trujillo Quartet and HOTSPOT, Eric Vloeimans’s band.
Recently, Van Eijck stepped up his international activities through a new collaboration with German cellist Jörg Brinkmann and Norwegian drummer Jarle Vespestad. This resulted in the album *Pegasus*, a work that blends lyricism, improvisation, and chamber-music refinement, marking a new chapter in the trio's artistic evolution.
Beyond the jazz scene, Van Eijck has served for several years as the regular pianist for singer Dennis van Aarssen. Together, they have performed in numerous theater productions, concerts, and international tours across Europe. In recent years, Van Aarssen has emerged as one of the most successful Dutch crooners of his generation, boasting multiple Edison Jazz Awards, sold-out concerts at home and abroad, and a rapidly growing international career.
In addition to his work as a performing musician, Van Eijck is an active educator. He is a principal piano instructor at the Tilburg Conservatory and also teaches piano at De Nieuwe Veste in Breda.
