The French Louis Sclavis is one of the most talented free jazz and avant-garde clarinetists. Despite his great technical qualities, he never lets these skills take over in his music. His playing style is clear and precise. Nine years old, Sclavis started playing the clarinet in various marching bands. It was the sheer fun of playing that induced him to enter the Lyon conservatory. After his studies he started a career that would be rewarded with the Prix Django Reinhardt for the best jazz musician of the year. At North Sea Jazz he will play with Ernst Reijseger - the cello artist. This accomplished improviser knows, like no other, how to combine themes and free improvisations. During his performances he coaxes any humanly possible sound out of his cello. Reijseger was a student of Anner Bijlsma. From the eighties onward he played in several ensembles including the Theo Loevendie Consort, the Amsterdam String Trio, the Guus Janssen Septet, the Arcado String Trio and the Instant Composers Pool Orchestra. In '85 he was awarded the Boy Edgar Prize. The musician was also crowned with a Bird Award.
