"This guy sounds great!" was Michael Brecker's opinion of pianist and composer Rembrandt Frerichs. One couldn't hope for a better recommendation. Frerichs is a pianist with a broad perspective. He is familiar with the bebop repertoire, but wants to avoid the well-trodden path. He is inspired by European classical music and his passion for Arabic music was developed during his stay in Egypt when he was a student. The now 33-year-old artist performed at North Sea Jazz ten years ago, and in 2007 his debut album was immediately nominated for the Edison Awards. With his trio (Guus Bakker on bass, Vinsent Planjer on drums) he focuses mainly on American jazz, but always in his unique style. The trio is able to swing hard but also to let the notes float lyrically.