Michiel Stekelenburgis a young guitarist who was inspired by rock (he toured with the rock band Vals Licht) and yet debuted with a jazz album: Hypnos. In 2004 he graduated from the conservatory in Tilburg and since 2007 he has played with bassist Guus Bakker and drummer Pascal Vermeer. Three years later tenor saxophonist Tom Beek joined the threesome. Freedom and improvisation brought Stekelenburg closer to jazz, although rock influences remained present. On Hypnos Stekelenburg presented ten compositions fully illustrating his capacities, since that time he has written a lot more. Is this a rocker who has the nerve to play jazz, or a regretful jazzman who has returned to his base? The truth lies somewhere in the middle. Sometimes we hear sweeping passages you might expect at a rock concert, but jazz lovers will also get their due.
