“He is simply the best jazz guitarist in the Netherlands. What did I say? I mean in Europe!” That’s what veteran bebop pianist Rein de Graaff says about Martijn van Iterson. “He plays with soul, the blues echo throughout and he can tell a story in his solos. And he swings!” High praise for van Iterson (1970) who recently released his fourth album as a bandleader, Swarms. His previous album Streetwise came out in 2006. In the interim the guitarist went through a difficult period in his personal life but he has now given this a place in his music. Van Iterson developed his single note technique by listening closely to horn players like John Coltrane, Stan Getz and George Coleman; for harmonies he turned to his mentor, guitarist Wim Overgaauw and pianists like Bill Evans and Herbie Hancock. Pat Metheny presented him with the Bird Award at the North Sea Jazz Festival in 2004.
