Pianist/composer Lynne Arriale’s career is graced by a love of melody and a joy of musical discovery. Arriale has performed on international concert and festival stages over the past 25 years. The consummate storyteller, she immediately connects with her listeners. JazzTimes wrote, "She achieves a special, deep connection with her audience, and the energy flows both ways. Arriale’s emotional authenticity allows her audience to feel and think along with her… Lynne Arriale’s music lies at the synaptic intersection where brain meets heart, where body meets soul. She is one of jazzdom’s most intensely unique voices." At the core of Arriale’s appeal is her ability to communicate with her band and listeners. "The poet laureate of her generation” (Jazz Police), her performances and recordings with her trio led to comparisons with the great trios of Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett, yet she has been consistently praised as having a "singular voice" as a pianist, leader, composer, and arranger. "I really can’t compare her to anyone," said recent collaborator and multi-Grammy winner Randy Brecker. "Her music transcends the word ‘jazz’ – it is just pure music." Arriale was the first prize winner of the 1993 International Great American Jazz Piano Competition, and soon launched her touring and recording career. Her 13 CDs as a leader have topped the Jazzweek Radio Charts; Inspiration and Arise reached #1 and Come Together #3, Nuance #4 and were included on numerous "Best Of" lists, including The New Yorker and United Press International. Her tenth trio recording, LIVE (CD/DVD) was named one of UPI’s Best Jazz CDs and among The New Yorker Magazine’s Best CDs of the year. Solo was named one of the top CDs of 2012 by JAZZIZ Magazine, and Convergence was named one of the top 50 CDs of 2011 by JazzTimes. Arriale was #13 and #17 in the piano category for the 2015 and 2016 Downbeat Reader's Poll.
She was selected to substitute for Marian McPartland with the 100 Golden Fingers tour of Japan with iconic jazz pianists Tommy Flanagan, Hank Jones, Monty Alexander, Cedar Walton, Kenny Barron, Harold Mabern, Roger Kellaway, Junior Mance and Ray Bryant. Arriale has performed and/or recorded with jazz greats Randy Brecker, George Mraz, Benny Golson, Rufus Reid and Marian McPartland, to name a few. Her international performances on concert and festival stages include the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Montreux, Burghausen, Gilmore, Spoleto Arts, Montreal, Monterey, North Sea, Stuttgart, Pori, San Francisco, Ottawa, Zagreb, Perth, Brisbane, Rouen, Cannes MIDEM, Sardinia, Rochester, Wigan, Poznan, Estoril, Palermo, Inverness, Cork and San Javier. Arriale has toured Brazil, Germany, Austria, Serbia, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, France, Belgium,The Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Australia, Japan, Spain, Portugal, South Africa, England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, China, South Africa and the U.S.
Arriale’s live TV and radio appearances and concert performances include Profile of a Recording Artist, NPR’s Weekend Edition, Jazz Set, Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland, NPR’s Jazz Piano Christmas, CNN/FN Biz, the BBC, Radio France and German National Television.Press features include Billboard, Downbeat, JazzTimes, JAZZIZ, BBC Magazine, The London Times and cover stories for JazzEd, One Way and M Magazines.
A devoted educator and Yamaha artist, Arriale is currently Professor of Jazz Studies and Director of Small Ensembles at The University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
“Lynne Arriale’s remarkable career is graced by a rare commitment to authenticity and vulnerability defined by careful craft and high artistic standards. It is precisely this willingness to remain so emotionally exposed that makes her performances so accessible to music lovers of all kinds” (All About Jazz).

The Lynne Arriale Trio, featuring renowned Dutch musicians, Jasper Somsen and Hans van Oosterhout will be making its debut in the fall of 2017. This transatlantic collaboration creates a fresh and exciting exploration of Lynne Arriale's musical world.
Pianist/composer Lynne Arriale's career is graced by a love of melody and a joy of musical discovery. Arriale has performed on international concert and festival stages over the past 25 years. The consummate storyteller, she immediately connects with her listeners. JazzTimes wrote, "She achieves a special, deep connection with her audience, and the energy flows both ways. Arriale's emotional authenticity allows her audience to feel and think along with her." At the core of Arriale's appeal is her ability to communicate with her band and listeners. "The poet laureate of her generation" (Jazz Police), her performances and recordings with her trio have led to comparisons with the great trios of Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett, yet she has been consistently praised as having a "singular voice" as a pianist, leader, composer, and arranger. "I really can't compare her to anyone," said recent collaborator and multi-Grammy winner Randy Brecker. "Her music transcends the word 'jazz' - it is just pure music." With a style that is vibrant, lyrical and intimate, with a great joy of musical discovery, the Lynne Arriale Trio provides an exhilarating musical experience that touches hearts and minds. The trio is known for reimagining the classics of The Great American Songbook, modern popular classics by the Beatles, Sting and Blondie, playful deconstructions of the tunes of Thelonious Monk and Lynne's own highly melodic and compelling compositions. With each note, her touch and her musical imagination, she has created a sound and a musical voice that is uniquely her own.
Lynne Arriale has toured the world with her trio throughout Brazil, Germany, Austria, Serbia, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, France, Belgium,The Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Australia, Japan, Spain, Portugal, South Africa, England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, China, South Africa and the U.S. In addition to her trio work, Lynne has toured with jazz piano icons, Tommy Flanagan, Hank Jones, Monty Alexander, Cedar Walton, Kenny Barron, Harold Mabern, Roger Kellaway, Junior Mance and Ray Bryant. She has performed and/or recorded with jazz greats Randy Brecker, George Mraz, Benny Golson, Rufus Reid, Marian McPartland and Larry Coryell.
The world's great jazz festivals and concert stages have invited Lynne to perform, including five performances at the Kennedy Center and additional performances at Lincoln Center, Montreux, Burghausen, Gilmore, Spoleto Arts, Montreal, Monterey, North Sea, Stuttgart, Pori, San Francisco, Ottawa, Zagreb, Perth, Brisbane, Rouen, Cannes MIDEM, Sardinia, Rochester, Wigan, Poznan, Estoril, Palermo, Inverness, Cork and San Javier.
Lynne was the first prize winner of the 1993 International Great American Jazz Piano Competition. Her 13 CDs as a leader have topped the Jazzweek Radio Charts; Inspiration and Arise reached #1 and Come Together #3, Nuance #4 and were included on numerous "Best Of" lists, including The New Yorker and United Press International. Her tenth trio recording, LIVE (CD/DVD) was named one of UPI's Best Jazz CDs and among The New Yorker Magazine's Best CDs of the year. Solo was named one of the top CDs of 2012 by JAZZIZ Magazine, and Convergence was named one of the top 50 CDs of 2011 by JazzTimes. Arriale was #13 and #17 in the piano category for the 2015 and 2016 Downbeat Reader's Poll.
A devoted educator, Lynne Arriale has conducted educational clinics and masterclasses throughout the world and is currently Professor of Jazz Studies and Director of Small Ensembles at The University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
Lynne is thrilled to be collaborating with such extraordinary musicians as Jasper and Hans. Jasper Somsen Double bassist/composer/producer, Jasper Somsen, has performed and/or recorded with some of the world's most renowned jazz musicians, such as Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc, Bob Sheppard, Justin Faulkner, André Ceccarelli, Gabriele Mirabassi, Bert Joris, Bert van den Brink, Ramón Valle, Toon Roos, Karel Boehlee, John Engels, Yuri Honing and Eric Vloeimans.
Jasper has performed on concert and festival stages throughout the world and can be heard on more than 30 albums. His playing and compositions have earned him high critical acclaim in the international press. In addition to performing, Jasper is frequently invited as a guest teacher at the conservatories in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Arnhem.
Hans van Oosterhout is one of the most sought after Dutch Jazz drummers from the last decades. He has performed and/or recorded world wide with international jazz icons Toots Thielemans, Philip Catherine, Ralph Moore, Mark Murphy, Nat Adderley, Bob Malach, Lee Konitz, Rick Margitza, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kenny Wheeler, Gary Burton, Benny Golson, James Moody, Marc Johnson, Benny Golson, Eliane Elias, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Richard Galliano, Chico Free, Von Freeman, Lionel Loueke, David Sanchez, Johnny Griffin, Randy Brecker, John Scofield, Enrico Pieranunzi and Gino Vannelli. Hans teaches at the conservatories in Rotterdam and Tilburg, The Netherlands. Hans van Oosterhout Hans van Oosterhout is one of the most sought after Dutch Jazz drummers from the last decades. He has performed and/or recorded world wide with international jazz icons Toots Thielemans, Philip Catherine, Ralph Moore, Mark Murphy, Nat Adderley, Bob Malach, Lee Konitz, Rick Margitza, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kenny Wheeler, Gary Burton, Benny Golson, James Moody, Marc Johnson, Benny Golson, Eliane Elias, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Richard Galliano, Chico Free, Von Freeman, Lionel Loueke, David Sanchez, Johnny Griffin, Randy Brecker, John Scofield, Enrico Pieranunzi and Gino Vannelli. Hans teaches at the conservatories in Rotterdam and Tilburg, The Netherlands. What the critics are saying: Lynne Arriale's music lies at the synaptic intersection where brain meets heart, where body meets soul. She is one of jazzdom's most intensely unique voices. -- JazzTimes The poet laureate of her generation -- Jazz Police A singular voice as a pianist and leader ... a powerhouse. -- Downbeat Lynne Arriale is putting the heart back into jazz. -- The Sunday Times, London A great organic pianist and composer whose beautiful and muscular playing ranks with Mehldau and Bill Evans. -- L.A. Weekly Lynne Arriale's brilliant musicianship and bandstand instincts place her among the top jazz pianists of the day. -- New York Times She belongs among the poets. Truly distinctive, her improvisations weave a seductive combination of lyricism and muscle. -- The London Times This sound comes straight from the spirit. She holds the audience spellbound. -- Jazz Improv There may be no jazz artist working today who brings a broader spectrum of musical ideas to the connection of mind and heart. -- Jazz Police Lynne Arriale has developed a reputation for being an intelligently harmonic and effortlessly lyrical pianist, orbiting in the same rarified sphere as Fred Hersch, Alan Broadbent, and the late Tommy Flanagan. -- All About Jazz Lynne Arriale creates difficulties for reviewers: how to find fresh superlatives for a pianist who maintains such extraordinarily high standards? There is a handful of jazz pianists that I would gladly listen to all night long. Those master craftsmen Ahmad Jamal and John Bunch immediately come to mind. Arriale makes three. -- The Sunday Times, London Known for their signature sound, creative interplay, and joyous enthusiasm, Lynne and her musicians seemed to be inventing out of a shared metabolism. -- The Boston Globe. Lynne Arriale is a monster of a piano player-a gentle monster. She swings as hard as anyone but in a modern way. She can play soft and gentle like Bill Evans or loud and heavy like Monk or McCoy Tyner, and her harmonies are extraordinarily rich. She is an explorer, and a true artist, with a very unique voice and her ego seems to be completely out of the picture, allowing her to take musical explorations that only such humility can get you a ticket for. And to top it off, she writes beautiful melodies that are memorable and singable, yet with mindboggling harmonic richness. -- Jazz Improv Magazine

Dutch double bassist, composer and producer Jasper Somsen (1973) graduated in both Jazz and Classical double bass. He is an open minded versatile musician. Best known as a Jazz musician his field of interest and expertise also includes cross overs to classical, pop, world and film music and theater productions.

Jasper has collaborated with some of the very best musicians on the international jazz scene including Peter Erskine, Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc, Eric Marienthal, Bob Sheppard, Seamus Blake, Jorge Rossy, Kendrick Scott, Justin Faulkner, André Ceccarelli, Gary Husband, Gabriele Mirabassi and Paolo Fresu.

Besides a performer and composer, Jasper Somsen is a Challenge Records artist and a renowned studio producer. Jasper performs world wide and can be heard on more than 45 albums, video and film music scores. Outside a busy playing and studio producing schedule he is an educator at the ArtEZ University of the Arts, Arnhem (NL) and the general director of the foundation Cultural City of Wageningen, in his hometown.