With Love Letters, drummer and composer Joost Lijbaart has created perhaps the most personal album of his career, an album on which he lets go of many of his musical certainties.
After 35 years in jazz, improvisation and world music, Lijbaart asked himself a simple yet confronting question: what remains when technique, virtuosity and musical complexity are stripped away? What happens when the only intention is to play honestly?
The answer was rhythm, sound and the expressive power of words.
Together with young New Zealand singer, bassist and songwriter Amelie Spinks and American bassist River Adomeit, Lijbaart formed the band Sunflower. In its music, his long-standing love of country, folk and Americana comes clearly to the surface—genres he had listened to for years but had never previously explored in a project of his own.
The age difference between the three musicians (Spinks is 23, Adomeit 29 and Lijbaart 58) did not create distance. Instead, it became a source of inspiration, shaping the songwriting, the lyrics and the musical concept.
Their collaboration brought back the excitement of first experiences: making music without routine and without predetermined roles.
For Lijbaart, Sunflower also required a radical new approach to drumming. Much of what he had developed throughout his career ,extended percussion, complex rhythms and technical virtuosity had no place in these songs. Instead, he searched for something more essential: rhythm, texture and expression through simplicity, finding exactly the right balance between instrumentation, lyrics and groove.
The songs on Love Letters draw attention to the places where life may reveal itself most truthfully: in small gestures, in touch, in waiting and in care. They open up a world in which quiet actions carry more meaning than grand statements, and where silence and listening can lead to greater understanding and wisdom.
At the heart of the album is the idea of equality not as a declaration, but as a way of being.
In “If I Was a Woman,” Lijbaart consciously attempts to step into a perspective that is still too often overlooked within a patriarchal society. “Eight Hands on a Black Cat” explores the strange contrast between the tangible, truthful experiences of domestic life and the noise and superficiality of the outside world.
For Joost Lijbaart, Sunflower is not a side project, but a new artistic beginning: music made without protection, in which virtuosity no longer determines what should be said. The song does.
Joost Lijbaart (Amsterdam 1967) started playing drums at the age of 7, following his father Piet Lijbaart (Amsterdam 1933-1970).
He graduated in 1991 with honors from the Hilversum Conservatory where he followed classes with Cees Kranenburg, Marcel Serierse Ali Un D’Aye Rose and Victor Oskam.
With the Yuri Honing Trio in 1996, he made the album ‘Star Tracks’ from (a modern adaptation of European pop classics).
In the 20 year history of the trio the group released 5 CDs and performed on numerous tours in more than 90 countries. There were musical collaborations with musicians from the Middle East, India and China.
Besides working as a sideman Lijbaart focused also on his own projects, such as his own quartet ‘Group of Friends’, his duo with pianist Wolfert Brederode, the group Batik and his recently formed improvisation trio with vocalist Sanne Rambags and guitar player Bram Stadhouders.
At the North Sea Jazz Festival he received in 2003 as a drummer the soloist prize at the Dutch jazz competition given by Elvin Jones.
Joost played over the years regularly classical percussion music of Iannis Xenakis, John Cage and Steve Reich and worked on several projects together with Theo Loevendie and Louis Andriessen. He performed as a soloist with the New Ensemble at the Muziekgebouw in 2016.
He was collaborating with artists from other disciplines such as dancer / choreographer Anouk van Dijk, dancer / choreographer Lonneke of Leth and writer PF Thomese.
Joost Lijbaart is a player with many different interests. He has years of experience in the history of jazz from the 50s and 60s, played a lot of pop and rock and studied musical traditions of West Africa, Northern India and the Middle East.
As an experienced teacher Joost Lijbaart gives regular guest lectures and classes at conservatories around the world.
Since 2016 he is also teaching entrepreneurship at the Conservatory in Amsterdam and the Prins Claus Conservatory in Groningen.
Joost Lijbaart toured in more than 90 countries around the world and performed at many major jazz festivals.
River Adomeit is a songwriter and improviser deeply rooted in the American folk and jazz traditions. Originally from the United States and currently residing in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, River casts a wide net of influences that he seamlessly incorporates into his bold and concentrated approach to composition and performance.
River earned his master’s degree summa cum laude from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and was recently announced as one of the newest members of the Splendor collective. He has performed with improvised music luminaries (Jamey Haddad, Joris Roelofs, Michael Vatcher, Billy Childs, Yuri Honing, and Matt Wilson,) and has taken part in performances and tours across Europe, Japan, Brazil, India, Nepal, South Africa, and Israel.
His bold and concentrated approach to composition and performance earned him the title of Jonge Maker for Jazzfest Amsterdam 2024, where he used the position to explore a more theatrical approach to improvisation. Together with co-conspirator Beatrice Sberna, "Gestour” was born, a vocal/bass duo that infuses their music with comedy and satire.
As leader of improv-folk trio Flatland Prayer, River takes an interdisciplinary approach to songwriting. The trio’s unique incorporation of theater, visual arts, and spoken word resulted in their winning of Keep an Eye: The Records 2025, for which they will be releasing a new album in January 2026. Flatland Prayer exclusively works with through-composed sets of music with their own distinctive storyline and narrative flow; they’ve tackled everything from identity and relationships to far-right extremism .
In addition to his work as bandleader, River is also an accomplished sideman. He is the current bassist for Mongolian jazz/folk singer Enji, with whom he has performed at venues in 10 countries such as the Barbican in London, North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, and SXSW in Austin, Texas.
Raised in small-town New Zealand, Amelie moved to Amsterdam in 2021 to continue her passion for jazz and upright bass. Now, in her development as a songwriter, she embarks on a journey as an indie-folk musician. Inspired by the likes of Adrienne Lenker, Joni Mitchell and Aldous Harding, Amelie’s songs embody the New Zealand folk music experience.
IIn October 2024, Amelie released her debut EP, Warm Light. This collection of songs breath sentimentality and turbulence that moving away from home inspired. In that sense, a musical diary was formed that speaks of isolation and finding comfort in unknown. With wistful guitar playing, a gentle voice and poetic melodies, these songs aim to fuel vulnerability.
On a quest to dive deeper into honesty and beautiful power, Amelie is currently working on a fresh group of songs which will be released in 2026. This new music poses as a continuation of herself and portrays the emotional and mystical growth that continues to encroach on a young woman and musician.
Wolfert Brederode started playing classical piano and violin at the age of seven. In his early teenage years he also discovered pop- and jazz music and started composing his own music.
In 1999 he graduated with honors from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, where he had been studying with ao Frans Elsen, Albert Brussee and Rob van Kreeveld.
Wolfert has since then developed into one of the most prominent and authentic voices on the Dutch jazz scene. His refined and focused touch, the concern for natural flow, his openness and a relentless search for new horizons are characteristic features of his music.
He debuted with groups such as Nimbus, the Wolfert Brederode Quintet and Trio, Binary Orchid, Duo Lijbaart/Brederode and Batik. Later he founded his lauded international quartet with Claudio Puntin, Mats Eilertsen and Samuel Rohrer. Ensembles of current interest are Ruins and Remains, a project with drummer Joost Lijbaart and the Matangi Quartet, duo Ella Zirina/Wolfert Brederode and duo Lijbaart/Brederode. As a leader he recorded four albums for ECM Records. His latest album is Ruins and Remains which has been released in September 2022 on ECM and has been rewarded with the Edison Jazz Award in 2023.
As a much in demand sideman Wolfert has been working extensively with ao Susanne Abbuehl, Yuri Honing Acoustic Quartet, Celano/Baggiani/Badenhorst/Brederode and Kika Sprangers’s No Man’s Land. Both as a sideman and with his own ensembles he recorded several albums, and toured and performed at festivals throughout Europe, North- and South America, Canada, Asia, Australia and Africa. Four albums on which he collaborated have been awarded with an Edison Award. Wolfert has furthermore worked with artists such as David Liebman, Arve Henriksen, Mark Feldman, Tore Brunborg, Ack van Rooyen, Jeanne Lee, Mathias Eick, Michel Portal and Marilyn Mazur.
Apart from performing Wolfert composes regularly for dance, theatre and film productions as well as working as a producer. Wolfert is a main subject teacher jazz piano & ensembles at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague and Fontys in Tilburg, the Netherlands.
Joost Lijbaart (Amsterdam 1967) started playing drums at the age of 7, following his father Piet Lijbaart (Amsterdam 1933-1970).
He graduated in 1991 with honors from the Hilversum Conservatory where he followed classes with Cees Kranenburg, Marcel Serierse Ali Un D’Aye Rose and Victor Oskam.
With the Yuri Honing Trio in 1996, he made the album ‘Star Tracks’ from (a modern adaptation of European pop classics).
In the 20 year history of the trio the group released 5 CDs and performed on numerous tours in more than 90 countries. There were musical collaborations with musicians from the Middle East, India and China.
Besides working as a sideman Lijbaart focused also on his own projects, such as his own quartet ‘Group of Friends’, his duo with pianist Wolfert Brederode, the group Batik and his recently formed improvisation trio with vocalist Sanne Rambags and guitar player Bram Stadhouders.
At the North Sea Jazz Festival he received in 2003 as a drummer the soloist prize at the Dutch jazz competition given by Elvin Jones.
Joost played over the years regularly classical percussion music of Iannis Xenakis, John Cage and Steve Reich and worked on several projects together with Theo Loevendie and Louis Andriessen. He performed as a soloist with the New Ensemble at the Muziekgebouw in 2016.
He was collaborating with artists from other disciplines such as dancer / choreographer Anouk van Dijk, dancer / choreographer Lonneke of Leth and writer PF Thomese.
Joost Lijbaart is a player with many different interests. He has years of experience in the history of jazz from the 50s and 60s, played a lot of pop and rock and studied musical traditions of West Africa, Northern India and the Middle East.
As an experienced teacher Joost Lijbaart gives regular guest lectures and classes at conservatories around the world.
Since 2016 he is also teaching entrepreneurship at the Conservatory in Amsterdam and the Prins Claus Conservatory in Groningen.
Joost Lijbaart toured in more than 90 countries around the world and performed at many major jazz festivals.
Wolfert Brederode started playing classical piano and violin at the age of seven. In his early teenage years he also discovered pop- and jazz music and started composing his own music.
In 1999 he graduated with honors from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, where he had been studying with ao Frans Elsen, Albert Brussee and Rob van Kreeveld.
Wolfert has since then developed into one of the most prominent and authentic voices on the Dutch jazz scene. His refined and focused touch, the concern for natural flow, his openness and a relentless search for new horizons are characteristic features of his music.
He debuted with groups such as Nimbus, the Wolfert Brederode Quintet and Trio, Binary Orchid, Duo Lijbaart/Brederode and Batik. Later he founded his lauded international quartet with Claudio Puntin, Mats Eilertsen and Samuel Rohrer. Ensembles of current interest are Ruins and Remains, a project with drummer Joost Lijbaart and the Matangi Quartet, duo Ella Zirina/Wolfert Brederode and duo Lijbaart/Brederode. As a leader he recorded four albums for ECM Records. His latest album is Ruins and Remains which has been released in September 2022 on ECM and has been rewarded with the Edison Jazz Award in 2023.
As a much in demand sideman Wolfert has been working extensively with ao Susanne Abbuehl, Yuri Honing Acoustic Quartet, Celano/Baggiani/Badenhorst/Brederode and Kika Sprangers’s No Man’s Land. Both as a sideman and with his own ensembles he recorded several albums, and toured and performed at festivals throughout Europe, North- and South America, Canada, Asia, Australia and Africa. Four albums on which he collaborated have been awarded with an Edison Award. Wolfert has furthermore worked with artists such as David Liebman, Arve Henriksen, Mark Feldman, Tore Brunborg, Ack van Rooyen, Jeanne Lee, Mathias Eick, Michel Portal and Marilyn Mazur.
Apart from performing Wolfert composes regularly for dance, theatre and film productions as well as working as a producer. Wolfert is a main subject teacher jazz piano & ensembles at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague and Fontys in Tilburg, the Netherlands.
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