Brainteaser Orchestra is a reflection of the current Dutch sound of jazz and beyond. Their music fits no label; chunky grooves, captivating ballads, wild soloing and spacey soundscapes - everything is possible. Led by composer Tijn Wybenga, the orchestra was founded with the goal of combining the most exciting new players, and blend their signature sounds into something new. Music that reflects a generation and transcends the jazz idiom.

The widely acclaimed debut album Brainteaser (2021) was awarded ‘Best International Debut Album’ by the German Jazz Prize 2022. It contains five pieces that Wybenga and his thirteen-member orchestra recorded in the renowned Amsterdam jazz venue Bimhuis. On the album, he worked with improvising musicians like Alistair Payne, Kika Sprangers, George Dumitriu and Jamie Peet. Wybenga re-used small, improvised pieces as the basis for newfound grooves, beats and melodies.

In 2023, Tijn Wybenga joined forces with producer lowkolos to re:flect, re:imagine and re:visit the award-winning music. The result is “Re:Brainteaser” with live recordings and remixes of the original album, which was released as a double CD. Simultaneously, they presented a full-length concert registration at Jazz Sous Les Pommiers 2023 on YouTube.

Brainteaser Orchestra does what it was set out to do; lead the way. Wybenga dares to be unapologetic, yet playful, with the orchestra as well as its members showing great promise for the future.

Winner Deutscher Jazzpreis 2022 - ‘Debut Album of the Year International’

GROUP MEMBERS

PRESS

‘Fresh, vibrant futurejazz’

- Amanda Kuyper, **** NRC Handelsblad

‘Brainteaser is richly variegated and compelling’

- Gijsbert Kamer, **** Volkskrant

‘With influences from hip-hop, rock, jazz and classical, and with an exquisite selection of young musicians, Brainteaser has become an album that holds great promise.’

- Mischa Andriessen, Trouw

“In Amsterdam, a new generation has emerged full of joy of playing, experimentation and edginess. This is about a jazz orchestra that combines an unconventional set of instruments with samples. An energetic gesamtkunstwerk in which jazz develops but an individual sound can also be heard.”

- Jury Report Deutscher Jazzpreis 2022 (DE)

“An orchestra like this is an opportunity for anyone who lives for music and adventure.“

- Mathieu Jouan, Citizen Jazz (FR)