Gijs Idema

Gijs Idema (1996) is a guitarist and composer based in Amsterdam.

With a distinctive and open-minded approach Idema creates music with a broad sonic palette, drawing inspiration from a wide range of musical influences. Freely moving between composition and improvisation, while often embracing musical extremes: lyrical passages and meditative silences alongside bursts rich harmonies, daring rhythms and unexpected shifts in texture. At the heart of his music is a search for balance and an urge to remain true to the moment.

His fascination with the possibilities of the guitar began at the age of eleven, when hearing Jimi Hendrix opened up a world of rawness, richness and expressive freedom. The initial curiosity towards the guitar gradually developed into a deeper exploration of jazz and improvised music.

Idema studied at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and the Manhattan School of Music with among others Jim McNeely, Arturo O’Farrill, Christopher Rosenberg, Jesse van Ruller and Martijn van Iterson.

As a band-leader, Idema is active with Gijs Idema's Time-lapse, the Gijs Idema Trio and the Idema/Serierse Quartet. He released a variety of albums under his name with DOX Records including the two albums: Marking Time (2020, solo) and Shaping Time’(2021, with the ADAM Quartet & Anna Serierse). These two albums are part of a triptych centered on the relationship between the transience of time and the subjective experience of music. The third and final installment of the series will be released in the spring of 2027, under the name of Time-Lapse. On this album Idema brings together a unique six-piece ensemble that features, among others, guitarist Ella Zirina and saxophonists Ben van Gelder and Mo van der Does. With the Idema/Serierse Quartet, which Gijs co-leads with vocalist Anna Serierse he released Serenade in Blue (2025, nominated for an Edison Award), Cloud Studies (2022) and Motus (2020, nominated for an Edison Award). 

As a sideman, Idema is part of projects including N∆BOU, William Barrett Band, TheDutchBrewHouse and Nina Rompa. He recently appeared on N∆BOU’s Indigo (2026, Edition Records) and the William Barrett Band’s Live in Amsterdam (2026, DOX Records).

Idema has performed at a wide range of renowned festivals and venues across Europe, Asia, and the United States, including Bimhuis, Concertgebouw, Festival Wonderfeel, Brussels Jazz Festival (BE), Jazz Middelheim (BE), Jazzahead! (DE), Søhesten (DK), Südtirol Jazz Festival Alto Adige (IT), North Sea Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival (UK), Manchester Jazz Festival (UK), Théâtre Victor Hugo (FR), Erasmushuis (IDN), Birdland (USA), and Chris' Jazz Cafe (USA). Performing and collaborating with an array of notable musicians, including Chris Cheek, Arturo O’Farrill, Ben van Gelder, Caroline Davis, Morgan Guerin, JK Kim, Lex Korten, Niklas Lukassen, Patrick Bartley, Maarten Hogenhuis, John Engels, and Jamie Peet.

Over the years, Idema has won several awards, including the Conservatorium Talent Award (2021), The Mingus Composition Price (2021), Keep an Eye: The Records (2019), Art of Expression Award (2019), Leiden Jazz Award (2017) and the Prinses Christina Concours (2016). Idema was also named Jazz Gem as part of the Grachtenfestival in 2025 to fill in a carte blanche at the Grachtenfestival.

Alongside his work as a guitarist, Idema is an active composer. In addition to writing for his own projects, his compositions are also performed in other settings spanning a variety of genres and styles. Some noteworthy collaborations include a series of pieces for string quartet performed by the ADAM Quartet (featured on the album Shaping Time), a solo violin piece written for Lonneke van Straalen (to be premiered in the spring of 2027), a nocturne for piano commissioned by Mattias Spee, and a work for the Nachtlicht Ensemble.