About

Gedichten van de Torenkamer, EP release at Het Concertgebouw October 18! Maartje Meijer released her 2nd album INNER CIRCLE in March ’16 w/ Record Label Membran. Release concerts took place at the Bimhuis, Lantaren Venster, TivoliVredenburg, Paradox and many other stages. Maartje is by no means a new face on the Dutch scene, loved and lauded by music mags like Jazzism or the daily NRC, and regularly appearing on TV. With “Inner Circle” the young artist is bound to make a mark internationally. Meijer wrote most of the songs on this, her second release under her own name, and all of the arrangements, including a sensational reading of The Beatles’ “She’s Leaving Home”. She is surrounded by virtuoso guest musicians like Joris Roelofs and Maarten Hogenhuis, and taking flight under the wings of the inspired producer (and world-famous jazz guitarist) Jesse van Ruller. “Inner Circle” ” is a very vocal combination of poly-rhythmical pop music and cinematic jazz, and “a loving statement about family, warmth and the never-ending search for relaxation”, as Meijer herself says.

Maartje has studied Jazz Vocals and later on Jazz Piano at the Amsterdam Conservatory. In her masters degree she focused on arranging and took lessons from Jörg Achim Keller, chef conductor NDR Bigband. Her thesis was on counterpoint writing and polyphony in modern music. She finished both degrees (piano BA and vocals MA) in 2012 and has performed in many groups ever since.

As a bandleader she has performed at many festivals (Jazz in Duketown, Jazzy Huiskamers, Cutting Edge Jazz Festival, NEU/NOW Festival Talinn, Estonia) and at many venues (Bimhuis, Lantaren Venster, Bird, Beauforthuis). Together with Eric Vaarzon Morel & Jesse van Ruller they’ve hit many Dutch stages (Concertgebouw, Beauforthuis, Lantaren Venster) with their flamenco-jazz crossover.

As an arranger and composer, Maartje is very active for several bands and choirs. She writes regularly for New Amsterdam Voices, and wrote for ensembles like The Jazzorchestra of the Concertgebouw, G-Star and Frommermann. Go to ‘Arrangements’ to read more about her writing work for other groups & ensembles.