Michiel Borstlap

 

Michiel Borstlap (born 5 August 1966) is a renowned Dutch pianist and composer celebrated for his virtuosity in both jazz and contemporary classical music. One of the most successful jazz musicians to emerge from the Netherlands , Borstlap has built an international career that spans over three decades and 90+ countries . His pianistic style is often described as lyrical, adventurous, and genre-blending, drawing on influences from classical maestros like Glenn Gould and Sviatoslav Richter as well as jazz greats like Art Tatum and Keith Jarrett . With deep respect for jazz history, he integrates the influence of legends such as Art Tatum, Bud Powell, and Joe Zawinul into his own projects , earning him a reputation as “one of the most versatile musicians on the contemporary jazz scene” .  In both intimate solo recitals and on grand concert stages, Borstlap’s artistry bridges the worlds of jazz improvisation and neo-classical composition, captivating audiences worldwide.

 

Early Life and Musical Education

 

Born into a musical family in The Hague, Netherlands, Borstlap was surrounded by music from an early age. His mother was a classically trained pianist and his father a composer, and they nurtured his talents in both classical and jazz traditions . Michiel began playing piano in childhood and was performing in clubs and festivals as a teenager . He went on to formal training at the Conservatory in Hilversum, where he studied under Dutch piano masters like Henk Elkerbout and Rob Madna . Borstlap graduated cum laude in 1992, completing his conservatory studies with highest honors . That same year, his burgeoning talent earned him the Prize for Best Soloist at the Europe Jazz Contest in Belgium – an early indication of the acclaim to come.

 

Breakthrough and International Recognition

 

Borstlap’s international breakthrough came in 1996 when he became the first Dutch artist to win the prestigious Thelonious Monk / BMI Composers Award in the United States . He received this honor for his composition “Memory of Enchantment,” a piece that would prove pivotal in his career. Jazz icons Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter were so impressed by the composition that they recorded “Memory of Enchantment” for their duo album 1+1 on Verve Records . The song became a hallmark of their world tour repertoire , effectively catapulting Borstlap into the global spotlight. Off the strength of this success, Borstlap signed an exclusive recording contract with the legendary Verve record label in 1997 , solidifying his status as a rising star in jazz.

 

Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Borstlap expanded his international presence. He performed at major jazz festivals and venues around the world, from North America to Europe and Asia, earning praise for his ability to balance deep reverence for jazz tradition with a fresh, innovative voice . In 2001, Universal released his album Gramercy Park, which featured Borstlap’s inventive take on Chopin’s First Scherzo – a nod to his classical roots embedded within a jazz context. By this time, his music had developed a distinctive character: one that freely combined jazz improvisation, classical lyricism, and even ambient and world-music influences into a contemporary sound .

 

Collaborations and Major Performances

 

A hallmark of Michiel Borstlap’s career is his extensive collaboration with an impressive roster of musical legends across genres. He has worked with some of the world’s greatest jazz artists, including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Pat Metheny, Billy Cobham, George Duke, and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts . From 2004 to 2009, Borstlap toured and recorded with British fusion drummer Bill Bruford (of Yes and King Crimson fame), a partnership that yielded three live albums and a concert DVD . Their collaboration showcased Borstlap’s adventurous spirit, as he merged his style with Bruford’s progressive jazz-rock approach. In 2007, he joined forces with Canadian vocalist Gino Vannelli for a series of concerts spanning Montreal, Moscow, Italy, Sweden, and the Netherlands , demonstrating his ability to cross into pop and soul-influenced jazz. He has also performed extensively with Dutch pop/jazz singers Trijntje Oosterhuis and Edsilia Rombley, and even with classical artists like violinist Janine Jansen, showing a unique adaptability across musical realms .

 

Borstlap’s versatility extends beyond jazz into classical and world music contexts. In 2003, he was commissioned by the Emir of Qatar to compose Opera Avicenna, hailed as the world’s first Arabic-language opera . This ambitious three-hour work (inspired by the life of the Persian polymath Ibn Sina) was composed in under a month and premiered in Doha to great acclaim . The project marked a turning point in Borstlap’s development as a composer, underlining his ability to transcend genre boundaries. He later chronicled this experience in a book titled Opera in Qatar (published 2006) .

 

On stage, Michiel Borstlap has proven equally at home in jazz clubs and classical concert halls. He has appeared as a soloist with orchestras such as the famed Metropole Orkest and the Radio Philharmonic, and he has worked with contemporary classical composers like Ludovico Einaudi on collaborative performances . His concert itinerary has spanned 92 countries across all continents , including performances at prestigious festivals like the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, and other major international music events. Whether delivering a solo piano recital or joining an ensemble of legends, Borstlap never fails to captivate audiences with his dynamic range – from introspective, delicate passages to explosive improvisational flights. Critics have noted that he can “navigate between interpreting jazz standards with finesse and delving into daring free improvisations”, often within the same performance .

 

Not confined to acoustic settings, Borstlap has also embraced contemporary influences. He frequently collaborates with top DJs and electronic artists from the Dutch dance scene, such as Joris Voorn, blending live piano with electronic soundscapes for large-scale audiences . This openness to experimentation further cements his status as a forward-thinking artist continually exploring new musical horizons.

 

Notable Recordings and Compositions

 

Michiel Borstlap’s discography is extensive and diverse, reflecting the breadth of his musical explorations. To date he has released dozens of albums as a leader or co-leader (over 30 recordings overall) ranging from trio outings to solo piano works . His early albums in the late 1990s and early 2000s, such as The Sextet Live! and Gramercy Park, established him internationally, but it was in his later projects that Borstlap’s distinctive voice truly shone. In 2008, he released Eldorado, an album fusing post-bop jazz with ambient and world-music textures; Eldorado earned critical praise and an Edison Jazz Award nomination . Around the same period, Borstlap joined veteran drummer Han Bennink and bassist Ernst Glerum in recording a tribute to Thelonious Monk (the album Monk Volume One), which won the Edison Jazz Award 2009 in the Netherlands .

 

Borstlap’s shift toward a more intimate, contemplative style came with his solo piano projects in the 2010s. His album Solo 2010, released in 2010, marked a turning point – it reached the Top 20 on the Dutch Album charts and affirmed Borstlap’s ability to command attention with just a piano on stage. The following year he released Blue (Songs from Father to Daughter), a deeply personal collection of piano pieces dedicated to his young daughter (aptly named Blue). On Blue, Borstlap embraced a song-like, melodic approach, incorporating pop and folk influences into his compositions . “I composed truly songs, with a more pop/folk structure. I always loved the great songs which pop & folk music gave us,” Borstlap explained of this album’s direction . These lyrical solo recordings broadened his audience beyond jazz aficionados to include listeners of neo-classical and ambient music.

 

Subsequent albums continued to showcase Borstlap’s creativity and range. In 2014 he released Frames, an album whose themes were later used in collaboration with the Scapino Ballet in Rotterdam for a full dance production . His 2016 live album Arena was recorded in the vast Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, capturing the grandeur of his music in a stadium setting . This release came as a CD/DVD package, highlighting Borstlap’s flair for performance art on a large scale. In 2017, he surprised listeners with Velvet, an album recorded on his first upright piano – imbuing the music with a warm, nostalgic character and demonstrating that even with a more modest instrument, his touch remained unmistakable . Across these and many other recordings, Borstlap’s music has been described as “classical, ambient, contemporary and above all touching” , defying easy categorization while retaining a distinct melodic and emotional core.

 

In addition to album work, Borstlap has been a prolific composer for various media. He has written over 500 compositions to date, published worldwide by BMG . One of his most significant compositional achievements was the aforementioned Opera Avicenna (2003), which blended Middle Eastern musical elements with Western orchestral writing in a pioneering cross-cultural work . He also ventured into film scoring: Borstlap composed the soundtrack for the Dutch film Tiramisu (2008, directed by Paula van der Oest), for which he won the Gouden Kalf (Golden Calf) award – the highest honor in the Dutch film industry – for Best Music . He contributed music to other films as well, including the American indie film Last Looks by director Barry Alexander Brown , expanding his reach into cinema. His compositions have not only been performed by himself and orchestras, but also interpreted by other renowned artists: in 2011, jazz legend Herbie Hancock and saxophonist Wayne Shorter brought Borstlap’s “Memory of Enchantment” to audiences worldwide , and more recently, in 2024, Grammy-winning vocalist Kurt Elling recorded a version of that same piece for one of his albums – a testament to the enduring appeal of Borstlap’s writing.

 

Awards and Honors

 

Over the course of his career, Michiel Borstlap has earned numerous awards and honors recognizing his contributions to music. Some of his most notable accolades include:

• Prize for Best Soloist – Europ’ Jazz Contest (1992): Awarded in Hoeilaart, Belgium, acknowledging Borstlap as a top young jazz talent early in his career .

• Thelonious Monk/BMI Composers Award (1996): An prestigious international award he won for “Memory of Enchantment,” making him the first Dutch musician to receive this honor . Sometimes referred to as the Herbie Hancock Award, this prize was presented in Washington D.C. and broadcast by CNN , marking Borstlap’s emergence on the world stage.

• Gouden Kalf – Best Film Score (2008): Won for his original score to Tiramisu , this “Golden Calf” is the Dutch equivalent of an Academy Award and cemented Borstlap’s status as an award-winning composer.

• Edison Jazz Award (2009): One of the Netherlands’ top music awards, bestowed upon Borstlap (with Han Bennink and Ernst Glerum) for their album Monk Volume One – a live tribute to Thelonious Monk’s music . This Edison award acknowledged Borstlap’s excellence in jazz performance and recording.

 

In addition to these, Borstlap has received various honors and positive critical recognitions. He is frequently invited to high-profile cultural events and was even a columnist for Esquire magazine , underlining his influence beyond just performance – as a voice in the arts community.

 

Legacy and Continuing Influence

 

Michiel Borstlap’s artistry has significantly impacted both the jazz and contemporary classical landscapes, blurring the lines between the two. As a pioneer of a new generation of jazz musicians who “think less in the box” , he has opened doors for genre-crossing collaborations in the Netherlands and beyond. Younger artists cite his fearless improvisational approach and his embrace of classical repertoire in a jazz context as inspiring and path-breaking. His ability to compose memorable melodies has made some of his pieces, like “Memory of Enchantment,” modern jazz standards that continue to be performed by others .

 

Borstlap’s international presence – having performed on all continents and in almost every corner of the globe – has also made him an ambassador of Dutch jazz abroad. Through countless concerts and tours (over 92 countries visited ), he has brought his music to diverse audiences, building bridges between cultures with the universal language of piano music. He remains a sought-after performer at festivals, concert series, and special events, often headlining with solo piano shows that demonstrate the “boundless creativity and musical ingenuity” for which he is known .

 

In recent years, Borstlap continues to innovate and show new facets of his artistry. He is the co-founder of Gallery Play, a music streaming platform tailored for businesses, reflecting his entrepreneurial side and desire to broaden the reach of quality music . In 2024, he announced a new solo album titled World Tour (expected release in late 2024) , indicating that his journey – both musical and literal – is ongoing. Whether composing new works, collaborating with artists across disciplines, or performing solo in prestigious venues, Michiel Borstlap remains at the forefront of contemporary jazz and neo-classical music. His rich career, marked by constant evolution and excellence, offers an in-depth look at a truly international artist – one whose creative voice knows no boundaries and whose contributions continue to enrich the global music scene. (Source: ChatGPT )