Author Archives: Marnix Busstra

The Jazzwriter – Woodrow Wilkins

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“Busstra believes in getting in, accomplishing the mission, and getting out.” Dutch-born guitarist Marnix Busstra tries something different with Firm Fragile Fun (Buzz Music, 2015). Instead of naming the songs himself, he invited non-musician friends to assign one-word titles, based on their reactions to the music. Each title represents an emotion or atmospheric condition. Busstra plays guitar, bouzouki and electric sitar. His… Read more »

Sea of tranquility – John Neudorf

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(****) “… a wide range of moods, tones and textures and the musicianship is stellar.” Marnix Busstra is a Dutch guitarist/composer with a new album titled Firm Fragile Fun. Busstra (guitar, bouzouki, electric sitar) has an outstanding band including Rembrandt Frerichs (piano), Arnold Dooyeweerd (double bass) and Pieter Bast (drums). The album consists of eleven tracks, all one word titles which… Read more »

All about Jazz – Dan Bilawsky

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(****) “Busstra’s willingness to let his music speak to listeners on their own terms, rather than what’s dictated to them.” Can a single word sum up the meaning and magic of a song? In the large majority of cases, the answer is no. But that doesn’t mean a brief descriptor can’t serve as a window into a composition’s bearing. Just… Read more »

mwe3.com (about ‘Firm, fragile, fun’ – 2015) – Robert Steven Silverstein

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“I believe the main identity of music is made by the musicians who are playing it.” mwe3: Tell us about Firm Fragile Fun and what were your musical goals this time? Where and when was the album written and recorded? Marnix Busstra: Firm, Fragile, Fun is the second album of the Marnix Busstra Band, with the same musicians as on our debut album Sync Dreams –… Read more »

mwe3.com – Robert Steven Silverstein

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“one of the best guitarists on the 21st century Euro-jazz scene.” Holland-based guitarist Marnix Busstra is one of the best guitarists on the 21st century Euro-jazz scene. In 2013 Marnix released his critically acclaimed CD Sync Dreams and in 2015 he followed back up with an album of all new jazzy, fusion instrumentals called Firm Fragile Fun. The same band Marnix recorded with on Sync Dreams returns for… Read more »

www.musicframes.nl – Mattie Poels (English version)

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“An excellent overview which shows what a wonderful musician and a fine composer he is.” To celebrate his 50th anniversary, the album ‘Best of Both Worlds‘ was also released. A compilation double CD with works written by Busstra over the last 20 years. Both as a jazz musician with bands like Second Vision, Buzz Bros Band and Mike Maineiri/Marnix Busstra Quartet,… Read more »

Midwest Records – Chris Spector

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“… loaded with thrills, spills and is too hot to have any chills.” The Dutch jazz guitarist doesn’t have to play by our rules, so he doesn’t.  Kicking it out in fine style with some like minded pals, his latest set is loaded with thrills, spills and is too hot to have any chills. A killer work out like the… Read more »

about ‘Frim, fragile, fun’ (2015) – Jeff Tamarkin

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“Throughout, the musicianship is never less than top-notch. Busstra prefers single-note runs on the guitar, relegating the harmonies to Frerichs’ piano…” Guitarist/Composer Marnix Busstra to release new recording  “Firm Fragile Fun” on November 3rd, 2015 (BuzzMusic Records)  When Dutch jazz guitarist and composer Marnix Busstra titled his new 11-song album Firm Fragile Fun (Buzz Music, November 3rd, 2015), he wasn’t… Read more »