Masha Bijlsma/ Martin Sasse/ Martin Gjakonovski/ Dries Bijlsma/ Ilja Reijngoud

Masha Bijlsma (Vocals), Martin Sasse (Piano), Martin Gjakonovski (Bass), Dries Bijlsma (Drums), Ilja Reijngoud (Trombone)

After having played the piano and the bassguitar MASHA BIJLSMA started singing jazz at the age of 19 when she formed the Masha Bijlsma Band. This group was an instant succes and played all over the world: Germany, Belgium, Danmark, Sweden, Greece, Switzerland, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Indonesia and the USA, doing clubgigs, tv and radio performances and playing famous festivals as the North Sea Jazz Festival.

Masha made six great CD’s and got herself a fast growing number of fans! She sings repertoire from diverging composers as Thelonious Monk, Fats Waller, Charlie Haden, Tony Lakatos, Jasper van ’t Hof, Kate Bush and Noa. Sometimes writing her own lyrics Masha provided Charlie Hadens beautiful ‘First Song’ with words and dedicated the song to the great Ms Abbey Lincoln, entitled ‘Song for Abbey’.

Over the years wonderful guest soloists played with the Masha Bijlsma Band: Benny Bailey, Bob Malach, Tony Lakatos, Gary Thomas, Ack van Royen, Eric Vloeimans, Jarmo Hoogendijk, Ruud Breuls, Hans Kwakkernaat, Bart van Lier, Bert Boeren, Ilja Reijngoud and Ad Colen, to name just a few.