Merlin Breij
Merlin Breij is a Dutch-Swiss composer and guitarist based in Lausanne. As an eclectic composer, his works range from large-scale works, such as the 5-movements suite for jazz ensemble "Hommage à Emmanuel Carnevali"; the 4-movements suite for jazz ensemble, marimba, harpe and string quartet "Impulsions" - released by Unit Records in 2022, to chamber jazz works such as the suite for 2 clarinets and guitar "Exode"; or the creation of a contemporary piece for cello, guitar and drum named "Piazza Virgiliana" . These compositions underline the fascination that the notions of form exert on the perception of the listener; the fusion of harmonic languages collected in different approaches of writing; while keeping in the foreground the notion of lyrical melody that the composer defends in each aesthetic direction that he includes in his language.
Guitarist specialized in "chamber" jazz formations, Merlin Breij plays willingly in duo, as with the group " Naratès “(piano and guitar), or in trio : "Merlin et les Maîtres de l'Air" (2 bass clarinets and guitar) ; however without excluding classical combos, as his work with "Cerulean Poppy" has shown. His skills as a "section" guitarist and as an interpreter of written music have also earned him a place in larger ensembles, such as "Tribute to Maria Schneider" produced by the HEMU in 2019, or the "SYJO", where he recorded with a Big Band featuring Peter Erskin, Christian Jacob, and Tim Ries, among others. These projects have led him to play in places such as Label Suisse, Spirale, Chorus, Théâtre 2.21, the Montreux Jazz Festival and Septembre Musical.
His musical studies took place at the HEMU (Haute École de Musique de Lausanne) and before that at the EJMA - École de Jazz et de Musique Actuelle, with teachers such as Sylvain Luc, Emil Spanyi, Vinz Vonlanthen, William Blank, Jeff Baud and Julien Feltin, obtaining his Bachelor's degree in 2019 with the highest honors at his graduation concert, and his Master's degree in pedagogy in 2021, which was awarded with the J. de Crousaz prize.
His creative work is supported by various grants and prizes, including a grant from the Friedl-Wald Foundation in 2020.
Guitarist specialized in "chamber" jazz formations, Merlin Breij plays willingly in duo, as with the group " Naratès “(piano and guitar), or in trio : "Merlin et les Maîtres de l'Air" (2 bass clarinets and guitar) ; however without excluding classical combos, as his work with "Cerulean Poppy" has shown. His skills as a "section" guitarist and as an interpreter of written music have also earned him a place in larger ensembles, such as "Tribute to Maria Schneider" produced by the HEMU in 2019, or the "SYJO", where he recorded with a Big Band featuring Peter Erskin, Christian Jacob, and Tim Ries, among others. These projects have led him to play in places such as Label Suisse, Spirale, Chorus, Théâtre 2.21, the Montreux Jazz Festival and Septembre Musical.
His musical studies took place at the HEMU (Haute École de Musique de Lausanne) and before that at the EJMA - École de Jazz et de Musique Actuelle, with teachers such as Sylvain Luc, Emil Spanyi, Vinz Vonlanthen, William Blank, Jeff Baud and Julien Feltin, obtaining his Bachelor's degree in 2019 with the highest honors at his graduation concert, and his Master's degree in pedagogy in 2021, which was awarded with the J. de Crousaz prize.
His creative work is supported by various grants and prizes, including a grant from the Friedl-Wald Foundation in 2020.
