Sjoerd van Eijck

Pegasus is an album by Dutch composer and pianist Sjoerd van Eijck, together with German cellist Jörg Brinkmann and Norwegian drummer Jarle Vespestad. The trio was formed in 2019, when Van Eijck invited Brinkmann and Vespestad for a Carte Blanche concert at Paradox in Tilburg. The direct musical click between the three musicians led to further collaboration, which resulted in this album.

The music on Pegasus consists largely of compositions by Van Eijck and is inspired by astronomy and the imagination of the cosmos. With the line-up of piano, cello and drums, the trio creates an aesthetic sound that effortlessly moves between jazz, chamber music and contemporary improvisation. At times the music leans towards a classical idiom, while the openness and spontaneity of jazz remain central.

Both Brinkmann and Vespestad have built a strong international reputation within the European jazz and improvisation scene. Vespestad is widely known for his long-standing collaboration and numerous recordings with ECM pianist Tord Gustavsen, while Brinkmann pushes the boundaries of his cello in a unique way. The cellist has a distinctly recognizable playing style that moves between classical music, jazz, and improvisation.

With Pegasus, the trio presents a refined and dynamic group sound in which composition, texture and improvisation meet in an intimate musical dialogue.