Guitarist, composer and director Marnix Busstra loves crossing borders. He travels the world with his jazz bands, plays both guitar and bouzouki, writes both jazz and theatre-songs, and co-creates and directs the exuberant theatre shows of his wife, Dutch diva Karin Bloemen.

As leading critic Robert Steven Silverstein noted on MW3.com (2015): “Holland-based guitarist Marnix Busstra is one of the best guitarists on the 21st century Euro-jazz scene.” (more reviews/quote’s)

Musical influences
His musical influences are just as multifaceted. Marnix studied jazz guitar at the Amsterdam conservatory, explored both classical Indian music and 20th century western music, and developed the art of translating lyrics into music. The instruments he plays reflect this background; next to the electric guitar, he uses an Irish bouzouki, and a custom built electric sitar.

Compositions
He wrote numerous compositions in a wide range of musical styles. Renowned vibraphonist Mike Mainieri loves playing his jazz work, vocalist Dianne Reeves sang his music, while the classic Dutch song ‘Geen kind meer‘ won the Annie M.G. Schmidt award for best theatre composition.

Current bands
Marnix currently leads the Marnix Busstra Band and the Old School Band, and co-leads the Mike Mainieri/Marnix Busstra Quartet. On a non-musical level, he is a committee member of a small foundation that supports orphan children in Mongolia.