Diederik Wissels

Diederik Wissels was five years old when he first touched a piano keyboard. In 1982, at the end of a four year curriculum, he completed his studies at the world famous Berklee College of Music, in Boston, obtaining the Professional Music diploma with distinction.

Since the early eighties, the Dutch pianist Diederik Wissels is one of the prominent figures of the Brussels jazz scene, place of origin of numerous internationally recognized and admired jazz musicians. In Belgium and elsewhere, critics are impressed by Diederik Wissels’ subtle and highly creative compositions, and by the virtuoso performance he gives at the piano. His style reminds somewhat of Bill Evans, others find it reminiscent of Herbie Hancock, and others again compare the moving melodic quality of his creations to those of Jan Garbarek – yet, in final analysis, all agree that Diederik Wissels is unique. With his music, which is too original for easy categorization, Diederik Wissels has succeeded in amazing, delighting, in one word : winning by storm an ever larger audience, way beyond devout jazz fanatics.

Diederik Wissels has an impressive CD production to his name : in the course of just a few years, he published six productions as a leader, and in co-operation with jazz greats, like guitarist Philip Catherine; eight productions as sideman

His CD (1994), THE HILLOCK SONGSTRESS has been awarded the “Choc de la Musique” award of the Monde de la Musique, the music supplement of the French daily newspaper “Le Monde”. Since some time now, Diederik Wissels has teamed with Belgian jazz singer David LIinx, whose poetic talent and dynamic performance have won him growing attention on either side of the Atlantic…

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