Joost Lijbaart (Amsterdam, 1967) is a Dutch drummer and composer who has performed in more than 90 countries and is a central figure in the European jazz scene. He studied at the Hilversum Conservatory and won the best drummer award at the 1993 Europe Jazz Contest, then took the soloist prize at the 2002 Dutch Jazz Competition - awarded by Elvin Jones at North Sea Jazz. Alongside his long-running work with the Yuri Honing Trio, he has built a wide-ranging body of work spanning the duo with pianist Wolfert Brederode, the improvisation collective Under the Surface, and the recent trio Sunflower. Since 2016 he has also taught entrepreneurship at the Amsterdam Conservatory and the Prins Claus Conservatory in Groningen.
Trio Sunflower performed three concerts in the Netherlands in September 2025, including at the Roode Bioscoop (Amsterdam) and Tante Nino (Rotterdam).
Sunflower was recorded live and filmed for injazz.nl, with songs by Lijbaart, Spinks and Adomeit.
Lijbaart performed with the project Druk Luyang - a collaboration with guitarist Bram Stadhouders and Bhutanese singer Sonam Dorji - during a concert series in the Netherlands.
The album Druk Luyang, which brings together Bhutanese folk music with Western ambient jazz and improvised music, was released.
Ruins & Remains, a collaboration with pianist Wolfert Brederode and the Matangi Quartet, appeared on ECM Records and later won an Edison Award.
Drummer and composer Joost Lijbaart presents his album Love Letters with the trio Sunflower and guests. An intimate concert exploring care, closeness and the quiet power of love.
Saxophonist Yuri Honing performs with his Acoustic Quartet, featuring music from 'Heaven On My Mind' and showcasing the distinctive sound of one of today's most creative jazz musicians.
