The jury for the VPRO/Boy Edgar Prijs 2010 is unanimous in its decision to award the prize to:

Anton Goudsmit

guitarist, bandleader, composer

The VPRO/Boy Edgar Prijs is awarded annually to an instrumentalist, composer, arranger or bandleader from the world of jazz and improvised music who has distinguished him or herself by the active, initiatory and above all original role that he/she has played over a number of years.

The jury’s decision is based on its appreciation of the infectious, humorous and always unpredictable character of the music that Anton Goudsmit has presented for many years, in large and small venues in the Netherlands and overseas. A musician whose incomparable improvisations overpower a stage (sometimes literally) and win the hearts of the audience. Anton always knows how to engage his listeners, no matter their age.  He’s a musician who makes a creative contribution in the most diverse musical situations, and at the same time is always himself: distinctive, energetic and inventive. 

But more than all the positive aspects of his performances it’s Anton’s very own sound that has contributed to Dutch jazz. 

He’s regarded as the most entertaining guitarist in the Netherlands.  He’s versatile: moves between pop, jazz, improvised music and grooving funk.  He clearly adds his own personal style to numerous jazz and improvised music groups. He throws himself into playing with all the unrestrained energy that’s in him, and is always looking for musical adventure. He expresses himself not only in biting solos, but also in tasteful and subtle accompaniments.

A real ‘band man’ – he senses exactly what jazz and improvised music is about (or should be about), namely playing TOGETHER, where communication and inventiveness between band members is more important than a soloist’s performance. Both his playing and his stage presence are infectious. He gives his audience a ‘good feeling’ and so attracts a new public.

The jury considers him to be one of the most interesting guitarists, certainly in the Netherlands and perhaps in the whole of Europe.

Anton has been an important sideman in New Cool Collective, the Benjamin Herman Quartet and Fugimundi. Benjamin Herman and Eric Vloeimans have been buddies from the very beginning, but collaborations with the likes of Arnold Dooyeweerd, Corrie van Binsbergen and Han Bennink should also not be overlooked.

A VPRO composition commission for the SJU Jazz Festival in 1995 led Goudsmit to form his own quartet (with Yuri Honing, Jos De Haas and Arnold Dooyeweerd) in particular as platform for his own compositions.

And then there’s the Ploctones. De catalyst was a composition commission from the NPS in 2001. Some years were to pass before the group again stepped into the spotlight, this time with appearances at the North Sea Jazz Festival and the 2005 VPRO ‘Jazz op het Dak’ festival, which resulted in a live CD. The time had come for Anton to conquer the world with his own music, with performances at renowned festivals (Roskilde, Eastern Europe and India).

The Ploctones only got their definitive name half way through 2008: before that the quartet played under the name of Goudsmit, Trujillo, Vierdag & Vink. They established their fame conclusively with the CD ‘050’. 

Other adventurous groups include Estafest (with pianist Jeroen van Vliet, violinist Oene van Geel and saxophonist Mete Erker) and a special edition of Dimami, which included Anton Goudsmit and Mete Erker for the Young VIPs tour of 2006.   Anton was guest programmer for ‘Festival Jazz International Rotterdam’ in 2009, where he again laid the emphasis on the ‘band feeling’ in jazz. Or as he would put it: ‘funnygroovy bands”, “punkyrockyelectrosortjazzy things” and “it should sputter and scald”. 

In short, he’s a versatile musician and an inspiration to his colleagues; someone who has definitively enriched the Dutch jazz scene. May he continue to do so with unbridled energy for many years to come.   on behalf of the VPRO/Boy

The jury comprised:

• Frank van Berkel (programmer Jazz International Rotterdam)
• Simon Korteweg (jazz critic)
• Joop Mutsaers (programmer Jazz in Arnhem)
• Ton Ouwehand (critic for music magazines including Tubantia, Jazzism)
• Vera Vingerhoeds (programme maker en presenter VPRO radio)