Short Biography

Amsterdam-based guitar player and composer Jeen Rabs is active in several jazz related styles off music. 

He is the guitar player for the bands “The Fours” (Latin jazzband led by bassplayer Leslie Lopez) “Zandscape” (With singer Deborah Carter) and works as a studio musician for Irish sound artist Stano. He performed with many other renowned artist and bands such as Toots Thielemans and Lucien Barberin.

After completing his studies at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague Jeen studied Jazz guitar with David Gilmore in New York and Brazilian guitar with Ricardo Silveira in Rio de Janeiro.

Jeen released 2 albums under his own name and appears on 25 albums with others.

Long Biography

Jeen Rabs is the guitarplayer for “Zandscape” with Deborah Carter and Latinjazzband “The Fours” for with whom he both records with and composes. Also he works frequently with Irish composer/visual artist Stano. With the later he participates on eight albums most notably the “In between silence” project with spoken word stories from writers, artist and musicians such as bassplayer Ron Carter, writer Rody Doyle and actor Aidan Gillen.

With tenor saxophone player Thomas Streutgers he co-leads the Acoustic jazzduo “Tommy & James”

With “The Fours” you can hear Jeen every tuesday night at the legendary Alto jazzcafe in Amsterdam. They released their debut album “Sweet and Sour” in 2023 wich was reviewed with enthusiasm by the Dutch Jazzpress.

Growing up near the city of Groningen in the North of Holland Jeen started following blues guitar lessons at the age of 8 and a few years later classical guitar with Conservatory of Groningen teacher Remco De Haan.

In his teenage years, Jeen was obsessed with playing guitar and played in several blues bands and Big bands while continuing classical lessons with Peter van Elswijk. Jazz guitar teacher Winfred Buma helped Jeen to prepare for Royal Conservatory in The Hague. He there studied with Peter Nieuwerf and Eef Albers but also followed classes/workshops with David Liebman, Tal Farlow, Ack van Rooien, Lee Konitz, Doug Raney, Barry Harris, John Aebercrombie. Dave Liebman, Joe Labarbara and Jamaaladeen Tacuma.

While studying at the Royal Conservatory Jeen also followed guitar lessons with Phillip Catherine in Brussels.

In the 8 years after receiving his UM (Performing Musician) degree in 1999 at the Royall Conservatory Jeen made a living as a musician mainly playing in cover bands, jazz bands and Big bands. With one off those big bands, The Holland Big band led by Loet van der Lee, Jeen recorded 3 albums and accompanied numerous artist. Jeen remained with The Holland Big band for over 13 years.

In this period also led his own funk band that played two times in Egypt and he went to New York to study with David Gilmore and Rio de Janeiro with Ricardo Silveira amongst others.

In 2007 Jeen relocated from The Hague to Amsterdam where he continued working as a musician but also started to teach music. From this time recording became a more prominent part of his work.

In 2009 he released his debut album “Keep on smiling spicy” for jazzshop records with with Natalio Sued on Tenor Saxophone wich was followed up in 2017 by his album “Catch My Kitsch” which combined Rik Cornelissen accordeon and Gunnar Graafmans on vibes.

A jamsession in Dubin with drummer Noel Bridgeman of Skid Row and The Waterboys let to working with Irisch composer Stano a colobaration that lasted 14 years to date and delivered 11 records for him and others.

Jeen perfromed accross the world in places such Brasil (Blue Note jazzclub Rio) Uganda, UK, Ireland, Ethiopia, Thailand, New York and Egypt aswell as in most European countries.

As a guest teacher he worked at the Universities of Rio De Janeiro, Addis Ababa and Bangkok. 

Artist Jeen performed with include:

Peter King, Scott Hamilton, Fred Leeflang, Tineke Postema, Benjamin Herman, Ferdinand Povel, Sandra Reemer, Antje Monteiro, Tony Neef, Paul Ambach (Boogie Boy), Louis Windzak, Lee Towers, Jeroen van der Boom, Fay Claassen, Simone Roerade, Donna Lynton, Lilian Day Jackson, Pia Douwes, Denise Jannah, Ken Ard, Lady Linn, Lils Mackintosh, Oscar Harris, Laura Fygi, Karin Bloemen, Babette van Veen, Izaline Calister, Edsilia Rombley, Antje Monteiro Greetje Kauffeld, Deborah Carter, Rebecca Parris, Edwin Rutten, Shirma Rouse, Wayne Bergeron, Eric Vloeimans, Benny Bailey, Ack van Rooyen, James Morrison, Roger Ingram, Eric Miyashiro, Lee Thornburg, Greg Bowen, Louis Dowdeswell, Thomas Gansch, Rik Mol, Rick Vol, Toots Thielemans, Thijs van Leer, Jamal Thomas, Barry Harris, Rob Agerbeek, Lucien Barbarin, Buddy Wachter.

Bands and projects Jeen participate in include

Holland Big Band, Zandscape, Zandzemble, Bernard Berkhout Swingmates, Dutch Swing College Band, Senta a Pua (Belo Horizonte), The Fours, Jazz4kids, Bosco, Theater Zuid and Laagland Theater.