Introduction
Jesse van Ruller (born 21 January 1972) is a Dutch jazz guitarist and composer. He won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar Competition in 1995 and has recorded several albums as a leader and more as a sideman.
Early life
Van Ruller was born in Amsterdam on 21 January 1972. He started playing the guitar at the age of seven. "He continued his studies at Miami University, Ohio (MM 1995), and in 1995 won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar Competition in Washington, DC."
Later life and career
Van Ruller recorded two quintet albums for Bluemusic: European Quintet in 1996 and Herbs, Fruits, Balms and Spices two years later. He went on to record three albums for Criss Cross Jazz. These were Here and There and Circles in 2002, and Views in 2005. The guitarist composed almost all of the pieces played on the last two.
Discography
As leader
| Year recorded | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | European Quintet | Bluemusic | Quintet |
| 1998 | Herbs, Fruits, Balms and Spices | Bluemusic | Quintet |
| 2002 | Here and There | Criss Cross | Some tracks quartet, with David Hazeltine (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums); some tracks trio, with Frans Van Geest (bass), Willie Jones III (drums) |
| 2002 | Circles | Criss Cross | Quartet, with Seamus Blake (tenor sax), Sam Yahel (organ), Bill Stewart (drums) |
| 2005 | Views | Criss Cross | Quartet, with Seamus Blake (tenor sax), Sam Yahel (organ), Bill Stewart (drums) |
As sideman
| Year recorded | Leader | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999? | Benjamin Herman | Get In | Challenge |
| 2001 | David Hazeltine | Good-Hearted People | Criss Cross |
| 2001 | Clarence Penn | Play-Penn | Criss Cross |
| 2002 | John Swana | On Target | Criss Cross |
| 2003? | Fleurine | Fire | Coast to Coast |
| 2005? | Pete Philly and Perquisite | Mindstate | Anti- |
| 2009? | Benjamin Herman | Blue Sky Blond | Dox |
| 2010? | Dave Liebman | Lieb Plays Weill | Daybreak-Challenge |
| 2011 | Ramón Valle | Flashes from Holland | RVS |
| 2012? | Benjamin Herman | Deal | Dox |
| 2013? | Florian Ross | Wheel & Wires | Fuhrwerk |
| 2019? | Jasper Blom | Polyphony | Whirlwind |