Biography Wim Overgaauw

Wim Overgaauw (Hilversum, The Netherlands, 23 November 1929 - 30 November 1995) was a Dutch jazz guitarist.

Overgaauw was one of the most important Dutch jazz guitarists of his generation. After trying the violin, he soon switched to guitar and started his varied career as a self-taught guitarist in Amsterdam, later working for the American forces in Germany, touring the Netherlands with pianist Pim Jacobs and singer Rita Reys, and finally he established himself as a studio musician and guitar teacher in Hilversum.

His sophisticated playing has gone largely unnoticed with a larger audience, especially since the introverted guitarist didn't show any interest in appearing or in the business aspects of the music world. The few albums he recorded as a leader are largely in easy listening genre.

It wasn't until after his death that Blue Jack Jazz Records released some of his jazz concerts on CD. Overgaauw's playing also lives on in the host of students he taught at the Hilversum Conservatory, including Jesse Van Ruller, Martijn van Iterson, and Maarten Van Der Grinten, et al.

Creative Commons By-SA License