Tristan the funk soul groove from the Netherlands

Written on 19 August 2025 - 206 views

When we talk about funk, soul, and acid jazz, we spontaneously think of the American or British scenes. Yet, for more than ten years, a Dutch band has established itself as a true reference in the genre in Europe and beyond: Tristan. With its irresistible groove, bright melodies, and contagious energy, the group has managed to captivate an ever-growing international audience. Here’s a look at the history and evolution of this extraordinary band.

The origins of the Tristan project

It all begins in the Netherlands with three seasoned and passionate musicians: Sebastiaan Cornelissen on drums, Frans Vollink on bass, and Coen Molenaar on keyboards. Their musical complicity, forged over the years and through collaborations with big names like Randy Brecker, Jan Akkerman, and Gary Husband, gave birth to a unique sound. Soon, the trio was joined by vocalists and prestigious guests, and the band Tristan came to life.

Their trademark: a subtle mix of 70s funk, energetic soul, and sophisticated jazz, carried by highly precise arrangements. A sound that Toto guitarist Steve Lukather wouldn’t hesitate to describe as “the best of the 70s, transported to 2014”.

A rich and coherent discography

Since their first album, Tristan has consistently impressed with the quality and regularity of their releases. Their journey began in 2014 with Full Power, a debut that brought together prestigious guests like Heston, Nigel Hitchcock, and Randy Brecker. The album quickly climbed to the top of the UK Soul Charts, signaling the arrival of a new force on the soul-jazz scene.

A year later, 2nd Phase confirmed this success and firmly established the band as a reliable name in the genre. Then came Lifestyle in 2016, which drew even more attention thanks to notable exposure on Jazz FM in the UK and NPO Soul & Jazz in the Netherlands. The album even earned the band a Bright Star Awards nomination.

In 2017, Tristan captured the energy of their concerts with Live in Concert, an album that perfectly reflects their stage authenticity and their connection with the audience. This release was followed by a large international tour that took them to Japan, France, Germany, and Poland.

In 2019, with The Spice of Five, the quartet returned to its fundamentals and earned a nomination for the German Critics’ Prize, while embarking on a tour in Indonesia. Despite the pandemic, their sixth album, What Could Possibly Go Wrong in 2021, enjoyed a global reach with massive airplay on jazz, soul, and funk radio stations worldwide.

The seventh album, Seven, released in 2023, confirmed the band’s longevity and creativity. Supported by catchy singles like Tell Me and Another Season, it was followed by an impressive tour of over seventy-five concerts across Europe and Japan. Finally, in April 2025, Tristan unveiled Frou-Frou. This album marks the arrival of Irma Derby on vocals, a powerful voice reminiscent of Randy Crawford, Chaka Khan, and Donna Summer, as well as guitarist Glenn Schwarzer, who brings a fresh energy to the band’s sound. With twelve tracks full of optimistic energy, Frou-Frou is already winning over the international music press, praised for its intensity and authenticity.

A strong stage identity

Beyond the albums, it is on stage that Tristan fully expresses its potential. Every concert is a celebration of groove, where the musicians interact with remarkable ease. Their sound is both retro and modern, sophisticated and warm, and above all designed to make the audience move.

Whether in an intimate club in Amsterdam, a jazz festival in France, a packed hall in Tokyo, or a theater in Spain, Tristan always manages to unite the crowd. Their 2025 tour for the album Frou-Frou takes them to Poland, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Japan, and the UK, confirming once again their status as a truly international band.

Portrait of the musicians

Keyboardist and composer Coen Molenaar, an expert on the Fender Rhodes and Hammond, is known for his collaborations with Jan Akkerman and Incognito. On bass, Frans Vollink delivers a relentless groove inspired by the greatest masters of soul and jazz. Behind the drums, Sebastiaan Cornelissen provides the rhythmic backbone while continuing his work as a teacher and producer. Glenn Schwarzer, a virtuoso guitarist who joined recently, brings new colors to the repertoire, while Irma Derby now embodies the band’s voice, with power and warmth capable of transporting listeners from the very first notes.

Tristan, an ongoing adventure

What stands out with Tristan is their consistency. For over ten years, each album brings freshness while maintaining that warm funk-soul identity. The band doesn’t just pay homage to the 70s: it reinvents, updates, and makes it accessible to today’s audience.

In 2025, with Frou-Frou and a world tour, Tristan confirms that it is more than just a Dutch band: it is a true European funk-soul ambassador continuing to write its story, album by album, concert by concert.

If you love Incognito, Snarky Puppy, or Tower of Power, Tristan is a band you absolutely must discover. Their music, both positive, refined, and irresistibly groovy, is proof that funk has no age and can still surprise.

See you soon, here or elsewhere !

Chrys