The talent of Ernst Reijseger (Naarden, 13 November 1954) as a cellist is recognized at an early age. As a teenager he is taught by baroque specialist Anner Bijlsma and he starts attending the Amsterdam conservatory. He drops out early to engage himself in the world of improvised music. He develops a truly physical style of playing and a broad vocabulary of unorthodox techniques. More so than other cellists he plays pizzicato, plucking the strings like a jazz bassist or strumming them, holding the instrument in a guitar posture. He plays the soundbox like a percussion instrument, taking his inspiration from non-western music. He is experimenting permanently – imitating sounds and interacting with the audience are important starting points for him. In the late 1970s he performs with bands from the Amsterdam improv scene, like the ICP Orchestra and the Theo Loevendie Consort. Together with violist Maurice Horsthuis and double bassist Ernst Glerum he forms the successful Amsterdam String Trio, which balances between jazz, classical and contemporary music. In 1985 he is awarded the Boy Edgar Prijs (the major Dutch jazz award). He regularly gives solo concerts and seeks musical depth in non-western music. In 1995 he receives the Bird Award at the North Sea Jazz Festival. Reijseger gains international success as a solo artist and as a member of the Clusone Trio, the Arcado String Trio and the Gerry Hemingway Quintet. He composes and performs soundtracks for a number of films by director Werner Herzog. In 2010 his solo album Tell Me Everything is awarded an Edison (Dutch Grammy).