Bobby Jaspar

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Robert B. "Bobby" Jaspar (born February 20, 1926 in Liège (Belgium), † March 4, 1963 in New York City ) was a Belgian jazz musician ( tenor saxophonist and flutist ).

life and work

At the age of 11 Jaspar began to play piano and clarinet, and as a teenager he switched to alto and tenor saxophone. In 1944 he co-founded the formation The Bob Shots ; In 1945 he played together with Toots Thielemans in a Dixieland band. After Jaspar had made music for the US soldiers stationed in West Germany, he lived in Paris from 1950 , where he worked live and in the recording studio with many French ( André Hodeir , Bernard Peiffer ) and American musicians of modern jazz , including Dave Amram , Chet Baker and Jimmy Raney . In 1956 he moved to New York City with his wife, singer Blossom Dearie . 1956/57 he appeared with the quintet of J. J. Johnson ; In 1957 he worked briefly with Miles Davis . In 1958 he completed an extensive European tour with Donald Byrd's quintet . In 1959 he worked as a guest soloist with the Bill Evans Trio , in 1960 with the singer Chris Connor , but also with Attila Zoller in a quartet for a long time at the Village Vanguard . In 1961 he and Zoller were in Europe. In 1962 he undertook another European tour with the Belgian guitarist René Thomas . Jaspar also worked with John Coltrane , Elvin Jones , Herbie Mann and was involved in the realization of the film music composed by John Lewis for Una storia milanese (Eng. Title A Milanese story ) from 1962. He performed one last time at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London before returning to New York City due to a serious heart condition . Heart surgery, presumably linked to substance abuse, led to early death.

Bobby Jaspar is considered a rhythmically confident, melodically imaginative tenor saxophonist with influences from Lester Young , Stan Getz and Zoot Sims .

The Prix ​​Bobby Jaspar of the French Académie du Jazz for the best European jazz musician of the year is named after him.

Selection discography

As a leader

As a sideman

  • 1954 Jimmy Raney: Visits Paris (Fresh Sound)
  • 1957 Hank Jones Trio plus Bobby Jaspar
  • 1957 JJ Johnson: Live At The Café Bohemia (Fresh Sound)
  • 1957 Idries Sulieman & John Coltrane: Interplay ( Prestige Records )
  • 1959 Wynton Kelly : Kelly Blue (OJC)
  • 1962 Herbie Mann : Flute Souflé (OJC)
  • 1962 Chet Baker : Italian Session ( RCA )
  • 1962 John Lewis: A Milanese Story / Animal Dance (Collectables)

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Jaspar, Bobby
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Jaspar, Robert B.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Belgian jazz musician
DATE OF BIRTH February 20, 1926
PLACE OF BIRTH Liege
DATE OF DEATH March 4th 1963
Place of death New York City