Belgian jazz saxophonist, flautist and composer
Musical artist
Bobby Jaspar (20 February 1926 – 28 February 1963)[1] was aBelgiancool jazz andhard bop saxophonist, flautist and composer.
Born inLiège, Belgium, Jaspar learned to play piano andclarinet at a young age.[1] Later, he took up thetenor saxophone andflute.[1]
With the "Bop Shots" band, he took his first steps in thejazz world. In 1950, Jaspar moved toParis, playing and recording with the best musicians of the era. Here he met singerBlossom Dearie;[1] the two were married in 1954, but divorced in 1957.[2]
In 1956, Jaspar was persuaded to try his luck in theUnited States, where his reputation in jazz circles had preceded him.[1] He played and recorded with the quintet ofJ. J. Johnson, withKenny Burrell,Miles Davis,John Coltrane,Toshiko Akiyoshi,Donald Byrd and many others.[1]
In 1961/1962, Jaspar returned to Europe for a year for a series of concerts and a number of recordings, and formed a successful quintet with Belgian guitaristRené Thomas.[1] In some sessions, this was expanded to a powerful sextet with American trumpeterChet Baker. One of those sessions, recorded in 1962, was released on record asChet Is Back!.
Bobby Jaspar died from a heart attack inNew York City, on 28 February 1963 at age 37.[1]
As leader/co-leader
[edit]- New Sound from Belgium, Vol. 4 (Disques Vogue, 1953 [1954])
- Bobby Jaspar/Henri Renaud (BMG France, 1953–54 [2000])
- Revisited (Inner City, 1953–54 [1980])
- New Jazz, Vol. 1 (Disques Vogue/Swing, 1954)
- New Jazz, Vol. 2 (Disques Vogue/Swing, 1954 [1955])
- Bobby Jaspar and His Modern Jazz (BMG France, 1954–55 [1998])
- Bobby Jaspar and His All Stars (EmArcy, 1955 [1956]) – akaModern jazz au club Saint Germain (Barclay, 1956) andMemory of Dick (EmArcy, 1988)
- Rencontre a Paris (Disques Vogue/Swing, 1955) – withDon Rendell
- Bobby Jaspar Quintet (Columbia, 1956 [1957])
- Clarinescapade (Fresh Sound, 1956 [2007])
- Joue pour Savoy (Savoy, 1956) – released in the US underMort Herbert's name asNight People (Savoy, 1956)
- Flute Flight (Prestige, 1957) – withHerbie Mann
- Flute Soufflé (Prestige, 1957) – with Herbie Mann
- Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 Tenors (Prestige, 1957) – withIdrees Sulieman,Webster Young,John Coltrane et al.
- Tenor and Flute (Riverside, 1957) – akaBobby Jaspar withGeorge Wallington and Idrees Sulieman (Riverside/OJC, 1992)
- Bobby Jaspar (Barclay, 1958 [1959]) – akaPhenil Isopropil Amine (EmArcy, 1988) andJeux de quartes (Gitanes Jazz, 2002)
- The Soul of Jazz (World Wide, 1958) – withBill Harris,Joe Wilder,Pepper Adams andEddie Costa
- The Spirit of Charlie Parker (World Wide, 1958) – withFrank Wess andSeldon Powell
- Bobby Jaspar with Friends … (Fresh Sound, 1958; 1960; 1962 [1991]) – withMundell Lowe andRené Thomas
- Thomas-Jaspar Quintet (RCA, 1961 [1962]) – with René Thomas
- Bobby Jaspar Quartet at Ronnie Scott's (Mole Jazz, 1962 [1986])
WithChet Baker
- Chet Baker and His Quintet with Bobby Jaspar (Barclay, 1956)
- Chet Is Back! (RCA, 1962)
WithDonald Byrd
- Byrd in Paris (Brunswick, 1958)
- Parisian Thoroughfare (Brunswick, 1958)
- Cannes '58 (Sam, 1958 [2022])
- Paris '58 (Sam, 1958 [2023])
WithChris Connor
- Chris Craft (Atlantic, 1958)
- Sings Ballads of the Sad Cafe (Atlantic, 1959)
WithBlossom Dearie
WithJ. J. Johnson
With others
- Toshiko Akiyoshi,United Notions (MetroJazz, 1958)
- Kenny Burrell,Weaver of Dreams (Columbia, 1960–61 [1961])
- Tal Farlow,The Guitar Artistry of Tal Farlow (Verve, 1959)
- Barry Galbraith,Guitar and the Wind (Decca, 1958)
- Michel Hausser,Vibes + Flute (Columbia, 1960)
- André Hodeir,American Jazzmen Play André Hodeir (Savoy, 1957)
- Milt Jackson,Bags & Flutes (Atlantic, 1957)
- Hank Jones,Hank Jones Trio Plus the Flute of Bobby Jaspar (Savoy, 1956)
- Wynton Kelly,Kelly Blue (Riverside, 1959)
- John Lewis,A Milanese Story: Original Soundtrack (Atlantic, 1962)
- Helen Merrill,The Nearness of You (EmArcy, 1957–58 [1958])
- The Nutty Squirrels,The Nutty Squirrels (Hanover, 1959)
- John Rae,Opus de Jazz, Vol. 2 (Savoy, 1960)
- Jimmy Raney,Visits Paris (Dawn, 1954 [1958])
- Henri Renaud,Henri Renaud quintet joue Gigi Grice avec Bobby Jaspar (Disques Vogue, 1953 [1955])
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