Bobby Jaspar

Bobby Jaspar stood out as a skilled bop-centered improviser who handled both his mellow-toned tenor and flute with comparable ease, yet his premature passing from a cardiac condition marked a sorrowful setback. In his teenage years he took up tenor in a Dixieland outfit alongside Toots Thielemans while still based in Belgium. Recording dates with Henri Renaud followed in 1951 and 1953, and he also shared stages with visiting Americans such as Jimmy Raney, Chet Baker in 1955, and his eventual spouse Blossom Dearie. After settling in New York in 1956, Jaspar performed with J.J. Johnson, spent a brief period with Miles Davis the following year, and appeared alongside Donald Byrd. Freelance work defined most of his remaining professional life. While living in Paris he cut sides for Swing, Vogue, and Barclay, and in 1957 he led sessions for Prestige and Riverside stateside.