Event Type : Jazz in Wageningen

Dutch double bassist, composer and producer Jasper Somsen is an open minded versatile musician. Best known as a Jazz musician his field of interest and expertise also includes cross overs to classical, pop, world and film music and theater productions.

Jasper Somsen has collaborated with some of the very best musicians on the international jazz scene including Peter Erskine, Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc, Eric Marienthal, Bob Sheppard, Seamus Blake, Jorge Rossy, Kendrick Scott, Justin Faulkner, André Ceccarelli, Gary Husband, Gabriele Mirabassi and Paolo Fresu.

As a Challenge Records International artist he produced more than 15 albums. Jasper is a renowned educator and the general director of the foundation Cultural City of Wageningen, in his hometown.

About the album

In the fall of 2013, the cosy old bar of the grand café Loburg in my home town of Wageningen (The Netherlands) turned into a brand new, beautiful small venue, perfectly suited for an audience of a hundred people. In collaboration with LoburgLive, we started the concert series “Jasper Somsen Invites …” as part of the international programme of Jazz in Wageningen, in January 2014.

The concept of “Jasper Somsen Invites …” is typical in the world of Jazz music. I just called some of my colleagues and asked if they would like to perform with me in a duo, trio or quartet. Being my guests of honour, I’d let my invitees decide our repertoire. This could be any list of original compositions, jazz standards and/or free improvisations they wished to play. A couple of hours before the concert we had a quick run-through rehearsal and sound-check, before the audience came in. Without any expectations or preconceived ideas, each concert became a fresh and new musical challenge for both us as the musicians and the audience.

Back in the day, no one ever imagined that “Jasper Somsen Invites …” was about to celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2024. In 10 years’ time we’ve had over 50 concerts, featuring more than 100 musicians, who have included the very best Dutch Jazz musicians.

On 30 March 2023, I invited the Metropole Orchestra’s alto saxophone player Paul van der Feen and master pianist Bert van den Brink. We had so much fun during the sound-check that we decided to record the concert. The recordings turned out to be a lucky shot in the dark. Paul, Bert and I instantly agreed and selected the best tracks for an album. Next, I contacted Challenge Records and before we knew it the release was scheduled for October 2023.

The music on this album perfectly reflects the same spontaneity as many other concerts at Loburg: live music, up-close and personal, for a wonderful audience. This time the concert was recorded in just one take, with no safety net.

I hope you’ll enjoy this album as much as us and everyone who attended that night in Wageningen