{"title":"Jasper Somsen","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"jasper-somsen-invites-paul-van-der-feen-and-bert-van-den-brink","title":"Jasper Somsen Invites Paul van der Feen and Bert van den Brink","description":"\u003cp\u003eA wonderful addition of the collaboration between \u003cstrong\u003eJasper Somsen\u003c\/strong\u003e and Challenge Records featuring \u003cstrong\u003ePaul van der Feen\u003c\/strong\u003e on Saxophone and \u003cstrong\u003eBert van den Brink\u003c\/strong\u003e on Piano.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the fall of 2013, the cosy old bar of the grand cafe Loburg in my hometown of Wageningen (The Netherlands) turned into a brand new, beautiful small venue, perfectly suited for an audience of a hundred people. In collaboration with Loburg Live, we started the concert series \"\u003cem\u003eJasper Somsen Invites...\u003c\/em\u003e\" as part of the international programme of Jazz in Wageningen, in January 2014.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe concept of \"\u003cem\u003eJasper Somsen Invites...\u003c\/em\u003e\" 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 honor, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBack in the day, no one ever imagined that \"\u003cem\u003eJasper Somsen Invites...\u003c\/em\u003e\" 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOn 30 March 2023, I invited the Metropole Orchestra's alto saxophone player \u003cstrong\u003ePaul van der Feen\u003c\/strong\u003e and master pianist \u003cstrong\u003eBert van den Brink\u003c\/strong\u003e. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNext, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Challenge Records","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50394212270411,"sku":"2053840","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/0608917356724_0dc058d6_thumbnail_4096.webp?v=1726434541"},{"product_id":"northwest-2","title":"Northwest","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe debut trio recording for Jan Gunnar Hoff, Jasper Somsen and Carsten Lindholm.When three seasoned and versatile musicians, who between them have performed with the \"Who's Who\" of jazz, decide to form a new trio, there are usually many reasons, but one is undoubtedly the pleasure of creating new music together\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Challenge Records","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50531668132171,"sku":"2215973","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_aabe8cd1_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728111083"},{"product_id":"dont-ever-leave-me","title":"Don't Ever Leave Me","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn late 2019, after meeting with Challenge Records in Amersfoort to discuss my album Ever Open Door, they recommended that I should connect with Jasper Somsen. I had dinner in Amsterdam that night with him and Raimondo Meli Lupi, who had mastered my previous recordings and set-up the meetings.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJasper struck me as an enthusiastic and determined young man and, as I was subsequently to find out after listening to him on several recordings, an excellent and creative bass player -- now my friend and colleague.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe agreed to make an album. Jasper chose the other musicians and recording dates at MotorMusic in Belgium were arranged. Then Covid-19 struck! The recording was postponed many times during 2020 and 2021, although during this time we discussed which tunes would be appropriate, with Jasper writing rough arrangements. His selection of Marcel Seriese on drums and Hans Vroomans on piano was inspired -- they are inventive, empathetic musicians, and a pleasure to play with!  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOur selection of tunes is based on strong melodies from the fields of folk, jazz, rock, pop, and originals by Jasper and me. I suggested that we play three Supertramp tunes, as a lengthy part of my musical life has been centred around the music of Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson. I first heard Don't Ever Leave Me played by Keith Jarrett. It's such a beautiful, short and poignant melody that we decided to play four versions and have them act as \"bookends\" for our music.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you enjoy listening to this music half as much as we enjoyed playing it, our labours of love have succeeded!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Challenge Records","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50944125174091,"sku":"2022195","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_6c2b7611_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1733541973"},{"product_id":"jasper-somsen-invites-anton-goudsmit-live-2","title":"Jasper Somsen Invites Anton Goudsmit - Live!","description":"\u003cp\u003eIt's a gift that has been handed to Jasper: the ability to choose a musical partner for a unique project where the sum of the parts far exceeds the normal mathematical result\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Challenge Records","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":51083112120651,"sku":"2239105","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_75476c2b_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1736787098"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/jasper-somsen.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}