Jasper Somsen was born on March 4 1973, Bennekom - The Netherlands. He studied Jazz and Classic double bass at the conservatories of Utrecht, Hilversum and Amsterdam - The Netherlands.

He played with renowned Dutch and international jazz musicians, such as pianists Bert van den Brink (Boy Edgar Prize 2007) and Michiel Borstlap; drummer John Engels; saxophonist Ferdinand Povel; singer Rita Reys and trumpet player Eric Vloeimans. He played with several orchestras, which included the Orchestra of the Royal Dutch Air force.
Jasper worked with the American Jazz vocalist Nancy Marano (New York, USA), during her stay in Holland.

Jasper was the leader/producer/composer/arranger of the New Standard Trio, which released two CDs in 2003 ("Footsteps") and 2006 ("Nightshift Thunder"). As a sideman he played on several CDs.
The latest release is the CD "Mouthpieces" (2007) with the Dutch trumpet player Bert Lochs and the German guitarist Florian Zenker. The Trio Bert Lochs was invited to play at the North Sea Jazz Festival 2008, Rotterdam (NL). Also he is the bassplayer in the quartet of saxofonist Willem Hellbreker, feat. pianist Rob van Kreeveld.

2010 high-lights:
CD release concerts in november: Jasper Somsen Group
CD releases coming up: Jasper Somsen Group (October), Trio Bert Lochs & Lydia van Dam and Willem Hellbreker/Frits Landesbergen Quartet.
Camera Orchestra da Oscura: Film in concert at the Midnight Sun Festival, Sodankyla (Northern Finland -  June)
Concerts at venues and festivals: Trio Bert Lochs & Lydia van Dam (Meer Jazz Festival, Hoofddorp), Pieter Bast ESP quintet (Jazz in Duketown, Den Bosch), Willem Hellbreker Quartet, Maria Markesini & Bert van den Brink (BIM-Huis, Amsterdam - November)

2009 high-lights:
New CD recording Jasper Somsen Group: "Dreams, Thoughts & Poetry" (The music of Enrico Pieranunzi - 2009)
Jazz Impuls Tour 2009-2010 with the Trio Bert Lochs and singer Lydia van Dam: YouTube
Mini-tour and master classes with Nancy Marano - featuring Ferdinand Povel (sax) and Rob van Bavel (piano)
Concert & CD presentation: vocalist/pianist Maria Markesini (Greece) & pianist Bert van den Brink - Concertgebouw, Amsterdam.

Since 2001 he is the regular bassist with Maud Nelissen's The Sprockets and her Orchestra da Camera Oscura, playing live music with silent movies. Both ensembles played at many national en international festivals in Holland, Belgium, Italy and Germany.
On two tours in Holland and Belgium he joined Javier Perez de Azpeitia's The Silent Band (Spain) playing music with the silent movies "Faust" (Murnau) and "La Revoltosa".

As a (guest)teacher he was appointed at the Conservatories of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and Alkmaar. Currently Jasper runs his own Bass Academy in his home town, Wageningen - The Netherlands.

More info:
Links in Music
CDs & DVDs
MySpace


(photos by Robbert Kamphuis)