BIMHUIS TV | Jasper Blom | Boy Edgar Award 2019 | Part 1

Winner Buma Boy Edgar Prijs 2019: Jasper Blom The Buma Boy Edgar Prize, the most important reward in the Netherlands in the field of jazz and improvised music, is awarded this year to saxophonist and composer Jasper Blom.

During a festive concert night, compiled by Blom himself, he will officially be presented the bronze sculpture by Jan Wolkers. Jasper Blom (Geldrop, 1965) is seen as one of the most important tenor and soprano saxophonists in the Dutch jazz scene and strives as a composer for a synthesis of jazz, pop, classical and improvised music. His playing practice is very diverse: one evening he shares the stage with Benjamin Herman in a hard bop program, the next evening he indulges in free improvisations, later in the week Blom experiments in fun sessions with guitar effects on his sax and in between he deepens in medieval vocal music or in the piano works of Claude Débussy. Since 2006 all these influences have come together in the Jasper Blom Quartet.
Jasper Blom is a very popular sideman in pop, jazz and improvised music and has played together with international greats such as Randy Crawford, George Duke, Chet Baker, Lee Konitz and Nat Adderley. Among the numerous formations in which Blom has a share, are the superseptet KRUPA & The Genes, WonderYears (a trio dedicated to the music of Stevie Wonder) and the David Kweksilber Big Band. Blom is regularly invited by top ensembles such as the Metropole Orchestra and the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw for studio sessions and concerts.

In addition to his teaching at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, Jasper Blom connects with the younger generation of jazz musicians by organizing sessions and the annual ROUGH DIAMONDS series at BIMHUIS. Jasper Blom seeks the fulfillment of his musicality by playing an unorthodox role in the jazz community not only as an experimental jazz musician but also as a teacher and organizer.

From the jury report: “For many years, and with unwavering inspiration, Jasper Blom has shared his sense of the great musical adventure, diversity, humor, connection, improvisation and his extensive, profound oeuvre with us, the listeners.”

PROGRAM

THE JASPER BLOM QUARTET
The Jasper Blom Quartet, with Jesse van Ruller (guitar), Frans van der Hoeven (bass), Martijn Vink (drums) and Pablo Held (piano), opens the evening. The music that this quartet plays is a taste of the new music that Jasper Blom will write for the Buma Boy Edgar 2020 tour and the presentation of the forthcoming CD Polyphony 3 – Jasper Blom Quartet featuring Pablo Held.

ZILT
Jasper Blom plays 2 pieces with ZILT: Ian Cleaver (trumpet), Wouter Kühne (drums) and Cas Jiskoot (bass).

JASPER BLOM TENTET
A tentet full of people in their twenties then enters the stage to perform the Emily Dickinson Songs specially composed by Jasper Blom for this evening. Jasper Blom (saxes), Ian Cleaver (trumpet), Wouter Kühne (drums), Cas Jiskoot (bass), Lucas Dann (piano), Victor Belmonte (trombone), Ben Fitzpatrick (alto saxophone, clarinet), Lucas Figueiredo Santana (tenor saxophone, flute), Jessie Brevé (baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, flute) and Anna Serierse (vocals).

The presentation of the evening is in the hands of Mijke van Wijk.

The prize is awarded by Wilfried de Jong

BIMHUIS | December 4th 2019