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"Anybody who has heard pianist Jasper Soffers, knows that this is a man who has an abundance in all the talents that the contemporary jazz musician needs.
His reading skills and flawless technique make him a highly sought after musician for large ensembles, studio work and the accompaniment of soloists, like Gino Vanelli, Bob Brookmeyer, John Scofield and Toots Thielemans, in a bewildering variety of musical situations. In these situations the pianist must be someone you can trust with your life to supply the right stuff with empathy, taste, accuracy and initiative. Jasper has all that and more, as many greats from the world of jazz and fusion have experienced.
Because of his dependability Jasper was on call for singers like Oleta Adams, while Herbie Hancock made a point of saying how much he enjoyed playing together with Jasper.
What makes Jasper great is his general attitude towards music that enables him to blend into any musical situation while always retaining his musical identity and supply the situation with fresh and inspiring ideas and to let the music tell its story.
This no small feat. Jasper has devoted his life to a deep study of jazz and fusion styles and to really get into the nitty-gritty of it. That’s why he’s equally at home in a New Orleans-type band and in a swing quartet or a bebop group. The same goes for contemporary forms of jazz and all kinds of fusion.
As all great artists Jasper doesn’t discriminate between jazz, funk and soul as they are all of the same root. His playing demonstrates a deep understanding of the tradition, the here and now and an insatiable curiosity of what is yet to come". Hans Mantel,Dutch Radio Host as a jazzpianist Jasper has been working with;
Bob Brookmeyer (radio,dvd,tour U.S.A), Kenny Wheeler (cd recordings), Dave Valentine, Jerry and Ack van Rooyen (cd recordings,tour), John Marshall(recordings,concerts) Bud Shank, Jean Toots Thielemans, Bobby Shew, The New York Voices (tv/radio,tour), John Clayton (radio,dvd,tour), Jay Anderson (cd recordings,tour), David Liebman (radio), Pete Chrislieb, Philip Catherine, Laura Fygi (various tours in Asia), Hein v.d Geyn, Herbie Hancock(keys,radio,tour), George Duke(keys,radio,tour), Maria Schneider (several radio,concerts), John Scofield (radio,concerts), Marcus Miller, Lee Konitz, Nancy Marano(concert), Roy Hargrove, Elvis Costello(cd recordings concert New York), John Clayton (concerts,radio,television), Peter Erskine(concert), Bill Holman(recordings for television,radio,concerts) Adam Nussbaum (concerts), Douglas Sides (concerts,tour), Ronnie Cuber (concerts,tour), Shawn Monteiro (concerts,tour), Reggie Johnson (concerts,tour) ... Jasper has played at several jazz-festivals all over the world like;
Boston, New York (the village vanguard), Baltimore, North Sea Jazz Festival, Malta, Moscow, St. Petersburg, ,Belgrade, Curacao, France, Bankok , Slovenia, Pattaya, Jakarta, Baku (Azerbedjan), Singapore, Ukraine, Mali, Croatia...-As a keyboard-player/pianist in other styles Jasper has been working with;
The Supremes (concert), Tavares (concert), Oleta Adams (concert,dvd), Trijntje Oosterhuis (concert tour,dvd,radio,television), Gino Vanelli (radio,concerts), Manu Dibango, Sertab Erener, Arif Sag
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Jasper is the fixed pianist of the dutch Metropole Orchestra,The Till Brönner Band,and Jazz Piano teacher at the Royal conservatory of The Hague,and the Prins Claus conservatory of Groningen.
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