Bobby Jaspar

Born in Liège, Jaspar earned a chemistry degree before dedicating himself entirely to jazz, inspired by Lester Young and Stan Getz. In post-WWII Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris, he became the leader of the modern French jazz revival alongside his wife, singer Blossom Dearie.

Moving to New York in 1956, his lyrical tone and pioneering modern jazz flute playing won universal acclaim in Greenwich Village. He recorded legendary sessions for Prestige and Riverside with John Coltrane, Tommy Flanagan, and Donald Byrd, before his tragic early death from heart disease at age 37.