Robert B. “Bobby” Jaspar was a Belgian jazz tenor saxophonist and flautist born February 20, 1926, in Liège, Belgium. He began playing piano and clarinet at age 11 before switching to alto and tenor saxophone as a teenager. In 1944, he co-founded the group The Bob Shots, and in 1945 played with Toots Thielemans in a Dixieland band. Jaspar relocated to Paris in 1950, where he performed and recorded with musicians including André Hodeir, Bernard Peiffer, Dave Amram, Chet Baker, and Jimmy Raney. In 1956, he moved to New York City with his spouse, singer Blossom Dearie. He performed with J. J. Johnson’s quintet, Miles Davis, Donald Byrd’s quintet, the Bill Evans Trio, and Attila Zoller. In 1962, he toured Europe with guitarist René Thomas and performed at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London. Jaspar died following heart surgery in New York City on March 4, 1963.
