Jasper Somsen & Anton Goudsmit
Biography Jasper Somsen & Anton Goudsmit
Anton Goudsmit
is a much sought-after player who does amazing things with whatever music he is presented with or writes. In 2001 Anton formed the Ploctones to perform a series of his compositions commissioned by Dutch NPS Radio.
In 2004 a Goudsmit organized a live CD recording of the Ploctones at the Jazz op het Dak festival which was featured on VPRO television. Since then the Ploctones have emerged as a very creative and innovative group, capable of combining grooves and improvisation. Anton also performs internationally with the New Cool Collective as well as Eric Vloeimans’ Fugimundi trio (US tours in 2008 and 2010). Anton Goudsmit won the coveted Boy Edgar Prize in 2010 for his contribution and standing on the Dutch Jazz Scene.
Jasper Somsen
Dutch double bassist, composer and producer Jasper Somsen (1973) graduated in both Jazz and Classical double bass. He is an open minded versatile musician. Best known as a Jazz musician his field of interest and expertise also includes cross overs to classical, pop, world and film music and theater productions.
Jasper has collaborated with some of the very best musicians on the international jazz scene including Peter Erskine, Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc, Eric Marienthal, Bob Sheppard, Seamus Blake, Jorge Rossy, Kendrick Scott, Justin Faulkner, André Ceccarelli, Gary Husband, Gabriele Mirabassi and Paolo Fresu.
Besides a performer and composer, Jasper Somsen is a Challenge Records artist and a renowned studio producer.
Most of Jasper's compositions can be heard on his albums. His compositions "Silk Threads" and "Love Waiting Endlessly" (album: Common View) reached more than 10 million listeners on Spotify. His albums "Voyage In Time" and "Traveller's Ways" are highly praised by both the audience and the international press.
With the Portuguese Jazz and Fado vocalist Maria Mendes he won the Dutch EDISON AWARD 2020 (Jazz/World Music) and was four times nominated for both the American and Latin GRAMMY, in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024.
Jasper performs world wide and can be heard on approx. 50 albums, video and film music scores.
Outside a busy playing and studio producing schedule he is an educator at the ArtEZ University of the Arts, Arnhem (NL) and the general director of the foundation Cultural City of Wageningen, in his hometown.
