Jasper Dutz

Multi-instrumentalist, gamer, and composer Jasper Dütz was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and is currently based in NYC. He began playing music at the age of seven after receiving his father’s $20 yard-sale purchased clarinet. Coming from an artistic family, he was exposed to the music of Copland, Ives, Dolphy, and Coleman(Ornette) very early on which may or may not have led to his low-key erraticism. His interest in gaming also began around this time when his friend gave him Pokémon Sapphire and a used gameboy for his 9th birthday. He began playing jazz in middle school after convincing his band teacher to let him try a baritone saxophone in exchange for singing the muppet show theme song to his classmates. Jasper aims to project and promote creative sincerity not only in music, but in all mediums of art. As a performer, he seeks to push the boundaries of all his instruments and speak with a unique voice that can be identified as his own in any setting regardless of genre. As a composer, he chooses to write music that conveys stories that evoke feelings of nostalgia and mysticism. Outside of music, Jasper finds inspiration in nature, video games, science, and the lore of fictitious universes (eg. Lord of the Rings, Pokémon, Starcraft, Star Wars). A few of his creative influences include; Hayao Miyazaki, Björk, Junichi Masuda, Yasunori Mitsuda, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Stan Lee. Jasper attended the Los Angeles County High School for the arts where he had the opportunity of learning from and performing alongside many acclaimed artists including; Herbie Hancock, Barry Manilow, Diane Reeves, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Christian McBride. Jasper also graduated from the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music on a full tuition scholarship. He has since performed at venues such as The Jazz Gallery, Jazz Standard, Blue Note NYC, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Hollywood bowl and Monterey Jazz Festival. Jasper has studied with artists such as Lee Konitz, Walter Smith III, Marty Ehrlich, Gary Foster, and Ben Wendel.

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