Award-winning saxophonist Kasper Rietkerk, renowned for his collaborations with esteemed artists such as Eddie Chacon, John Caroll Kirby and Jean Toussaint, has also been a member of the Emma Rawicz Jazz Orchestra. His diverse career includes appearances on various TV and radio programs. Kasper has been awarded with the Brubeck Living Legacy Prize, in July 2024, by the Royal Academy of Music and Brubeck Living Legacy. In 2023, Kasper and his London-based sextet, KRSIX, recorded a full-length album released on Zennez Records and launched at a sold-out Pizza Express Soho on June 24, 2024. This album features original compositions by Kasper, arranged for his sextet along with a string quartet, and includes guest appearances by Emma Rawicz, Anatole Muster, and Immy Churchill.
★★★★ – ‘Rietkerk’s alto work is first-rate, melodic and capable of delicacy as well as power.’ All About Jazz (2024)
Kasper began playing saxophone at a young age and was inspired by the sounds of saxophonists like Cannonball Adderley, Kenny Garrett, and Paul Desmond. After completing his bachelor’s degree, Kasper moved to London and graduated from his master’s at the Royal Academy of Music in 2023, where he received an award for his final exam performance.
‘He plays jubilantly and exultantly on his alto saxophone‘ – JazzFlits (2024)
With his Dutch group Das Sound Kollektiv, Kasper released two albums and an EP, most notably gaining success with their ‘+1’ release, which featured collaborations with various singers and rappers, including Ntjam Rosie, Ruben Hein, Rico, and Tennishu (Butcher Brown). Kasper is currently working on the release and tour of his debut album as a bandleader, having previously released his home-recorded and self-produced EP ‘alt.esc’ in February 2022.
★★★ – ‘All of this marks a promising debut album full of Rietkerk’s bittersweet and well-crafted compositions.‘ – Jazzwise (2024)
He is involved in other projects such as the Medan Trio, where he writes and performs improvised music accompanied by visual art. From 2019 till 2021, he played lead alto in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra from the Netherlands, which was led by Ruben Hein.
‘Great alto sound that carried strongly over the band’ Jason Yarde
‘Fantastic saxophonist’ Jean Toussaint
