The Brubeck Living Legacy Prize will be awarded each year to a young musician who demonstrates excellence in both performance and composition, selected from jazz musicians at the Academy who are in their final two years of study, or in the first year following graduation. The prize includes funding and support for the release of an album on the Ubuntu Music record label.
Eligible musicians submitted applications for consideration, which were then reviewed by a panel of judges. For the first year, the judges were composer, arranger, pianist and President of Brubeck Living Legacy, Darius Brubeck; Head of Jazz, Nick Smart; jazz vocalist, recording artist and Co-founder of ECN Music, Claire Martin and Founder/Director of Ubuntu Music, Martin Hummel.
'We were inspired and encouraged in equal measure at the outstanding quality of every single applicant for the inaugural year of this wonderful new initiative. If the quality of the music being made (and the deep thought and care going into their art) is anything to go by, then the future of this music we love so much is in the very brightest and most talented hands. Kasper's musical breadth, his maturity, the writing and improvising, as well as his clarity of vision, stood out in every aspect of his presentation and we are thrilled to have such a wonderful first beneficiary of this fantastic new opportunity. The Academy is deeply proud to be involved.'
Nick Smart
Kasper began playing saxophone at a young age and was inspired by the sounds of saxophonists like Cannonball Adderley, Kenny Garrett and Paul Desmond. He completed his Master’s degree at the Academy in 2023.
Kasper’s plans for his upcoming project on Ubuntu Music include a multi-generational ensemble, consisting of Academy jazz professors guitarist John Parricelli and bassist Tom Herbert, alongside fellow Academy alum and drummer Jonah Evans. The album will be recorded this year and is scheduled for release in 2025.