Jason Heinrichs, a music producer who worked under the name Anomaly, died on Monday, February 7, at the age of 52. His death was confirmed by family. Anomaly was a member of the Twin Cities hip-hop group Cenospecies, and was a producer for several foundational Minnesota hip-hop albums.

Born in 1970 in Kingston, Ontario, he “was a born musician,” according to a tribute posted by his brother, Karl Heinrichs. “He was a classically trained pianist starting at the age of 5, and then picked up every instrument he could get his hands on. Guitar, bass, saxophone, etc. Jason participated in orchestra, band, and choir all through middle and high school, and played in many garage bands in high school that played school dances, local bars, and parties. Jason's love of music never changed throughout his life, it was his passion, second only to the love he had for his family, who is shocked and devastated by his sudden passing. Jason was a pillar of our family, and we will never be the same.”

In 1994, Heinrichs graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and moved to Minneapolis to work on his music career. He started by working at Electric Fetus as part of an eclectic behind-the-counter crew with Slug of Atmosphere. They formed an early friendship based on a shared love of music and making music. “He was just as excited to listen to your music as he was to play his music for you, and his interest and curiosity to learn about all genres of music was inspiring,” says Slug.

Heinrichs was known for releases on Minneapolis-based Groove Garden Records, building his resume with the label where Anomaly was a member of improv supergroup Fresh Squeez, which also boasted members such as Jeremy Ylvislaker, Mankwe Ndosi, and more on the song “Rain Check” on the Groove Garden compilation Varietals V.1, which is how Slug’s collaboration with Heinrichs came about initially.

“We would improv together at numerous jams during the Fresh Squeez/Freeloaded era, and he was a pro,” Slug says. “He listened, he challenged, and I’m pretty sure he could make party with any instrument you handed him. He always greeted you with a smile and encouragement.”

Anomaly released his solo instrumental album Howle's Book in 1998. The album features vocals from Slug on the song “Snuggle, Pt. 3.” As Slug recalls, “That song played a large role in opening up new listeners to me.” The album also featured additional vocals from Swift, and Eyedea, as well as scratches by DJ Abilities, and DJ Andrew (aka Andrew Broder). Anomaly’s continued collaboration with Slug would gain further notoriety with a production credit for Slug, Eyedea & Sole’s song “Savior?” on the Anticon Presents: Music for the Advancement of Hip-Hop compilation.

Additionally, Heinrichs’s home studio, Anomaly’s House, would garner credit on sessions for Atmosphere’s vinyl-only EPs Ford One and Ford Two, released in 2000, which were later re-released as part of Lucy Ford: The Atmosphere EP’s in 2001. Slug reveals, “It was the first time we’d seen anyone use a computer and grid to record and sequence music. He supplied the sound effect of the squealing pig on one of our songs (“Nothing But Sunshine”) and we laughed for a long time.”

Anomaly’s House was alternatively known as Sartori Sound, a space that would go on to handle recording, engineering, mixing, and mastering work for several of Minnesota’s landmark hip-hop groups. He handled said duties on CMI’s tape-only 1998 release Case Studies, and for Oddjobs’ 1999 debut album, Conflicts & Compromise.

“What a patient, calm, and generous person,” Deetalx of Oddjobs recollects. “When we were kids in high school, we would go over to his studio to record. We made our first couple records there. I’m sure watching us flail around could have been incredibly tedious and annoying to many people, but he was always gracious, offered a ton of helpful suggestions, and helped show us how to go about making and recording music. He loved what he did, and was certainly a person in the music scene who brought a lot of people together.”

Outside of hip-hop, Heinrichs also assisted singer-songwriter Dylan Hicks with drum and instrument programming on the tracks “City Lights” and “My Best Friend” on Hicks’ 2001 album, Alive With Pleasure. “Jason and I worked together many times in the late ‘90s,” Hicks recalls. “I would come to his apartment or basement studio usually with a finished song, but sometimes with just a few records I wanted to sample. We worked quickly and harmoniously. He was a very fluid player on keyboards, bass, and guitar, and his first ideas were good ones. As a producer, he easily translated what I was looking for, but also pushed me in unexpected directions.”

Heinrichs’s studio work also provided recording and mixing duties on Kanser’s Happens Everywhere EP, as well as for Raw Villa’s Rebellion EP, the group which consisted of Muja Messiah, Shioneas, Power Gaza, and Rico Incognito, aka Real Spit Ric.

Anomaly’s work was prominently featured as part of the trio Cenospecies, which featured rappers Syst and P.O.S. Their lone 2001 release Indefinition contained production from Anomaly. However, the group dissolved shortly after the release of the album, and was named City Pages’ “Best Band To Break Up In the Past 12 Months” in 2002. P.O.S went on to pursue a solo career, and co-founded Doomtree. Syst, P.O.S, and Anomaly however would remain close, and Anomaly would go on to produce the bulk of Syst’s solo effort, Linear Language.

Anomaly would later work primarily in house and dance music, having gained some production, recording, and mixing credits on several one-off songs. He was a DJ and music director at the Lounge in Minneapolis and was the resident DJ for Martini Blu at the Grand Hotel. He frequently collaborated with vocalist Lady Sarah under the name Roomsa, and after a series of singles and EPs between 2002-2006, they would release an album Oceans in 2007 on the local label Aphrodisio. Heinrichs also bright his talents to Absolute Music, producing music for many high-profile corporate clients.

A celebration of life for Anomaly will take place on Saturday, March 19, at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Stillwater. Jason is survived by his mother and father, Dr. Richard and Jean Heinrichs, his brother Karl Henrichs, and his niece, Justice Henrichs, as well as numerous extended relatives.