An introduction
Winner of ‘Jazz CD Of The Year’ in the 2015 Parliamentary Jazz Awards for Partisans – ‘Swamp’.
Winner of ‘Best Jazz Musician Of The Year’ in the 2009 Parliamentary Jazz Awards (plus others shown in later pages)

“Phil Robson’s music, on a first hearing, always gives me that feeling I haven’t yet heard right the way through it to the other side. Yes, there are moments of beauty, external allure, yes there is variety. But there is also a depth which brings one back wanting to revisit, to hear more and more….. unmissable.” londonjazznews.com

Multi-award-winning guitarist/composer Robson was a major force on the London music scene for many years, then similarly in NYC between 2015-2020. He is now based in the beautiful countryside of Co. Roscommon, Ireland. He is internationally regarded as a highly versatile and creative player who appears in all kinds of diverse settings, as well as being a being a renowned bandleader & composer.

“Phil is a wonderful guitarist and composer, definitely a unique player. We had a ball…” David Liebman (US sax legend).

As a leader, Robson has fronted many innovative projects including:
‘The Robson/Levy Quartet.’ The NYC band featured Jed Levy sax, Peter Slavov bass & Clarence Penn drums. Phil and Jed toured in 2022 with a European line-up featuring Roberto Gatto on drums & Dave Whitford/Dan Bodwell bass.
The Phil Robson Organ Trio with Ross Stanley & Gene Calderazzo who released their Whirlwind Recordings album, ‘The Cut Off Point’, on May 18, 2015 to critical acclaim. https://philrobson-whirlwind.bandcamp.com/album/the-cut-off-point
‘The Immeasurable Code Quintet’ with Mark Turner/Julian Arguelles – sax, Gareth Lockrane – flute, Michael Janisch – bass & Ernesto simpson – drums.
‘Six strings & the beat’ – with Peter Herbert – Bass, Gene Calderazzo – drums, Mandy Drummond – violin, Jennymay Logan – violin, Naomi Fairhurst – viola, Kate Shortt – cello.
Phil Robson Trio – with NY drum legend Billy Hart & James Genus, bass.
Phil Robson quartet featuring US sax legend David Liebman & Jeff Williams.
Phil Robson Octet with Jason Yarde, Julian siegel, Christine Tobin, Gene Calderazzo, Thebe Lipere, Karren Street.
The last recorded Robson solo project is a self produced EP/album called ‘Portrait in Extreme’ which features all new Robson compositions and soundscapes using conventional recording techniques and electronic software such as Ableton Live Suite 11 with Robson playing everything other than guest appearances on drums by David Lyttle and vocals by Christine Tobin. It was released digitally on Lyte Records in March 2022!

Co-led the cult London band ‘Partisans’ with Julian Siegel which was a seminal influence on the UK, European contemporary scene & beyond for over 23 years. They completed a major tour of North America in June 2014 which included appearances at Rochester, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa international festivals as well as Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola & many other venues to pre-promote their award winning CD ‘Swamp’, released in Sept ’14 on Whirlwind Records. The band did it’s final tour in 2019 having released a live album that year. https://www.whirlwindrecordings.com/partisans

Long term band member & sometimes collaborator with his partner Christine Tobin, whose ground breaking approach to singing & songwriting is highly acclaimed. Her new project ‘Returning Weather’ will do a major ‘CD release’ tour of Ireland in March 2023. http://www.christine-tobin.com

Played with a diverse cross section artists as a side musician/band member, such as Django Bates, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Wheeler, Bob Brookmeyer, Charles Earland, Donny McCaslin, Maceo Parker, Craig Handy, Marc Copland, Jeff Williams, Dana Stephens, Charles Earland, Steve Lacy, Vince Mendoza, Amy Winehouse, Jean Tossaint, Phil Woods, Julian Argüelles, Alec Dankworth, Steve Wilson, Brian Byrne, Ingrid Jensen, Cora Venus Lunny, Liam Noble, Joe Lovano, Peter Leitch’s ‘New Life Orchestra’, David Power etc to name just a few (see more on later pages).

As composer/band leader he has been commissioned many times to write music & put projects together by such companies as the BBC, Derby Jazz & Birmingham jazz etc as well as writing music for live theater shows.

A renowned educator, having taught in many major UK music colleges for years, Phil continues to be a visiting professor at Trinity College Of Music, The Guildhall School Of Music & Drama & The Royal Academy Of Music, the latter of which he was elected to be an honorary associate of in 2015 as well as appearing in the past as a tutor at major educational events such as ‘The European Jazz Academy’ in Germany, Graz and Linz universities in Austria, Dordogne Jazz Summer School, BUJazzO in Germany. , Graz and Linz universities in Austria etc. In NYC he was a regular mentor at the ‘Jazz For Kids’ program @ ‘The Jazz Standard’, hosted workshops for the Bronx Arts Ensemble and the Irish Arts Center NY. Robson is currently a regular tutor & performer at the annual Sligo Summer School/Festival and led classes for over 55s for Music Network in 2022 in rural Ireland.

Please see the following pages for background history, discography, more playing history, awards & lots of other info……