Portrait in Extreme reviews

Jazzwise Review Phil Robson: Portrait in Extreme Rating: ★★★★ Author: Andy Robson Portrait in Extreme Partly nurtured by lockdown, but definitely inspired by his new life amid the lakes and castles of the Republic of Ireland’s midlands, this is Robson … Continue reading

NYC, California, Europe and more!

Phil Robson Quartet featuring Jed Levy. Birmingham, Nov 2018.   (Pic by Brian Homer).

It has been a busy 12 months for Robson. Apart from many great gigs in the New York City area, including the ‘Tobin’s Run On 51’ series he co-curates with partner Christine Tobin at the Irish Arts Center, a recent trio performance at Mezzrow with Tobin and bass master Peter Washington to name just two, It has also been a time of travel and establishing new projects and musical relationships, as well as maintaining old creative friendships.

In September 2018, Phil Recorded a live album with ‘Partisans’ at the Vortex Jazz Club in London. This band, co-led by Phil Robson and Julian Siegel has now been in existence since 1996! The new album, called ‘Nit De Nit’ was released  by the great cross Atlantic label Whirlwind Recordings to critical acclaim in May 2019, accompanied by a series of gigs in England. This continues  with another short Partisans tour in September 2019 which includes an appearance at Scarborough festival and many more. Please see the Live Dates page or http://righttempoagency.com/concerts/partisans/

In November 2018, Phil’s new collaboration with the great NY saxophonist Jed Levy finally became fully realized with a tour which included shows in Berlin, Barcelona and the UK including London Jazz Festival. The band that  toured included Clarence Penn/Jason Brown on drums and Oli Hayhurst/Dave Whitford bass. On the back of a sell out show at Birdland Theater in April, this creative partnership is set to continue over the following months with performances at The 55 Bar, 2 nights at Smalls (Aug 23/24) and shows in Northern California in September including a performance at Yoshi’s. The core of the working band remains Robson, Levy, plus Peter Slavov bass while Clarence Penn re-joins us for Smalls and the great Billy Drummond completes the other gigs. We plan to record this project very soon for an album. There is plenty more in the pipeline for this collaboration with Jed and performances are still being planned in November 2019 in Europe including Rome and many more. Please watch this space!

As well as playing with longer term friends such as Mark Lewandowski, Peter Brendler, Tim Armacost, James Genus, David O’Rourke, Fintan O’ Neil, Ingrid Jensen, Rachael Cohen, Joseph Lepore, Tom Rainey, Polly Gibbons, Rob Garcia, Colin Stranahan etc, etc, there are a plethora of new great musician friends which Robson has had the great fortune to work with in recent months. These include Dezron Douglas, Harvie S, Lafeyette Gilchrist, Blake Meister, Charles Goold, Sam Bevan, Michelle Walker, Jon Davis, Janis Siegel, Perez, Misha Tsiganov, Vicki Burns, Dayna Stephens, Billy Drummond, Aaron Johnson, Benny Bennack iii, Luca Santaniello, Lorin Cohen, Steve Wilson, Peter Leitch (and all the fabulous guys in his New Life Orchestra), Marius Dičpetris, Evan Burrus, Nick Veyenas, Evan Francis, Roland Fidezius, Itay Morchi, Jim Ridl, Jimmy Macbride, Marco Panascia, Clarence Penn, Jason Brown etc. to name just a few! Long may it continue 😄

Image

Christine Tobin – ‘Detour Ahead’ @ Jazz Standard, July 12, 2017.


July 12
Christine Tobin brings her new project ‘Detour Ahead’ to one of NYC’s most iconic venues, the Jazz Standard. With Phil Robson guitar, Rene Hart upright bass & Rob Garcia drums.
Playing a rich mix of material drawing on her various projects including Christine’s original songs alongside new arrangements of Leonard Cohen from her highly acclaimed
‘A Thousand Kisses Deep’ album and also some choice classics.
Buy tics now at: Phone 212-576-2232
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=7453215&pl=jazzstandard

Image

‘Tobin’s Run on 51’ – jazz series at the Irish Arts Center, NYC.

Christine Tobin & Phil Robson have been curating a series of gigs at the Irish Arts Center, NYC. It has been a run of themed jazz shows involving lots of amazing musicians & also incorporating film clips, audio clips & general story telling and they’ve been a great success. The IAC is a wonderful small theater in Hell’s Kitchen. You can read about the series here: http://bit.ly/2jZ5xF8
The next show ‘Rip, Rig & Panic’ is happening on Apr 27th.

Image

What musicians say about Phil Robson

“Phil Robson is one of the best guitar players in the world today. His musical ideas flow continually and with a seamless logic. His technique is flawless and is in service to his fertile imagination. One of my favorites and a source of inspiration! Don’t miss an opportunity to hear this modern giant!!” Peter Bernstein

“Phil Robson is one of New York’s most brilliant Jazz Guitarists!” Vic Juris

“Phil Robson is the real deal: swinging, melodic, contemporary – he’s a master of great voicings and modern linear phrasing! You’re going to dig what he has to share with you!” Sheryl Bailey

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

“Phil Robson is a disturbingly good jazz guitarist!” Wayne Krantz