Orphy Robinson (Marimba/Vibes)
Orphy Robinson is one of the major figures in the UK Jazz scene, but is regarded as an important figure across a wide range of musics, not only as a master musician but also as a mentor and educator.
He has released records on Blue Note record label and played with top US artists Don Cherry, David Murray, Henry Threadgill, and in the UK with Courtney Pine, The Jazz Warriors, and Andy Sheppard, among many, many, others
Orphy is a vibraphonist and multi-instrumentalist, who also plays; saxophone, trumpet, drums, piano, marimba and steel pans. He has written music for television, film, theatre, opera and contemporary classical music; including “42 Shades of Black” for the Phoenix Dance Theatre, which was performed at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. ...
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Orphy Robinson (Marimba/Vibes)
Orphy Robinson is one of the major figures in the UK Jazz scene, but is regarded as an important figure across a wide range of musics, not only as a master musician but also as a mentor and educator.
He has released records on Blue Note record label and played with top US artists Don Cherry, David Murray, Henry Threadgill, and in the UK with Courtney Pine, The Jazz Warriors, and Andy Sheppard, among many, many, others
Orphy is a vibraphonist and multi-instrumentalist, who also plays; saxophone, trumpet, drums, piano, marimba and steel pans. He has written music for television, film, theatre, opera and contemporary classical music; including “42 Shades of Black” for the Phoenix Dance Theatre, which was performed at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Robinson is from London, with Jamaican roots and works across a variety of eclectic musical forms (jazz, free jazz, free improvisation, jazz fusion, and funk).
Audiences discovered his playing while he played with saxophonist Courtney Pine in the 1980s big band Jazz Warriors (which was the forerunner to the Jazz Jamaica All-Stars Orchestra). Robinson was also an original member of the Brit funk band Savanna, in which he first came to the notice of critics and audiences.
Bristol based saxophonist Andy Sheppard asked Orphy to join his big band on his 2nd album and the association continued with Sheppard utilising Robinson’s education prowess to help him put together his Saxophone Massive, helping corral, mould and conduct 200 saxophonists of varying abilities, at the Brunel 220 celebrations, marking Brunel’s 200th Birthday in 2006.
The group was put together again in 2009 for the opening of Bristol’s newly constructed foyer at the then Colston Hall (now Bristol Beacon) in 2009. They have since replicated the project in many countries at various international jazz festivals and other events.
In 2018 Orphy Robinson was made an M.B.E for his services to music, in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. He now sits on the board of the Jazz promotion Network and in 2020 was appointed The Ivors Academy Jazz Committee Chair
His music exudes groove, with tonight’s offering being no exception….one not to miss!
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