American saxophonist and scholar Jason Robinson is fascinated by the relationship between improvised music, experimentalism, and cultural identity. His current performance interests include the intersection of improvisation and composition, new electro-acoustic processing and interaction enabled through software-based technologies, and the relationship between popular music and experimentalism. He performs regularly as a soloist (acoustically and with electronics), with groups he co-leads (Cosmologic and the Cross Border Trio), as a leader of varying ensembles performing his original music, and in a variety of collaborative contexts. His latest albums include his fourth release as a leader—Cerberus Rising (2009/Circumvention)—and the fourth release by Cosmologic, Eyes in the Back of My Head (2008/Cuneiform). He has performed at festivals and prominent venues in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. He has performed or recorded with Peter Kowald, George Lewis, Anthony Davis, Eugene Chadbourne, Earl Howard, Emily Hay, Jeff Kaiser, Toots and the Maytals, Groundation, Elijah Emanuel and the Revelations, Bertram Turetzky, Mark Dresser, John Russell, Roger Turner, Gerry Hemingway, Kei Akagi, Mel Graves, Liberty Ellman, Babatunde Olatunji, Mel Martin, Marco Eneidi, Lisle Ellis, Raphe Malik, Mike Wofford, Philip Gelb, J.D. Parran, Dana Reason, David Borgo, Nathan Hubbard, Michael Dessen, Contemporary Jazz Orchestra (at Pearl's, San Francisco), the La Jolla Symphony, SONOR (UCSD), and the San Francisco Mime Troupe, among others. Robinson has published articles and reviews in Ethnomusicology and Critical Studies in Improvisation/ Études critiques en improvisation. Robinson is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at Amherst College and holds a Ph.D. in Music from the University of California, San Diego.
News
Three new releases in September/October 2010
The Two Faces of Janus (Cuneiform) - Robinson-led New York-based ensemble recording featuring Drew Gress, Liberty Ellman, George Schuller, Marty Ehrlich, and Rudresh Mahanthappa
One face looking at the past, one face looking towards the future. Borrowed from Greek mythology, Janus is an apt metaphor for Robinson's latest ensemble project. Recorded in December 2009, the project features a stellar cast of his most recent New York-based collaborators, all of who are distinguished figures in jazz and improvised music. The ten original pieces range in instrumentation from horn duos to sextets with bass clarinet, alto flute, arco bass, and other wildly evocative textures. The music is angular, expressive, emotional, and virtuosic and seamlessly moves from hard hitting grooves to beautiful abstract sound worlds.
Links: Cuneiform Records
Photo by Charles Quigg
Cerulean Landscape (Clean Feed) - duo recording with pianist and composer Anthony Davis
Jason and acclaimed pianist and composer Anthony Davis emerged from an Amherst, Massachusetts recording studio in late 2008 with a remarkable new album titled Cerulean Landscape. Drawing upon a collaboration that began in 2002 with Davis's appearance on Jason's Tandem album (Accretions), their new recording features a collection of new compositions and improvisations. The album will appear on the Lisbon, Portugal based Clean Feed Records in September 2010.
Links: Clean Feed Records
Cerberus Reigning (Accretions) - the second in a trilogy of solo releases
Photo by Michael Klayman
The second in a series of three solo releases, Cerberus Reigning features Robinson on electronics, soprano and tenor saxophones, and alto flute. Using software-based electroacoustic processing, he develops wide ranging environments for improvisation. Many of the pieces draw on interactive, computer-generated soundscapes and processes, most of which make various "decisions" unkown by Robinson. The album features Robinson's full coterie of effects and new scores for computer-based improvisation.
Links: Accretions Records | Cerberus Rising (first in the trilogy)
Amherst College
Robinson joined the Music Department at Amherst College in Fall 2008 as a visiting professor. He teaches courses on improvised music, jazz, and popular music.
Links: Amherst College | Music Department | Jason's Amherst College website