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
The first in a trilogy of solo releases
Jason released Cerberus Rising, the first in a trilogy of solo releases in February 2009 on the Circumvention Music label. While the second and third installations will feature Jason ’s latest forays into electronics and multi-track recording, Cerberus Rising assumes a more minimal and austere posture, using only the tenor saxophone. Primarily improvised, the pieces draw from a repertoire and improvisational vocabulary developed over several years of touring as a solo performer. At times reverently melodic, at other times brusquely discordant, each piece charts it own terrain and possesses its own character, structure, and internal logic.
Jason performers several concerts in California during Summer 2009 in support of the album.
Links: Cerberus Rising on Circumvention Music | Jason's performance schedule
Cerulean Landscape (Clean Feed/Sept 2010) - duo recording with pianist and composer Anthony Davis
Photo by Charles Quigg
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.
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