biography

“ Andrew Robson…someone who, over the past decade, has emerged as one of Australia’s most vital saxophonists.”

John Shand, The Sydney Morning Herald, July 24, 2003

Now firmly established as one of Australia’s leading saxophonists, Andrew Robson divides his time between his own group the Andrew Robson Trio, the World According to James, a quartet with trombonist James Greening and the award winning world music group, the Mara Ensemble as well as myriad other performance, touring, recording and teaching engagements. Andrew composes extensively for all projects in which he is involved.

A graduate of the Australian National University with a post graduate degree in performance and Masters degree (performance and composition), alto saxophonist and composer Andrew Robson has been based in Sydney since 1992.

He has also spent time in New York where he studied with some of the world’s most celebrated saxophonists including David Liebman and Steve Coleman.

From 1993 to 1997, Robson featured as a member of the Grandmasters, a groove band led by the legendary soul funk guru Jackie Orszaczky. With Jackie, Andrew twice toured Europe performing at concerts and festivals in Hungary, Austria, Germany and Holland. Andrew’s playing can be heard on three of Jackie’s CD releases, Family Lore, 100%, and Deep Down and Out.

In 1997 Robson joined the internationally acclaimed folk/world music group MARA with whom he has performed extensively throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and Canada. In the UK, this touring has included performances at the WOMAD festival in Reading (1997/99), Greenwich and Docklands festival in London, the Glastonbury Folk Festival and a concert tour of Wales. He remains a featured soloist with MARA and tours internationally with the group on a regular basis.

In Australia, Andrew Robson has performed and recorded with some of our most well-known and celebrated talent including Mike Nock, Ten Part Invention, James Morrison, Barney McAll, The catholics, Sandy Evans Group, The Umbrellas, The World According to James, Clarion Fracture Zone, Lilly Dior, Tree, James Muller, Wanderlust, Vince Jones, Monica Trapaga, Ed Kuepper , the Mighty Reapers, Marcia Hines, Tim Finn, You am I, Renee Geyer and The Whitlams.

He has also appeared with touring American artists Terry Evans, Cornell Dupree and Jon "King" Cleary.

The Andrew Robson Trio's first album SCRUM was short-listed for Rhythm Magazine's Album of the Year and was nominated for the ABC 24 Hours/Classic FM Australian Jazz Album of the year 1997. SUNMAN, the trio’s second release was nominated for an Australian Record Industry Award (ARIA) for best jazz release 2001, as was Andrew’s recent quartet recording ON (ABC jazz) in the 2003 ARIA awards.

Recent Highlights include:

• Winner of the Australian Music Council/Freedman Foundation Jazz Fellowship 2003. A national award designed to assist recipients launch an international career.
• Tour of Germany and Holland as featured soloist/composer with the World According to James. Performances included the Berlin Jazz Festival and the Bim Huis in Amsterdam.
• New quartet CD, ON released by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s jazz label (ABC Jazz) featuring 8 original compositions.
• Member of orchestra for Opera Australia’s season of Love in the Age of Therapy performed at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Sydney Festival.
• Toured as a member of Mike Nock’s Big Small Band. Features on a live CD of this group to be released late 2003.
• Invited to join Ten Part Invention replacing retiring Australian Jazz legend Bernie McGann.
• Andrew Robson Trio CD Sunman nominated for ARIA award for best Jazz Album
• Winner of ARIA for Mara Live in Europe recorded in the Czech Republic 2000 for best world music release.
• Regular appearances at Australia’s premier Jazz Festival, The Wangaratta International Jazz Festival.

Selected Discography

CDs (as a leader)

Radiola - Andrew Robson Trio - Lamplight Records 2008

Bearing the Bell - ABC Classics 2008

On - Andrew Robson Quartet - ABC Jazz 2002

Sunman - Andrew Robson Trio - Rufus Records 2000

Scrum - Andrew Robson Trio -Rufus Records 1997

CDs (as Co-leader)

Simpatico (with Paul Cutlan) - Lamplight Records 2007

with James Greening

No Job too Small – The World According to James

Way Back – The World According to James

with The Mara Ensemble

Sorella - Mara Music

Live in Europe – Mara Music

with Mike Nock

Live – Mike Nock’s Big Small Band

with Jackie Orszaczky

Family Lore – The Grand Masters

100% - Hungarian Rap Sadists

Deep Down and Out – Orszaczky Budget Orchestra

with the Umbrellas

Bravo Nino Rota – the Umbrellas