Herb Robertson
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Clarence “Herb” Robertson is a jazz trumpeter and flugelhornist. Born Feb. 21, 1951 in New Jersey, he began to play trumpet in school during the fifth grade. He was introduced to jazz two years by his junior high music teacher including Miles Davis. Robertson began collecting jazz records, listening to all styles from Louis Armstrong to the avant-garde and especially the era’s hard bop. In high school he led a quintet that played dances. During 1969-73 he attended the Berklee School Of Music as an instrumental performance major, a period in which his improvisational skills became highly developed. In 1973 he left Berklee, playing on the road in Canada as a lead trumpeter with jazz-rock cover bands.
In 1975 Herb Robertson had to quit playing music for a short time when the strain of performing nightly in a loud jazz-rock band caused him to temporarily lose his trumpet chops. Robertson altered his style, becoming a more lyrical and explorative player. In 1976 he started a rehearsal big band, also playing with some of the local avant-garde musicians in New Jersey. He met altoist Tim Berne in the late 1970s and first gained attention for his playing with Berne’s groups during 1981-87. His tonal distortions and use of mutes looked back to jazz’s past while his freer improvising was quite futuristic, fitting in very well with Berne’s passionate alto playing. He also became a member of bassist Mark Helias’ group.
Robertson, who first recorded as a sideman in 1982 and led his initial album in 1985, has since appeared on over 100 recording projects. As a leader he put together his own adventurous band in 1987 and has recorded for the JMT, Splasc (h), Leo, CIMP and Cadence labels. His groups since 1987 include The Double Infinitives, the Herb Robertson Brass Ensemble, and various all-star groups with Dominic Duval, Jay Rosen, Paul Smoker and Phil Haynes. He has worked with many of the major names of avant-garde and modern mainstream jazz including Anthony Davis, Bobby Previte, David Sanborn, George Gruntz, Bill Frisell, Paul Motian, Lou Graissi’s Po’ Band, The Fonda-Stevens Group, Nexus, Barry Guy’s New Orchestra, Michael Moore, Terry Jenoure, Andy Laster, Judi Silvano, John Lindberg, Gerry Hemingway, the Satoko Fujii big band, Marc Ducret, Simon Nabatov, Mark Feldman, Pierre Dorge’s New Jungle Orchestra, John Zorn, Roswell Rudd, Elliot Sharpe, the Klaus Konig Orchestra, Rashied Ali, Ray Anderson, Paul Motian, Dewey Redman, Even Parker, Agusti Fernandez, Jean-Luc Cappozzo, Frank Gratkowski, Michiel Braam All Ears, Mark Dresser and the Charlie Haden Music Liberation Orchestra He has been cited as an important influence by Dave Douglas.
Herb Robertson, who has composed music for dance and theater, also plays valve trombone, tuba, the Eb alto horn and “little instruments.” He has performed at many European festivals and New York clubs. In 2005 he, along with Dr. Ana Isabel Ordonez, started their own record label, RubyFlower Records, to promote avant-guard jazz and new music in its most extreme forms. Whether it is complex large group arrangements or free form duets with drummer Phil Haynes, Herb Robertson brings his wide knowledge of jazz history along with his original voice and adventurous spirit to each session.
DISCOGRAPHY
Transparency 1985 JMT (reissued by Winter & Winter) The Little Trumpet 1986 JMT (reissued by Winter & Winter) Shades of Bud Powell 1988 JMT (reissued by Winter & Winter) X-Cerpts: Live at Willisau 1988 JMT (reissued by Winter & Winter) Certified 1991 JMT (reissued by Winter & Winter) Falling In Flat Space 1991 Cadence Sound Implosion 1997 CIMP Brooklyn-Berlin 2000 CIMP Knudstock 2000 2000 Cadence Rituals 2000 CIMP Music For Long Attention Spans 2001 Leo The Legend Of The Missing Link 2002 Splasc(h) Elaboration 2005 Clean Feed Sketches From The Other Side, For A.I. 2006 Ruby Flower
