Rob Schwimmer

Rob Schwimmer is a composer-pianist and thereminist who has performed and recorded throughout the world. His work has been described as "... a brilliant meld of musical discipline, sensuality, technical acumen, and freedom" ?A combination that has made Rob's debut solo piano album Beyond The Sky so highly anticipated. His personal vision of music reflects a unique and probing sensibility combined with his vast experience in many genres with great and fascinating artists.

Rob is also one of the few theremin virtuosos in the world, performing as featured theremin soloist for many projects including the upcoming movie by R.W. Goodwin (producer/ director/ writer of X-Files) "Alien Trespass", Matthew Barney's epic movie Cremaster 3, CBS television series Now and Again and A&E's Breakfast With the Arts (as well as giving Sara Fishko a theremin lesson on the nationally broadcast Studio 360 on NPR). He is an original member of the NY Theremin Society and was one of the chosen participants in the historic (and sold out) 10 Piece Theremin Orchestra at Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. His previous CD Theremin Noir featured pianist Uri Caine and violinist Mark Feldman.

His compositions have been featured in theater, television series and movies, documentaries and feature films including "Freeheld" Sundance Special Jury Prize 2007, and 2008 Academy Award Winner for Documentary Short (composer), and "Dear Diary" (Dreamworks SKG first Oscar w. Bebe Neuwirth) Academy Award Winner, Best Live Action Short Film 1997 (additional music).

He is a founding member of the highly acclaimed Polygraph Lounge music and comedy duo with multi-instrumentalist Mark Stewart (Bang On A Can Allstars). Other collaborations include The Zmiros Project (CD) with Frank London and Lorin Sklamberg (The Klezmatics).

He was picked to play keyboards, theremin and sing in the elite touring band for Simon and Garfunkel's "Old Friends" North American and European tours (2003-2004) and appeared in their CD/DVD "Old Friends: Live On Stage". He has worked with Wayne Shorter, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, Chaka Khan, Laurie Anderson, Bette Midler, Queen Latifah, Arif Mardin (Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award), Adam Guettel (2005 Tony), T-Bone Walker, Sam Rivers, Marc Shaiman, The Klezmatics (2007 Grammy), Matthew Barney, Ang Lee, Mary Cleere Haran, Maria Schneider (2005 Grammy), Annette Peacock, Gwyneth Paltrow, Marshall Brickman (2006 Tony Nominee), Mabou Mines, Geoffrey Holder, John Cale, Steve Buscemi, Theo Bleckmann, John Stubblefield, Burt Bacharach, Edie Brickell, Teo Macero, Hal Willner, Vernon Reid, The Everly Brothers, Ethel, James Emery, Kurt Vonnegut, Anjani Thomas, Odetta, Drepung Loseling Tibetan Monks, Joseph Jarman, Alwin Nikolai/ Murray Louis Dance Company, Henry Jaglom, Talujon Percussion Quartet, Fred Anderson, Marc Ribot, Frank London, C&C Music Factory and Sammy Davis Jr.

Rob's appearances as featured soloist with orchestras include The Little Orchestra (Lincoln Center); the New Haven Symphony Orchestra (Yale); and Red, An Orchestra (Cleveland.) He has played venues all over the world including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, 92nd St. Y, the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Madison Square Garden, The Blue Note, CBGB's and the Colosseum (Rome) before a crowd of over 600,000.

Schwimmer's work can be heard on CBS/Sony, Warner Brothers, Toshiba/ EMI, Def Jam/ Island, Manhattan/Blue Note, Dorian, NHK, Capricorn, Evidence, Knitting Factory, Polystar, Traditional Crossroads, Dreamworks SKG, Universal Pictures, TriStar Pictures, HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, CBS, NBC, ABC, Discovery, Lifetime, Noggin, A&E, NPR and Nickelodeon.