Jazz Play by Carol Robbins

More About Carol Robbins

Born in Chicago, Carol Robbins grew up in Los Angeles, where piano lessons at an early age inspired her to experiment with jazz improvisation. By age ten she was studying harp and eventually became one of the handful of students ever accepted by the late pioneering harpist Dorothy Ashby. One of the world’s few jazz harpists, Ms. Robbins has recorded and performed with an eclectic variety of artists including Billy Childs, Manhattan Transfer, Brian Wilson, Bjork, Dianne Reeves, Linda Ronstadt, Nina Simone, Teddy Edwards and Frank Sinatra. Her memorable television credits include Cheers, Frazier and The Tonight Show.

Highlight appearances in 2004 included a live radio broadcast on KCRW with Australian singer Sia, a duo with Bea Arthur at the Hollywood Bowl in A Tribute to Peggy Lee, and an engagement as performer and instructor at the Lyon Healy International Harp Conference in Salt Lake City.

In 2005 Ms Robbins, was nominated for a Grammy for her work on Billy Childs’ recording “Lyric”. She and her colleagues in Mr. Childs’ Jazz Chamber Ensemble were nominated in the category of Best Instrumental Jazz Album. Ms Robbins has performed with this group in New York City, Los Angeles, Orange County and the Bay Area. Robbins also recorded with the Electronica band Bitter:Sweet on their debut CD “The Mating Game”. Two of the songs from this album can be heard in the movie and on the soundtrack CD of “The Devil Wears Prada”. The song “Bittersweet Faith” features a harp solo improvised by Robbins. The group did an in-studio performance and interview on radio station KCRW in April of 2006.

Ms Robbins released her third CD “Jazz Play” in February of 2006. This collection features many of her of original compositions and she is joined by a stellar group of jazz musicians. On July 4th of 2006 Ms Robbins played a concert and gave a seminar for the American Harp Society in San Francisco. She gave a live radio interview for station KCSM in San Mateo a few days after the AHS performance. Robbins will be appearing extensively in concerts and clubs and on the radio with her group, Billy Childs’ Jazz Chamber Ensemble and with Bitter:Sweet. Several of Robbins’ jazz arrangements for harp have been published by Vanderbilt Editions, and her three CDs, “Jazz Play”, “Three And Four” and “Chords in Blue” are available on www.jazzcatsproductions.com, www.amazon.com and through many harp-related retailers.

Jazz Play - album reviews

One of the best (and the few) jazz harp soloists, Carol Robbins on Jazz Play also proves to be a talented songwriter. Several of her originals, particularly such lyrical ballads as "Still Light," "Darcy's Waltz," and "Emilia," deserve to catch on as standards. Her harp playing is as fluent as any harpist alive (and any harpist since Dorothy Ashby), and she blends in well on various selections with tenor and soprano saxophonist Bob Sheppard, trumpeter Steve Huffsteter, guitarist Larry Koonse, and the rhythm section. The standards are well chosen, too, with John Lewis' "Skating in Central Park" being a highlight. This set is a delight and arguably Carol Robbins' finest recording to date. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Once more a unique resonance from the jazz galaxy enters into the arena of excellence. The jazz harp has a calming yet hypnotic mystique surrounding its tones. With the 2005 release of Carol Robbins special gift she introduces those tones of the jazz harp with Jazz Play from Jazzcats. Jazz Play is a very cool way to spend a listen!

What first jumps out is the mix of sounds that accompany the Robbins Harp as each cut takes a different spin. Saxophonist Bob Sheppard comes out of the gate in fine fashion with his expertise. Also take in the brass of Steve Huffsteter in the cut “Tangier”, the horns ad clarity to the dimension of the harp as they walk the strings into a solo, a very nice touch!

“Skating in Central Park” has the innocent intro of the Robbins strings. Then in a New York minute the sax focuses on its sensual tones gliding the blades of the harps skate across the icy composition...Cool and a select cut!

Jerome Kern’s “I’m Old Fashioned” is nothing short of exquisite. An appreciated cut to this project. A standard that goes to a new level with the harp rhythms and ads a new perspective to the piece. This is cut is “dinner at eight” bait for that special someone!

Carol Robbins and her upcoming release of Jazz Play will alter and expand your horizons in jazz. Rich in innovation powerful in arrangement certainly on the right track to future recognition in the industry.

By Karl Stober

Karl Stober is an international freelance columnist and broadcaster who can be reached at jazztrenzz@bellsouth.net. Karl can also be reached at 1-251-625-0866.

Cerebral, serene, & sensual...This is where classical meets jazz..And, guess what: They love each other! Jazz harpist Carol Robbins conveys a melodic fluidity & applies her variety of workable motifs that work quite well within the structure of her jazz sextet. And, as for her group, they create the natural musical platform for Carol to ply her improvisational ideas viably. What an nice marriage it is indeed! All in all, there's a simplicity to this charming jazz group. However that said, the combined group possesses a naive ''grace'' that emotes joy, tenderness, yes even nostalgia..Yet, these musical emotions are not subdued within the great calm of the whole of what the group is capable of creating.

George W. Carroll/The Musicians' Ombudsman

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