Interview/Performance with Andrew Robb

August 9, 2024 Geoff Chalmers

Interview & Stunning solo Performance with andrew robb

In this video, we meet Andrew Robb – an award winning double bass player, arranger and teacher. This fascinating interview includes discussion of all aspects of Andrew's career, including competing in and winning the Bass Europe jazz competition; his background in both classical and jazz music; the use of the bow in jazz; transcription; releasing, recording and arranging an album for violin and double bass; and much more. It's a really interesting conversation with lots of brilliant advice for students of jazz and classical music. Also, don't miss the incredible solo performance of a Duke Ellington tune at the end of the video!

Meet andrew

Andrew Robb graduated with BMus Jazz at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama 2012. During his time there he led the double bass section of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and won the BBC Radio Scotland Young Jazz Musician of the Year. As a sideman, he has played with various ensembles including Alan Benzie Trio, Henry Spencer’s Juncture, Renato D’Aiello’s Quartet resident on Monday nights at Ronnie Scott’s and jazz folk group Twelfth Day.

Andrew’s most recent collaboration is with his wife, Emily Davis, in the Davis Robb Duo. As a classical violinist and a jazz double bassist, they’ve created new, exciting and interesting arrangements for themselves, and have performed several successful live-stream duo concerts including one for Chamber Music Scotland. In 2023, they released their album Long Days, Short Nights.

Andrew is a really unique artist who’s music fuses Celtic, jazz and classical influences. We were thrilled to welcome him to the studio to share his story, his approach to the double bass and a beautiful solo performance.

Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction
01:14 Double Bass Competition in Lucca
06:06 Andrew’s competition programme
09:20 Has this helped your teaching?
10:57 Common issues with students playing
12:41 Classical vs. jazz - the bow
13:40 Andrew’s bass background
16:35 Studying at Guildhall
19:35 Transcription and getting into jazz
26:46 Transferring transcriptions into your playing
31:00 Album - Long Days, Short Nights
38:15 Andrew’s bass
41:40 Find Andrew online
42:17 Solo performance

ANDrew robb Links:

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Andrew Robb is a sought-after teacher of the double bass and is currently accepting students. He has worked with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, The National Youth Jazz Collective, The National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland and The National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland. If you are interested in learning with Andrew, you can get in contact with him through his website.