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Robert Sabin

Robert Sabin is an active bassist, composer, and educator specializing in jazz and contemporary improvised music. He has appeared alongside such artists as Oliver Lake, John Yao-17, Jean-Michel Pilc, Peter Bernstein, Dave Pietro, Dick Oatts, Donny McCaslin, Matt Panayides, Rich Perry, Rich Shemaria, Mark Stanley, Ingrid Jensen, JC Sanford Orchestra, Luis Bonilla, John Riley, Dee Alexander, Aaron Johnson, Kenny Werner, Bruce Arnold, Tony Moreno, Combo Nuvo, Brian Lynch, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Killer Ray Appleton, Victor Lewis, Clarence Penn, David Leibman, Chico O'Farril, Billy Taylor, Vince Mendoza, Roland Hanna, Giacomo Gates, Mellisa Hamilton, Robin Aleman, Sandra Bernhard, Bob Mintzer, Dennis Charles, and Ernie Watts. He was awarded Second Place in both the 2001 and 2003 International Society of Bassist's Jazz Competitions. Sabin has his third recording, "Humanity Part II" due out for Ranula Music in the Summer of 2015.

Sabin wrote his Ph.D. dissertation “Gary Peacock: Analysis of Progressive Double Bass 1963-1965” while studying with Peacock from 2009-2014. He is one of the world’s leading experts on the bassist and of the early 1960s New York City Avant-Garde.

As an educator, Sabin serves on the Facutly of Hunter College High School, Manhattan School of Music Precollege, and has directed the Jazz Program at the New York Summer Music Festival and Institute. He has also served on the faculty of New York University, Teachers College/Columbia University, and the Hartwick College Summer Music Festival.He has served as a guest lecturer at CUNY, and the Manhattan School of Music. He is also a New York Pops Teaching Artist, serving as clinician, private instructor, and conductor for high school and college ensembles across New York City.

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8
Album Review

John Yao: Off-Kilter

Read "Off-Kilter" reviewed by Mark Corroto


In all great ensemble recordings one pays no attention to the compositions and arrangements. The music just seems to dance without inhibitions and flow over the ears. Correction: excellent ensemble performances compel one to recognize and appreciate the compositions and arrangements. With composer, arranger, trombonist John Yao both statements are true and both are in opposition to each other. Proof being Off-Kilter, the second release by his Triceratops ensemble. It follows How We Do (See Tao Recordings, 2019) and includes ...

5
Album Review

Robert Sabin: Humanity Part II

Read "Humanity Part II" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Although Humanity Part II, the oracular title of bassist Robert Sabin's new album, may summon images of a Mel Brooks parody (Part I must have slipped past us), the music itself is decidedly serious. In the liner notes, wherein he references Albert Camus, Ennio Morricone, John Carpenter, Ingmar Bergman, Maurice Ravel and Dario Argento, Sabin makes it quite clear that he and his tentet are scanning a road map that traverses musical pathways visibly (and audibly) removed from customary ports ...

4
Album Review

Robert Sabin: Humanity Part II

Read "Humanity Part II" reviewed by Troy Collins


Robert Sabin has a dark side. Although the New York-based bassist regularly serves as a sideman to such luminaries as Oliver Lake and Luis Bonilla, Sabin has revealed an abiding fascination with horror throughout his career, as documented on his 2005 Ranula Music debut Killdozer, based on Marvin Heemeyer's infamous armored bulldozer rampage in Colorado the previous year, and his 2007 sophomore follow-up Romero, an ode to George Romero's apocalyptic zombie films. Humanity Part II continues Sabin's investigation ...

142
Album Review

Robert Sabin: Romero

Read "Romero" reviewed by Troy Collins


Romero, bassist Robert Sabin's rousing and contemplative tribute to director George Romero's famous zombie films, yields an unusual, effective combination of two seemingly disparate disciplines, jazz and horror movies. Drawing inspiration from the classic trilogy of Night of the Living Dead (1968), Dawn of the Dead (1978) and Day of the Dead (1985), Sabin uses Romero's ripe cinematic metaphors assessing the frailty of the human condition as a thematic framework. Like Romero's films, his sophisticated compositions reveal a ...

210
Album Review

Robert Sabin: Romero

Read "Romero" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


New York bassist Robert Sabin's Romero continues to deliver music that jolts the ears and psyche, as first heard on the 2005 recording Killdozer . This time around the music draws inspiration from none other than horror film director George A. Romero, whose cult classics include Night of the Living Dead (1968) and Dawn of the Dead (1978).Nothing is quite like a jazz musician playing outside of the mainstream music (e.g. Miles Davis' later years). Sabin and the ...

283
Album Review

Robert Sabin: Killdozer

Read "Killdozer" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


Killdozer is the collision of a warped (in a good way) jazz bassist with a free saxophonist and a purple-hazed hot guitarist. For those who already know bassist and educator Robert Sabin, this will come as no surprise. He's been involved in many projects in the New York music scene with Brain Spray, Spirit Gang and his own “avant goth electric neo jazz group, featured on this eponymous 2005 release. Name your poison--jazz rock or punk jazz--but ...

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6

Recording

Bassist/Composer Robert Sabin's "Humanity Part II" To Be Released By Ranula Music July 14

Bassist/Composer Robert Sabin's "Humanity Part II" To Be Released By Ranula Music July 14

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

For his bewitching new album Humanity Part II, bassist, composer, and film music aficionado Robert Sabin assembled a brass-heavy tentet in service of a dark, glacial, cinematic sound. The CD, Sabin’s third in ten years, will be released on his Ranula Music label July 14. “I love the way film music invokes states of mind that you carry from the film, things beyond the music itself,” says Sabin, whose 2007 album, Romero, grew out of his obsession with the zombie ...

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Robert Sabin

Jazz Musician of the Day: Robert Sabin

Source: Michael Ricci


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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Robert Sabin

Jazz Musician of the Day: Robert Sabin

Source: Michael Ricci


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Website

Free MP3 from Robert Sabin's "Romero" at AAJ

Free MP3 from Robert Sabin's "Romero" at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz

Track ZWKDD Windows: Right Click > Save As / Mac: Control + Click Artist/Band Robert Sabin Duration 05:33 Album Romero Record Label Ranula Music Description Having been familiar with most of his work from an early age (a local video store let ...

182

Recording

Bassist Robert Sabin Releases "Romero" on Ranula Music

Bassist Robert Sabin Releases "Romero" on Ranula Music

Source: All About Jazz

This recording represents a year of watching and re-watching exclusively the films of George A. Romero.

Having been familiar with most of his work from an early age (a local video store let me rent Creepshow when I was 9), I became re-obsessed with Romero's work in 2005 when I discovered the director's commentary track to Day of the Dead. The insights provided by Mr. Romero and Mr. Savini illuminated central characteristics of Mr. Romero's work; the appetite necessary when ...

"Name your poison-jazz rock or punk jazz-but for all intents and purposes, this music crunches, swings and defies some conventional stereotypes. Call it what you want, it is very good." —Mark Turner, All About Jazz
Primary Instrument

Bass

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

As an educator, Sabin serves on the Facutly of Hunter College High School, Manhattan School of Music Precollege, and has directed the Jazz Program at the New York Summer Music Festival and Institute. He has also served on the faculty of New York University, Teachers College/Columbia University, and the Hartwick College Summer Music Festival.He has served as a guest lecturer at CUNY, and the Manhattan School of Music. He is also a New York Pops Teaching Artist, serving as clinician, private instructor, and conductor for high school and college ensembles across New York City

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Off-Kilter

See Tao Recordings
2022

buy

Field Theory

Pacific Coast Jazz
2021

buy

Humanity Part II

Ranula Music
2015

buy

Naptown Legacy

Rubin Museum of Art
2013

buy

Romero

Ranula Music
2007

buy

Killdozer

Ranula Music
2006

buy

Crosstalk

From: Off-Kilter
By Robert Sabin

Ghost

From: Humanity Part II
By Robert Sabin

ZWKDD

From: Romero
By Robert Sabin

Notes From Underground

From: Killdozer
By Robert Sabin

Videos

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