Congratulations to Andrew Robb, Head of the Jazz programme at St Mary’s Music School on his recent appointment as Lecturer of Jazz Bass at Leeds College of Music.
Many of the teaching staff at St Mary’s Music School also work at conservatoire and university level; we are delighted that Mr Robb is able to share his talents south of the border whilst continuing to take the Jazz Programme for our pupils from strength to strength.
Meanwhile Mr Robb, who is a former pupil, is about to tour the UK with ‘genre-bending’ band Twelfth Day, formed by alumni Catriona Price (violin) and Esther Swift (pedal-harp), to celebrate the release of their latest single ‘Superwoman’. To find out more about Twelfth Day’s tour and hear their latest single, visit https://www.twelfthdaymusic.com
About Andrew Robb, Double Bassist
Since winning 1st Prize at the European Society of Bassists Jazz Competition in 2018, Andrew Robb is beginning to establish himself as one of the most versatile and talented young double bassists in Europe. Growing up in Edinburgh, Scotland, he started learning double bass at the age of seven and became immersed in classical and jazz music. Equally versatile in both styles, Andrew left George Heriot’s School in 2007 and came to St Mary's Music School for his 7th year in 2008.
He 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 in 2009. This led to his music being featured on BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 3 as well as performing at the Edinburgh, Glasgow and London Jazz festivals.
As a sideman he plays with the award-winning 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 completed a Masters in Jazz Performance at the Grieg Academy of Music in Bergen in 2018. His co-founded trio AMS, with Mathias Marstrander and Sigurd Steinkopf, is releasing their debut album in December 2019 on the Øra Fonogram label with a tour planned across the UK and Norway.
Andrew has had the pleasure of playing with the legendary US singer Salena Jones, Norwegian Jazz legends Dag Arnesen and Knut Kristainsen, the Art Blakey alumnus Valery Ponomarev, saxophone stars Tim Garland and Tommy Smith, organist Tony Monaco, UK pianists Julian Joseph and Kit Downes, singer Cleveland Watkis and trumpeter Byron Wallen. He has toured extensively in the UK and across Europe.
Andrew is a sought-after educator of Jazz, Improvisation, and Double Bass. 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. His workshop series 'Freeing The Music' has given improvisation workshops across the UK and recently completed a successful composition collaboration with the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain.