MYSPACE VIDEOS NOW UP!! TAKE A LOOK! ALSO SOME INTERESTING PICTURES.......
I'LL BE TOURING THIS SUMMER PLAYING KEYBOARDS WITH SIMON & GARFUNKEL IN NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN!
----"FREEHELD" (composer) is now a 2008 ACADEMY AWARD WINNER in the Documentary Short Category! Also POLYGRAPH LOUNGE JUST PLAYED A SOLD OUT SHOW WITH BOBBY McFERRIN AT CARNEGIE HALL! Great fun!!----------------------------------NEW PRESS for RS and BTS------------------------
"Extraordinary...harmonically ravishing...a dazzling two-handed ostinato-based piece where Oscar Peterson and Sergei Prokofiev break bread... a most stimulating release that stays fresh after countless rehearings" Gramophone January '08---------------------------
"(One of) downtown's best piano talents" The New Yorker------------------------------
"With Schwimmer, more is more" Jazziz----------------------------------------
"Theremin master" The New York Times
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Played with ETHEL at World Financial Center in Dec playing piano. one piece with four pianists!
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JUST BACK from a concert at Disney Concert Hall in LA as part of The 10 Piece Theremin Orchestra! First time such a concert has happened since Carnegie Hall in 1932! Very cool...See pictures
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THIS JUST IN!!----------------
All About Jazz says"Once in a great while in the musical incubator of the NYC downtown club scene, a truly musically sophisticated work with broad appeal emerges as if from nowhere... Short pieces and miniatures display dazzling technique and use brevity to enhance their passion. His complete mastery of dynamics and transition remind of how that which is left unsaid can be delicately powerful, with achingly beautiful quiet passages deftly contrasted with forte... Shaping up to be the finest solo piano CD of 2007.
ELLIOTT SIMON, All About Jazz NY 8/07-------------------------
SUNDAY NEW YORK TIMES--ARTS & LEISURE March 25, 2007
Classical Recordings
By ALLAN KOZINN
"Dancing easily between both (classical and jazz) worlds...machine-gun speed and clarity...dense, rhythmically involving work...unequivocally classical pieces... Mr. Schwimmer draws on the kind of dark harmonies more typical in Frederic Rzewski’s concert music than in jazz...crisp, disciplined keyboard technique that thrives best in rhythmically complex and coloristically varied music..."
ALLAN KOZINN, The Sunday New York Times Arts & Leisure section 3/25/07
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TIME OUT NEW YORK March 22–28, 2007
Classical and Opera Previews
"Substantial artistry...a genuinely impressive sense of structure (in his compositions) with a jazz-fueled spontaneity and an ear for instantly memorable melodies in these clever, attractive miniatures...an original, compelling voice...a vivid imagination that recognizes no borders." STEVE SMITH, Time Out New York 3/22/07
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"Legendary keyboard talents...astonishing artistry...amazing pianistic skills, incredible improv abilities, compositional brilliance, and theremin chops. This is exquisitely beautiful music, worthy of deep listening." ERNIE RIDEOUT, Keyboard 2/07-- Ernie Rideout, KEYBOARD February 2007 issue
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SAN DIEGO NEWS
"Brainy and dreamy" 4/14/07
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"Meaningful, intelligent and evocative music--Not to mention great piano playing!"
PAUL SIMON
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"MARY'S PICK OF THE WEEK" NEW YORK POST 3/23.07
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"Beyond the Sky is fantastic. In every way....writing, playing and pianistically.
Dynamically. Lyrically. I could go on. Congratulations. You're killin', man!"
MICHAEL BRECKER, Grammy winning jazz saxophonist/composer
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"Astounding. Extraordinary. Other Worldly (Hence the title?) Those Hands...That Brain!Passion and Intellect in equal measure." VERNON REID, guitarist/composer (Living Color)
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"Not only is Rob Schwimmer one of my first call piano players, he's also a great artist in his own right. His compositions, technique and interpretation all come together on Beyond The Sky--Some of the best piano playing I've ever heard!" ARIF MARDIN, legendary producer/arranger Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
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"Utterly unique...Virtuoso in the extreme...One of a kind...Such great surprises!
The structures are so thoughtful and complete...I couldn't wait to hear the next track...The most imaginative version of Stormy Weather I've ever heard...The world deserves to hear you!" LEONID HAMBRO, renowned classical pianist/ competition judge
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While Rob Schwimmer has worked with some of the preeminent artists of our time (see bio below) his own music has been elusively hard to come by. While playing with all the aforementioned artists exhibits great versatility, it does little to prepare one for the singular strength of his own personal musical vision.
From his Suite, in turns virtuosic, inward-looking, and evocative of another place/time, through the wistful Two Songs Without Words, the mysterious little dances and prismatic distortions of his Four Miniatures, the explorations of tonality, contrapuntal freedom, and conversational interplay of Three Tone Poems, the quiet intimacy of Prelude and Postlude, the passionate theremin/ piano elegy Waltz For Clara and, finally, the lyrical bending and re-casting of four Hallucinations On Popular Songs, revealing himself a master musical storyteller.
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ROB SCHWIMMER is a composer-pianist and thereminist who has performed and recorded throughout the world.
Rob was hand-picked to play keyboards, theremin and sing in the elite touring band for SIMON & GARFUNKEL's recent "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, STEVIE WONDER, WILLIE NELSON, CHAKA KHAN, LAURIE ANDERSON, BETTE MIDLER, PAUL SIMON, QUEEN LATIFAH, ARIF MARDIN (Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award), THE KLEZMATICS (2007 Grammy), ADAM GUETTEL (2005 Tony), T-BONE WALKER, MATTHEW BARNEY, ANG LEE, MARIA SCHNEIDER (2005 Grammy), GWYNETH PALTROW, MARSHALL BRICKMAN (2006 Tony Nominee), MABOU MINES, GEOFFREY HOLDER, JOHN CALE, STEVE BUSCEMI, BURT BACHARACH, EDIE BRICKELL, TEO MACERO, HAL WILLNER, VERNON REID, URI CAINE, The EVERY BROTHERS, ETHEL, JAMES EMERY, KURT VONNEGUT, HAZMAT MODINE, THEO BLECKMANN, ANJANI THOMAS, ODETTA, DREPUNG LOSELING TIBETAN MONKS, JOSEPH JARMAN, ALWIN NICOLAI/ MURRAY LOUIS Dance Company, HENRY JAGLOM, ANNETTE PEACOCK, TALUJON PERCUSSION QUARTET, FRED ANDERSON, MARC RIBOT FRANK LONDON, C&C MUSIC FACTORY JOHN STUBBLEFIELD, LEE BREUR, BASIL TWIST, THE ZAMBONIS, SAMMY DAVIS JR., SAM RIVERS and MARY CLEERE HARRAN.
Rob's appearances as 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, CBGBs and the Colosseum (Rome) before a crow of over 600,000.
Rob Schwimmer is a founding member of the legendary Polygraph Lounge music and comedy duo with multi-instrumentalist Mark Stewart (Bang On A Can Allstars). Other collaborations include his Theremin Noir (CD) with Mark Feldman and Uri Caine and The Zmiros Project (CD) with Frank London and Lorin Sklamberg. Rob is an original member of the NY Theremin Society.
His compositions have been featured in theater, television series and movies, documentaries and feature films.
Rob Schwimmer is one of the few theremin virtuosos in the world. In addition to Theremin Noir, he has performed as featured theremin soloist for many projects including Matthew Barneys epic movie Cremaster 3, CBS television series, Now and Again and A&E's Breakfast With the Arts.
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.
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BEYOND THE SKY (NuNoise Records)
Piano virtuoso Rob Schwimmer is an original and intrepid artist who on this album meaningfully negotiates the composer's formalism of classical music and the improvisers freedom of jazz, blurring distinctions between both disciplines.
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 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.
Schwimmers is a music of inclusion, both wry and ruminative, romantic and avant garde, minimalist yet expansive. The depth and breadth of Schwimmers musical and imagistic vocabulary reveal an understanding of the entire keyboard tradition both in his compositions as well as his use of improvisation. That it sounds like a personal vision and not a cross-cultural collision is testament to his rhythmic instincts and harmonic curiosity, his touch and articulation, the manner in which he is able to summon up in the course of a single passage, let alone an entire piece, a vision of the pianos wide-ranging stylistic and structural expanse.
Available through CD Baby (cdbaby.com) or robschwimmer.com Produced by Joe Mardin and Rob Schwimmer
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"BEYOND THE SKY" QUOTES
Rob Schwimmer uses the piano like a French impressionist painter uses a brush… painting scenery, mood and atmosphere taking me to strange and beautiful places. This music is incredible, very original, takes great chances and I've never heard anything quite like it before--I love it! He is a true artist. --GEOFFREY HOLDER, Tony Award Winning Director, Actor, Choreographer
This solo piano exploration by Rob Schwimmer is full of passion and love...his execution and ideas flow with a beautiful sense of freedom that captures you from his first phrase to the last. --JOE LOVANO, acclaimed jazz saxophonist and composer
Rob Schwimmer tells compelling stories with his fingers. When they connect with a piano keyboard, the music connects with us, and we hear passions, adventures, love stories, and tall tales, all told in an involving, personal style. --DAVID GARLAND, WNYC New York Public Radio
It's brilliant. Holding You In My Arms is gorgeous…
-- ADAM GUETTEL, Best Musical Score Tony 2005 "Light In The Piazza"
It's absolutely beautiful - beginning to end. I can't thank you enough for sending it to me. The production values, the compositions... the whole 9 yards - just delicious!--
ELLIOTT RANDALL, Steely Dan guitarist "Reelin' In The Years", etc
Really enjoyable and quite impressive... an incredible musician and a fantastic theremin player!-- ELLIOTT SHARP
What a sensational album! You play wonderfully, but I am more taken by your music--The album is a great accomplishment.--GEORGE STEEL, Executive Director Miller Theatre, Columbia University
I enjoyed it very much! Great compositions and great playing!!! You sound great.--URI CAINE
The CD lives in my car player out here in LA. JACK DOUGLAS, producer John Lennon (Double Fantasy), The Who (Who's Next), Miles Davis, Aerosmith, etc.
I was really impressed--Great playing and superior sound. You sound wonderful, really. FRED HERSCH, Grammy nominated composer/pianist
I listened to your amazing CD tonight. I don't know what to say: I was blown away, really surprised by your references, your past, your ear, your agility, your taste. Thanks for letting me hear it! JONATHAN SHEFFER, conductor, artistic director (Red, An Orchestra/ Eos Orchestra), composer
It's Beautiful! Subtle, intriguing music. If Skriabin grew up listening to the best American pop, he would sound something like this. --LIMOR TOMER, Whitney Museum Adjunct Curator of Performing Arts, Music Curator at BAM, Lincoln Center Festival, Symphony Space
Rob Schwimmer is an insanely great player ERNIE RIDEOUT, editor KEYBOARD
Stunning BOSTON HERALD
Rob is a technical and musical virtuoso…A monster of the piano ATTENCION (Mexico)
Master Improvisor WNYC Radio
...grace with power OPTION
Brilliant El Independiente (Mexico)
Beyond The Sky **** AUDIOPHILE AUDITION web magazine
The album is terrific and I love it! Great work. Sounds just like you at your very best, which is really really good, as you well know. I think my favorite (original) is the 3 Tone Poems. Favorite standard is Stormy Weather--Lovely stuff throughout." WARREN BERNHARDT, esteemed pianist
Man what a beautiful CD, your chops sound strong & clear. For a record that is as diverse as yours is, the strength of your voice and the humor and the playfulness of what you play hold it all together. JAMEY HADDAD, master percussionist
Seemingly limitless keyboard skills Berkshire Advocate Weekly
Master Improvisor WNYC Radio
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OTHER PROJECT QUOTES
Well-stocked brains, strict performance discipline, and killer chops--Best of the Year (Polygraph Lounge-2005) Richard Dyer, Boston Globe
The musicianship of all three is brilliant, adding majesty and celebration to each track (Zmiros Project) Rambles Magazine
Haunting and unforgettable The Wire (UK) (Theremin Noir)
Theremin Noir is inhabited by an uncanny beauty. A moody, delicate, and highly original album. Strongly recommended."François Couture, All-Music Guide
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PS--I went to elementary school at PS 165 in Flushing (Queens, NY) and Junior High and High School in Bloomsburg, PA in case anybody out there also attended...
The introduction day of the second solo album "Balboo" by Piotr Zaczek is approaching. On October the 10th the disc will appear on sale, but one may listen to a few fragments on www.myspace.com/piotrzaczek
The more I worked on this song, the bigger it grew. When Hurricane Katrina ripped up New Orleans, Mississippi and Alabama, it tore open our hearts too. What did we see? It’s the four year anniversary now. Has enough been done?
Ever wondered what to do in the event of a nuclear threat?
A while ago I found stuff that inspired me to make this film:
Living Under the Shadow of the Nuclear Umbrella
Both artistic (ensure you get the background music!) and educational, it primarily comprises official British government civil defence advice.
Though source materials are quite aged, much remains relevant today.
I encourage all to visit the YouTube page to learn more (Show support! Rate! Comment!) and responsibly circulate as widely as possible, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaIim3Rj7L4
Une fois n'est pas coutume, ci-dessous un peu de pub pour les prochains concerts de Serge Utgé-Royo au Vingtième Théâtre. En espérant s'y retrouver... A bientôt,
i would like to let you know about my theremin summer-workshops in mallorca and sardinia. Sardinia: june 22nd.-26th workshop A for beginners july 13th-17th workshop A for beginners july 20th-24th workshop B for advanced players
Mallorca: August 10th-14th workshop A for beginners September 21st-25th workshop B for advanced players
..
