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Discography
Impish
Screenwash
Six Strings and the Beat

as co-leader of Partisans
Sourpuss
Max
By Proxy new

with Christine Tobin band
Aililiu
Yell of the Gazelle
House Of Women
Deep Song
You Draw the Line
Romance and Revolution

2009 - Parliamentary Jazz Awards musician of the year.

Phil Robson is a guitarist/composer based in London , UK . He is internationally regarded as a highly versatile and creative player who appears in all kinds of diverse settings.

Born in Derby in 1970 Phil had already enjoyed from the age of 14 onwards rapidly became part of the house rhythm section in the local club with such visiting musicians as John Etheridge and Bheki Mseleku as well as with his clarinettist father, Trevor Robson. Moving to London at the age of 18, he attended the Guildhall School of Music being one of the youngest students ever to do the jazz course. Awards include the prestigious BT 'Best soloist of the Year' award presented by John Dankworth, the Perrier Young Jazz award for the best instrumentalist in 1998

Much of the focus of Phil's work until now has been either as co-leader of the contemporary jazz-rock group Partisans with whom he has recorded two albums Sourpuss and 2005's Max and other bands in which he is as much composer as guitarist such as with his octet or with vocalist Christine Tobin. He started working with his trio in 2001 to present his writing and playing skills in a more intimate context. The 2002 recording Impish was made in September 2001, and features legendary veteran pianist John Taylor, a big fan of Phil's playing after he heard him with Partisans earlier that year (in Finland!), on 4 tracks. (In fact, he was originally only planning to be on three, but enjoyed the session so much that he wanted to do more.) Phil's follow up to 'Impish' in September 2003 called Screenwash was recorded in New York with leading NY legendary drummer Billy Hart and bassist James Genus. In 1998 the British Council sponsored a week of gigs with his own trio in South Africa.

Also as band leader, Phil has received commissions for his octet from Birmingham Jazz and Derby Jazz. This band including Jason Yarde , Julian Seigel , Gene Calderazzo , Steve Watts , Thebe Lipere , Karen Street & Christine Tobin .

Phil co-leads Partisans with Julian Siegel (sax, bass clarinet) featuring Gene Calderazzo - drums and Thad Kelly - bass. .Partisans was formed around gigs in London's Vortex jazz club in 1996 and are considered one of the most important bands in the new jazz scene in Europe. They have recorded 3 CDs including the second Sourpuss on Babel with the bands latest , Max nominated for the album of the year in the 2006 BBC Jazz awards and for Best Ensemble in the 2008 Parliamentary Jazz Awards.

Phil has been a long term band member & frequent collaborator with the Babel singer Christine Tobin , whose ground breaking approach to singing & songwriting is highly acclaimed all around the world. He has also recently been to Syria, Yemen and Sudan with Christine.

Phil is also a member of the Liam Noble quartet with pianist Liam, drummer Tom Rainey, bassist Drew Gress. Alec Dankworth Trio with Alec - bass, Julian Arguelles - sax; Gerard Presencer Quartet and the BBC Big Band.

Has also worked with: Big Jon Patton, Charles Earland, David Liebman, Steve Lacy, Mark Turner, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Marc Copland, Wayne Krantz, Mike Gibbs, Peter Herbert, Bob Brookmeyer, Tim Garland, Tommy Smith, Django Bates, Tom Rainey, Drew Gress, Stan Sulzmann, Jeff Williams, John Hebert, Ben Street, Duane Eubanks, Bobby Wellins, Denys Baptiste, Iain Ballamy, Donny McCaslin, Jean Toussaint, Julian & Steve Arguelles, Gary Husband, Mike Figgis (film director), Jiggs Whigam, & as member of BBC BB with: Joe Lovano, Patti Austin, Eliane Elias, Giavanni Hidalgo, Rufus Reid, Vince Mendoza, Madeline Bell, Horatio El Negro Hernandez, John Riley, Barbara Dennalin, John Dankworth & Dame Cleo Laine, Anne Hampton Callaway, Mark Murphy, Georgy Fame, Martin Taylor, Michael McDonald, Pee Wee Ellis, Sammy Nestico & Bud Shank. Lalo Schifrin, e.t.c.

In 2007, out of a commission from Derby Jazz arose the Six Strings and the Beat project, for guitar trio and string quartet which was premiered at the Vortex in London. At Derby jazz, John Fordham from the Guardian gave a **** review remarking "This inspired crossover is a real achievement for Robson and should go down among the year's jazz landmarks." Six Strings and the Beat has been recorded in London for release on Babel in 2008. It has received rave reviews in May 2008 from The Guardian a four star review naming it as, “…a hot contender among European releases for 2008” and Jazzwise magazine as “…his best album to date.”

Phil tours the project again in the spring 2009 and before that in January he went on a succesful UK tour with leading US saxophonist Dave Liebman who describes Phil as "...a wonderful guitarist and composer, definitely a unique player. We had a ball and hopefully I will be able to play with Phil again." Liebman's wish came true; there was a new tour in 2009. In the same month Phil appeared as sideman in high flying US saxophonist Donny mcCaslin's quartet at Ronnie Scotts playing opposite Jack DeJohnette and john Surman besides other UK tour dates.

The new Partisans album By Proxy was released on the Babel Label in the summer 2009.

CV details

As a band leader:
Phil Robsons, 'Six strings & the beat' - with Peter Herbert - D. Bass, Gene Calderazzo - drums, Emma Smith - violin, Jennymay Logan - violin, Naomi Fairhurst - viola, Kate Shortt - cello.
Phil Robson Trio - with drum legend Billy Hart & James Genus, bass.
'Partisans' Co-led with Julian Siegel featuring Gene Calderazzo - drums & Thad Kelly - bass.
Phil Robson Octet - with Jason Yarde, Julian Siegel, Gene Calderazzo, Steve Watts, Thebe Lipere, Karren Street & Christine Tobin.

Long term band member & frequent collaborater with Christine Tobin, whose ground breaking approach to singing & songwriting is highly acclaimed.

Member of:
Liam Noble quartet with Liam - piano, Tom Rainey - Drums, Drew Gress - Bass.
Alec Dankworth 'Spanish Accents' with Alec - bass, Julian Arguelles/ Mark Lockheart- sax. Christian Garrick- violin, Mark Miralto- drums
Christine Tobin band with Liam Noble - piano, Kate Shortt Cello, Thebe Lipere- percussion, Dave Whitford- Bass & Simon Lee- Drums
The BBC big band.


Winner of:
1997 -BT Best soloist of the year award
1998 Perrier Young Jazz award for the best instrumentalist of the year.
2008 - Parliamentary Jazz Awards musican of the year.

Important CDs other than on Babel:
Julian Siegel & Phil Robson, 'Partisans' EFZ 1021
Liam Noble 'Romance amongst the fishes' Basho SRCD13-2
Alec Dankworth - 'If You're Passing By' Candid CCD 79773


Other Quotes:
"Phil Robson is a disturbingly good jazz guitar player!"
Wayne Krantz.

"...based in London, Robson is a top-class soloist but a relatively unknown force as a composer. It was thus a revelation to find him capable of remarkably sophisticated writing for string quartet, voice and rhythm section."
From Evening Standard **** review of 'six strings & the beat'

"But the sensation of the festival was guitarist Phil Robson's Six Strings and the Beat project, for guitar trio and string quartet. Robson elicited full-on improv from violinist Emma Smith and the remarkable cellist Kate Short (who, on an Oumou Sangare tribute, sounded like a kora player), and they made an appropriately wild sound behind his flying guitar lines on an Ornette Coleman dedication. Peter Herbert's bass solos were jaw-dropping, and drummer Gene Calderazzo was as laconically propulsive as ever. This inspired crossover is a real achievement for Robson and should go down among the year's jazz landmarks." John Fordham - The Guardian ****