A Little Nostalgia & some Musical Inspiration - Robin Hill

Often we are asked about Robin's musical influences, and as a performer and a composer, are there particular pieces of music that helped shape the musician he is today?

Generally people seem interested in the music that has inspired a musician, especially one who unusually is equally at home on both classical & electric guitar...

So, I thought I'd address this here today.

A commonly quoted sentence in our house is, 'Nothing is composed in a vacuum,' and this became my starting point.

I have in fact touched on this before in the post, 'Miles Davis, Stravinsky, Herrmann and The Beatles - A Musical Connection' but felt it worthy of revisiting.

At the time of writing Robin had just left on a two week trip, so he obliged by sending me an email containing the names of his major musical influences from the 1930's to the 1960's.

Miles Davis featured once again, not only as Charlie Parker's sideman but also as bandleader and pioneer of 'cool jazz'.

Given that Robin is a guitarist, it won't come as a surprise that the album, 'Sketches of Spain', was high on his list with its highly original arrangement by Gil Evans of the Adagio from Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez.

Davis thought the melody was so strong that, 'The softer you play it, the stronger it gets,' and although there were critics, I feel it is an excellent example of different genres of music creating a most sublime synergy.

Then there's Benny Goodman.

A jazz clarinetist and band leader with the facility to play anything from swing jazz to Mozart concertos. In fact, Bela Bartok, one of the most important composers of the 20th century, actually composed a piece for Goodman, 'Contrastes'. Again showing the interaction and inter relation of many musical styles.

Two albums by the American bandleader, double bassist and composer, Charlie Mingus, also got a mention. 'Blues & Roots', recorded in 1959 and released in 1960, Mingus revisits his early musical experiences, mainly the blues, gospel and New Orleans Jazz.

It's reported that the recording sessions were rather disorganised but the result is that each track has a loose and relaxed feel.

The second album, 'Mingus Ah Um', also recorded in 1959 has had such an impact on the world that it was one of only fifty recordings added to the Recording Registry in 2003. An amazing album which can't help but draw the listener into the mood. Particularly the track, 'Better Git it in Your Soul', which, especially if listened to with eyes closed, paints a vivid and exciting portrait of New York City in the late 1950s..

Before we leave the jazz scene, which was so seminal in this era, one has to mention Django Reinhardt, particularly if examining the musical influences and inspirations of a guitarist.

Reinhardt was one of the first major European jazz musicians. The fact that he could only use the first and middle fingers of his left hand (due to injury in a fire at the age of 18) didn't hinder him. He simply invented a new technique of playing which has become a tradition in French gypsy culture.

One of his most memorable and enduring musical collaborations was with Stephane Grappelli, an association which produced not only great music but also some amusing episodes, one of which I wrote about here, 'Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grappelli & the Revolving Stage'.

It's telling that many years after these musicians were performing, Robin was, and still is, influenced by their music.

Whilst he may have started out in the field of classical music, one influences the other, and it's no coincidence that some time later he was recording his own jazz quartet, Eklectica', you can read about them here in, 'Robin Hill Plays Claude Bolling's 'Concerto for Classic Guitar and Jazz Piano Trio'.

But jazz wasn't his only influence, no classical guitarist forms a career without being hugely influenced by the presence of Andres Segovia, whose own career spanned all the decades we are looking at and more besides.

In fact the blog post, 'Hill/Wiltschinsky Guitar Duo Pay Homage to Andres Segovia', describes how the duo had the tremendous honour of being asked to perform a special concert in memory of Segovia in the Sistine Theatre, Rome.

Another highly influential and original artist and composer is George Gershwin, an American composer of both popular and classical music with a huge back catalogue including, 'An American in Paris', 'Rhapsody in Blue' and 'Porgy and Bess'.

His ability to cross genres is truly special and recognised by musicians in all camps. One of his sincerest admirers being Maurice Ravel. His two piano concertos are influenced by Gershwin and, in turn, much of Gershwin's orchestral work contains distant echoes of Ravel. Both of these composers had imaginatively captured the zeitgeist of their epoch in different ways which were mutually inspirational.

Again, from Robin's perspective all the above can be heard in some of his concerti. Particularly, 'Concerto Primavera - Robin Hill', and 'Arrival on iTunes and Eternal Dance-Robin Hill'.

However, there is a whole other side to Robin's musicianship and one that is quite unusual for classically trained musicians.

He is also known for his electric guitar playing and has been in various bands over the years, starting at the tender age of 12, and later performing with established bands such as Jethro Tull and Deep Purple, as a session guitarist with too many artists to mention here and his own bands, Hooper, Spring and Force 10.

He had no hesitation in listing the bands that had influenced him in his youth and completed his early training in musical styles.

The Beatles had to be there, right from, 'With The Beatles' to 'Sergeant Pepper', Frank Zappa with, 'Hot Rats, Jimi Hendrix with practically every note he played, The Beach Boys, particularly the track, 'Good Vibrations' and The Kinks, 'Waterloo Sunset' and ‘You Really Got Me’…which, interestingly features Deep Purple’s Jon Lord on piano.

The interesting part of this musical jigsaw is that all the different styles I have been looking at are still prevalent in Robin's life today. He regularly listens to them all, and many, many more and their endurance shows the quality of their musical history.

He continues to look out for, and listen to, new music and old and still creates his own.

Currently he has returned to his band roots and is working on an electric rock/blues style album.

Two of the tracks can already be heard, 'Illegal Download Blues & 38459', and having read the history, you may well see some of the above influences shining through.

As I said at the beginning, nothing is composed in a vacuum. Every musician listens, learns and incorporates this knowledge into their own music, whether original compositions or interpretations.

This is why it is so important not to be bound by one style alone. Take a chance and investigate the unknown.

We have always felt it essential to expose our children to as many different types of music as possible. Actually, they didn't have an option, music has been available to them since before they were actually born.

But it is an essential part of learning and one we take seriously. Children are the next generations of musicians and it's our role to ensure they are inspired. In fact, 'Inspire Young Minds with Music'.

Samba, Bossa Nova and the Joy of Latin Homework

It has been very nice to have Robin home for a few weeks but he has not been idle.

He has been working hard on an alternative show which he has been asked to organise, featuring himself, plus an extensive band.

The pieces are varied, ranging from original compositions to arrangements of standards, which have all been given the 'Hill' treatment. There's everything from latin/jazz to swing and even some rock.

One piece, an original composition, is called Brasilia.

This is in a bossa nova style featuring guitar, bass, flute, clarinet, alto & tenor sax, trumpet, trombone, Latin American percussion and even a cuica. All resulting in a rather fabulous latin/jazz feel.

'Dolor de Muelas', which has recently been nominated for an award, is a piece in a samba style which has also been given the 'Big Band' treatment.

Arrangements have also been done for a number of well known pieces such as 'Can't Buy Me Love', 'Bach Prelude', 'Fragile', 'Here Comes the Sun', 'This Masquerade' 'Classical Gas' and many more, all naturally heavily featuring the guitar.

Amongst this musical extravaganza will also be a few pieces from Robin's solo guitar repertoire.

The whole show will be taken for a test drive before too long, and we will be searching for various musicians at some point.
But be warned, Robin is known for writing rather tricky trumpet parts, you only have to listen to 'Celebration' in the sidebar to see what I mean...
You can read more about Force Ten here.

Paul Griffin is responsible for hitting the very high notes on the trumpet. Based in New York, Paul was the product of a very musical background. His father Chris was one third of Benny Goodman's 'Biting Brass' trumpet section, and Paul himself played at John F. Kennedy's funeral.

I wonder if we can coax Paul back out on the road. That would be some show....

Benny Goodman Orchestra - Sing Sing Sing

Our very good friend Paul Griffin, recently sent us a link to the Benny Goodman Orchestra, and it makes fabulous viewing.
Paul has been a friend for many years and collaborated musically with Robin in the band 'Force 10', which I have written about before.

Paul's dad was also an excellent trumpeter, Chris Griffin, and you can see him on the following video.
I have mentioned Chris before, here, when Robin whiled away some time in an airport, talking about him.

Robin knew Chris well and they had huge respect for each other musically and it was with great sadness that we learnt of his death back in 2005.
However, if you find yourself in the Catskill Mountains, and need a fabulous place to stay, try 'The Griffin House' where you will be guaranteed as much talk of music as you could wish for!

But for now, you can see Chris in the video, with the Benny Goodman Orchestra, playing 'Sing sing sing' from Hollywood Hotel.
Trumpets, left to right: Harry James, Ziggy Elman, Chris Griffin, Johnny Scat Davis.
Another of Robin's favourites, Gene Krupa on drums.

I think you'll agree, these guys really know how to play....

Sunday Morning Music With Robin Hill

We haven't shared our Sunday morning music session with you for a while so I thought I would today.
As always it's a pretty eclectic mix obtained by putting the iPod on 'shuffle', sitting back, and enjoying.

1) Mozart

Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No 23 in A Major k.488 Prelude:III.Allegro Assai.
This version was Chick Corea on piano with Bobby McFerrin conducting.
It was fantastic to hear two jazz musicians cross over to classical performances so convincingly.
I've written about Chick Corea on many occasions but it's a first for Bobby McFerrin. We also have an incredible vocal version of Bobby singing the Henry Mancini's theme the 'Pink Panther'.

Two other jazz players who managed to make the change to classical with great success were Benny Goodman and Herbie Hancock.

2)Come On, Come Over

Jaco Pastorius teamed up with the soul legends Sam and Dave on this extremely funky R&B tune.

3) Tehillim/ The Desert Music

Tehillim II:Psalms 34:13-15. Performed by Alarm Will Sound & Ossia and conducted by Alan Pierson.
This is, of course, the American composer, Steve Reich.

4) Michelle

The Beatles of course from their album 'Rubber Soul'.

5) Joke Shop Man

The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. Need I say more.

6) Prokofiev

Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op.63-1, Allegro Moderato.
Performed by Jascha Heifetz.

7) Respighi

Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No 1: 4. Passo Mezzo and Mascherada.
This was the Boston Symphony performing Respighi.

We had to leave it there as Robin needed to prepare for the last of his three summer concerts in the great outdoors.
Thankfully the sun is shining.