Rob Barron: From This Moment On (UBU0064)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of pianist Rob Barron for the album release, From This Moment On, featuring his exceptional trio.

Rob Barron is a mainstay of the London jazz and studio scene. Constantly in demand, he is a first call pianist highly regarded for his improvisational flair, innate musicality and a deft touch that reveal influences inspired by Blue Note greats Cedar Walton, Wynton Kelly and Sonny Clark.

His love for the piano came at an early age and quickly developed into a prodigious talent for musical expression, anchored by a deep respect for musical history and culture. Graduating from Leeds College of Music with a BA Hons in Jazz Studies, Rob received the prestigious College Award for Outstanding Performance and went on to gain his Master’s Degree in Music Performance at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Rob has flourished in the rich environment of the London jazz scene, entertaining audiences by performing with visiting American jazz musicians Phil Woods, Grant Stewart, Patti Austin, Al Jarreau, Marlena Shaw and John Marshall to name a few. He has also toured the UK with outstanding saxophonist Dave O’Higgins, who is also an Ubuntu Music artist.

Featuring on many movie soundtracks, most prominently Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby, Rob’s session work includes such names as The BBC Big Band, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Jamie Cullum, Claire Martin, Liane Carroll and Rachel Portman. He has appeared on more than thirty albums.

A sought-after sideman in a huge number of London based groups, Rob felt a growing and powerful desire to expand the music he loves in a direction he could define on his terms. The Rob Barron Trio was formed 2012 with drummer Josh Morrison for exactly this purpose. Performing regularly at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club, their engaging blend of musical creativity led them to open for The Louis Hayes Quartet, The Kenny Barron Trio and Cecile McLorin Salvant. Rob’s first album, What’s in Store, was released in 2016 and featured Colin Oxley on guitar, along with Stacey Kent sidemen Jeremy Brown and Josh Morrison. It met with critical acclaim and respected jazz critic Peter Vacher of Jazzwise Magazine placed it in the Top Ten Jazz Albums of The Year.

Dedicated to pushing himself to greater heights, Rob regularly dives into the New York scene to study with some of the best pianists in the city, including Mike LeDonne, Michael Weiss, Michael Kanan and David Hazeltine.

Rob also spends his time as a professor of jazz piano at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Concerning his latest project, Rob explains, ‘From This Moment On’ struck me as the perfect name for this album. As well as being the title of the Cole Porter song featured on the record, I felt the optimistic narrative of the lyrics (‘From this moment on, No more blue songs/ We’ll be riding high/ Every care is gone…’) is a positive and hopeful sentiment during this period of crisis in the world. It brings a sense of looking forward to a brighter future.

“On this album I feel I have created a work that reflects who I am as an artist today. In a departure from my debut album, this recording centres on the piano. Now is the time to produce a classic trio recording. All of the elements have aligned harmoniously, and I felt energised by the musical bond within the trio, the arrangements and the space I am in as a player. I am delighted to be joined by Jeremy Brown and Josh Morrison on this album, two musicians who I have great affinity with and whose playing I thoroughly respect and admire. Our musical relationship continues to go from strength to strength.”

Rob continues, describing the music on the album, From This Moment On: “This album was born in a small practice room at Steinway Hall, London. It was early January 2017 and I had gone there to sketch out my own arrangement of Anthony Newly’s ballad, ‘Pure Imagination’. Instinctively I felt that a medium tempo groove would suit the fresh take that I wanted, and the song started to come together with a lively warmth on the Steinway. I knew I had started the journey of this album on that cold distant day.  

“Re-imagining songs that really speak to me has always been a passion of mine. Each song has a truth to it, a soul or centre; it is a source of tremendous pleasure to find innovative and fresh ways that this truth can be expressed to the listener. Often an idea for how a song might work in a different way will occur spontaneously; it might be a change in tempo, a re-harmonisation or different meter. The original melody is always the defining feature of any song - it is this the audience wants to hear - this universal reference providing familiar context to fresh musical expression.

“After I completed my arrangement of ‘Pure Imagination’ I knew I had a strong start I was happy with. Pushing the creative process too fast is limiting and so I was careful to allow the other tracks to develop organically, giving each one space to breathe and grow before moving onto the next. Each song was drafted several times until I was satisfied that each chord voicing was perfectly formed to match the sound in my head. Integral to this process was playing through the various drafts of each arrangement with Jeremy and Josh and refining it until not only was I happy that it was a great arrangement, but that it was an arrangement that allowed the nuances and skill of each player to really shine. I am indebted to their patience, professionalism and brilliant playing. We certainly have great musical empathy together and I am thrilled to have them on this recording.

“I am inspired and influenced by such a wide range of music, especially that master of arranging in different styles - the great, late Cedar Walton. Other strong influences that inform my work are the composers Johnny Mandel, Billy Strayhorn and Frédéric Chopin. 

“I’m excited to present two original compositions in this album, each an exploration of different sides of my personality.”

Concerning his new relationship with Ubuntu Music, Rob elaborates: "Martin Hummel is one of the most musically open minded and dedicated people I’ve met in the jazz record industry. He is hugely enthusiastic about the artists he works with and their music and has helped me realise my full potential and given me the confidence to make my album become a reality. I see my own signing to the Ubuntu label as a significant part of my recording career as a leader and I’m indebted to Martin for his expertise, connections and support for my music. I can’t think of another record label doing more for jazz musicians both here in the UK and internationally. I am looking forward to the months ahead and am proud to associated with the force of nature that is Ubuntu Music.”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, shares his enthusiasm concerning the Label’s latest signing: “Rob is undisputedly a hidden gem in the thriving London jazz community. He has consistently and unselfishly supported a wide range of extremely talented artists, in a immaculately engaging fashion. With the release of ‘From This Moment On’, Rob’s time has come to take centre stage and deliver to the world the stunning beauty of classic jazz piano trio music at its finest. We’re delighted to have Rob join the Ubuntu Music Family.”