By NILS VAN OTTERLOO
Staff Writer
 

On January 31 at 8 p.m. in the Chapel, Trombonist Robin Eubanks will perform at Bates. This should prove to be the Jazz concert of the year, so be sure to reserve your tickets (available through the Olin front office) early. Best of all, this concert will be presented free of charge to Bates students and faculty.

Eubanks comes from a very musical family. One of his brothers, Kevin Eubanks, is the Music Director for The Tonight Show, and the youngest brother of the Eubanks family, Duane, just made his recording debut as a trumpeter on Eubank's CD, "Wake Up Call." His uncle, Ray Bryant, has been prominent on the jazz scene for decades, and his mother has been a music educator for more than 30 years. At the age of eight, Robin began playing the trombone and studying theory, harmony, and arranging through high school and college. After graduating cum laude from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, he moved to New York.

Since his arrival in New York, Robin has had a wide range of musical experiences including being the Music Director for Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, arranging, composing and performing for McCoy Tyner's Big Band, Slide Hampton's Jazz Masters, and he is currently a member of Dave Holland's Quintet. Recently, he was a featured soloist, composer and arranger on J.J. Johnson's Brass Orchestra. "It was an unbelievable honor that J.J. commissioned me to compose a piece for his new CD and be a featured soloist," said Eubanks.

Eubanks has toured and recorded with such diverse musicians as the Rolling Stones, Talking Heads, and Barbra Streisand on her historic 1994 tour. He has performed on several television shows and specials including The Tonight Show featuring Jay Leno, Saturday Night Live, the Grammy Awards, and Motown at the Apollo. He has worked on several projects for Broadway and film. He has recorded six CDs as a leader who has received worldwide critical praise, and he leads his own groups which have toured Europe and Japan.

Eubanks is a national clinician for Yamaha Musical Instruments. He is on the faculty at the Manhattan School of Music and adjunct faculty at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He also teaches privately in New York and has taught and delivered seminars at universities and colleges throughout the world. Eubanks is a chief proponent in developing the sound and utilization of the electric trombone.

Quotes from the critics:

"Robin Eubanks scoops out of two springs: his excellent technique and unbelievable musical curiosity. On "Mental Images" Robin Eubanks again proves to be a pioneer for the jazz of the future."
- Body and Soul

"Imposing spectrum from African jazz onto sensitive soloing."
-Stereo Magazine (Germany)

"Robin Eubanks is one of the key emerging voices of his generation."
- New York Daily News

"Long-awaited album by trombonist Robin Eubanks is another diverse, progressive set that makes good use of stellar sidemen Randy Brecker, Antonio Hart, Dave Holland, Marvin "Smitty" Smith and telegenic brother Kevin Eubanks...The Eubanks Bros. duet on "Union 2-Brotherly Love" is a rhapsodic beauty..."
- Billboard Magazine

In recent years Bates has been graced by great Jazz personalities such as Chick Corea, as well as many others, and this show should not prove to be lacking in either virtuosic talent nor musical taste. This is certainly one of the top events of the Bates musical calendar, so don't miss out!