Artists

Artist Bio

Bassist and Detroiter Rick Robinson is a 21 year member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO). In 1995, he began arranging a hundred symphonic, classical and jazz masterworks for two unique outreach groups of DSO musicians called CutTime. Robinson's composing abilities flourished, and in 2006, his original work Essay After Sibelius was premiered by the DSO. Robinson has since composed a dozen works that blend classical with urban dance and folk idioms including Latin and gospel. He intends to use the fellowship to produce a debut recording and upgrade his promotional materials, while he pursues performance opportunities that make classical music fun for new audiences. www.cuttime.com

ArtX Project Description

Title: Rick Robinson and CutTime Simfonica bring a Concert of Peace
Medium: Music Performance
Year Created: 2011
Description: This concert shows classical music as a vibrant mode of expression even without a drummer. It features several works by Rick Robinson that are virtuosic, powerful, playful and funky as played by 6 string players from the (striking) Detroit Symphony Orchestra. With titles such as Pork ‘N Beans and Gitcha Groove On, Robinson builds bridges for the curious to wander deeply into classical music’s vast neighborhood. His big hit City of Trees is a poignant essay for his depressed hometown of Highland Park, MI and will by danced by Haleem “Stringz” Ar-Rasheed. His Elegy captures the devastation and loving memories of a colleague who lost his wife to cancer. His Gigue Rondo is a high energy festival of Bach-meets-rock for the solo oboe which will be played by DSO Principal Oboist Donald Baker. Valeria Montes will dance flamenco to transcriptions of Spanish music. A selection from Robinson’s Mighty Love collection shows his full understanding and appreciation of the traditional rules of classical music with new ways to bend those rules. Rick Robinson has played bass in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) for 21 years. His work outside of the DSO is driven by the fact that most people who love music in this country avoid classical music for many reasons. As a black musician, he can draw people to their concerts by playing symphonic music and giving just as many reasons to open up to it. His transcriptions for chamber groups capture the energy, textures and charm of a large orchestra. His compositions offer the power, intimacy and excitement of the great romantic and post-romantic traditions refreshed by urban pop culture in very surprising ways, building bridges across the cultural divide. Robinson’s informal passion for classical gives curious music lovers pause to listen with new ears. With the DSO famously on strike, in December Robinson began the Detroit chapter of Classical Revolution, a collective social enterprise of local volunteer musicians to hold free, informal, weekly chamber music readings in bars, coffeehouses and restaurants to make classical music part of the nightlife of Detroit. The response couldn’t be more apparent that people who otherwise avoid “clam” (classical music) appreciate its special qualities. Clam engages our imagination with adventurous stories without words when we identify with the melody and its episodes. It grabs us by the lapels, builds to a crisis and transforms us with its inevitable return and surprising changes. We can show that clam is for the masses… that clam is not just for Christmas anymore. www.cuttime.com