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Oberlin Portrait: Robin Eubanks
Story by Michael
Chipman
Photo by John Seyfried
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Robin Eubanks, assistant professor of jazz trombone, has played all over the world, taking jazz to such disparate places as New Orleans and Scandinavia. From his travels, he brings a wealth of experience back to his students at the Conservatory. Among his most recent gigs, Eubanks performed in December with Herbie Hancock and band in a tribute to Stevie Wonder, a 1999 Kennedy Center Honors recipient. That performance was nationally televised on CBS.
Eubanks also recently returned from a one-month European and Scandinavian tour with the Dave Holland Quintet. The tour covered France, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Austria, England, Northern Ireland, Holland, Sweden and Norway. Venues ranged from festival halls, theaters and television studios to small intimate clubs. Eubanks has been a member of the quintet for two years. The group's 1998 release Point of View was nominated for a Grammy. Watch for a U.S. release of the group's Prime Directive recording this year.
With his band Mental Images, Eubanks performed in the opening night festivities for the 27th Annual IAJE International Conference (International Association of Jazz Educators), in January, in New Orleans.
Eubanks graduated cum laude from the University of Arts in Philadelphia, and was named number one trombonist on Don Beat's International Critic's Poll in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1995. He came to Oberlin as assistant professor of jazz trombone in 1998.
What is your first memory of music?
Music has always been in my life. Hearing my mother play
piano was my first memory of music. Since my mother plays
piano, I heard music before I was born. There was always
music around the house.
How old were you when you started playing?
When I was eight years old, two students came into my
school class to play Christmas songs. One played the trumpet
and the other played the trombone. On most other
instruments, you can see how they are played -- either
fingered or struck. With the trombone, all you see is an arm
moving back and forth. I was curious about how to make music
by moving your arm. On the last day of school, we were asked
if we'd like to take an instrument home for summer study and
then join the band and orchestra the following school year.
I chose the trombone.
What inspired you to be a musician?
My fascination and love of music inspired me to pursue
music, and when I finally played a paid gig, I knew that's
what I wanted to do for a living.
What
keeps you inspired on discouraging days?
Hearing great music inspires me on discouraging days.
Also the realization that music has been the only way that I
have made money keeps me pushing forward. My faith in, and
practice of, the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin, which
includes chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, also keeps me
inspired. Striving to understand my life and how it relates
to others and the universe constantly fascinates me.
What is the most memorable performance you have ever
seen and why?
There are two. First, seeing Slide Hampton play at a
club in Philadelphia when I was still in college had a
profound effect on my life. I had never seen anyone play the
trombone like that. I got to sit in with him that night and
he asked me to come to New York and join his Trombone Choir.
I commuted to New York every week. I stayed with him and
practiced and studied with him whenever I was in New
York.
I was also blown away by a performance of the New York Philharmonic. The principle trombonist of the orchestra, Joe Alessi, gave me a ticket to hear Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring." It was the first time I heard the piece live. I was very familiar with the recording, but in person it had much more presence and greater dynamics. I wanted to shout out loud after several sections, but I had to remember where I was. It made me further appreciate the significance of live music. I went back the next night to see if the music had the same effect on me. It did!
If you could perform with one musician, living or
dead, who would it be and what would you perform?
John Coltrane or Charlie Parker. We could play anything
they wanted. I would just love the opportunity to see and
hear them play in person.
If you could master another instrument, what would it
be?
Because of the keyboard's use as an input device for
music with computers, which is how I do most of my composing
and arranging, I would say piano. The drums would be a very
close second.
If you couldn't be a musician, what profession would
you choose? What profession would you not choose?
I'd like to be a professional athlete. Probably a
baseball player. I definitely would not want to be a cop or
in the military.
What do you listen to after a long day?
Silence is preferable.
What do you like to read?
Buddhist literature, books about UFOs and the cosmos,
and self-improvement books.
Three words that best describe you:
Buddhist. Creative. Alternative.
