Jazz Articles about Rob Clearfield

About Rob Clearfield

Album Review

Rob Clearfield: Wherever You're Starting From

Read "Wherever You're Starting From" reviewed by Troy Dostert

by Troy Dostert
March 21, 2018

Chicago-based keyboardist Rob Clearfield has long been an active presence in the Windy City jazz scene, working with folks like bassist Matt Ulery, drummer Jon Deitemyer and guitarist Dan Bruce. Just last year, his appearances on Bruce's Earthshine (ears&eyes Records) and trumpeter Adam Larson's Second City (Inner Circle Music) were indicative of Clearfield's stylistic diversity, proving that he's as comfortable churning out Fender Rhodes-based grooves or doing an impressionistic take on Nirvana's “Smells Like Teen Spirit" as he is in ...

Album Review

Rob Clearfield: Wherever You're Starting From

Read "Wherever You're Starting From" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
March 8, 2018

While there's much value in observing, studying, and utilizing the arc of an idea or improvisation in its entirety, too little emphasis is often placed on the worth of the individual occurrences within. For in these (somewhat) micro moments exists a level of discovery and compositional integrity far greater than many imagine. It's this very idea--improvising the creation of complete works by concentrating on smaller events or sections--that rests at the heart of this personal endeavor from pianist Rob Clearfield. ...