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Rob Waring

Rob Waring (1956) grew up in Yonkers and White Plains, New York and lived in Manhattan from 1974 until he moved to Oslo, Norway in 1981. While still in high school, Rob studied with Roland Kohloff, who had just become timpanist of the New York Philharmonic. He then studied percussion at the Juilliard School with Saul Goodman and Elden "Buster" Bailey (1974-79) and received his Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees. During that period, he also took elective courses in composition with Stanley Wolfe. Rob studied jazz vibraphone in 1975 with Dave Samuels. As a freelance musician in New York, Rob worked in symphony orchestras, jazz groups, ensembles for new music, and an experimental ensemble for homemade instruments. He was also a much sought-after accompanist for modern dance.

Since moving to Norway in 1981, Rob Waring has been active as a performer, composer, and teacher. He has been a central figure on the contemporary music scene in Oslo both as a classical percussionist and jazz vibraphonist and has collaborated with musicians and ensembles that represent a broad spectrum of musical approaches and styles: David Friedman, John Surman, SØYR, Pantha du Prince & The Bell Laboratory, Mats Eilertsen, Eyolf Dale, The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Misha Alperin, Elin Rosseland, Håkon Stene, Espen Rud, Jon Eberson, Stian Omenaas, Steffen Schorn and The Norwegian Wind Ensemble, Tone Hulbækmo, Lars Klevstrand, Wiese-Wøllo-Waring Trio, Kjell Samkopf, Octoband, Rob Waring Trio (with Carl Morten Iversen and Frank Jakobsen) and many others. He has recorded extensively.

The Rob Waring Trio with Carl Morten Iversen and Frank Jakobsen was active from 1987 until 2004 and released 2 CDs: "Secret Red Thread" (1991) and "Synchronize Your Watches" (2001). Vocalist Solveig Slettahjell was a guest on the last CD. Rob was a member of the experimental and ever-unpredictable band SØYR between 1986 and 2006. During that period the band released 4 CDs. His most recent recordings are with John Surman (2024 and 2018), David Friedman (2024), Eyolf Dale's Wolf Valley (2018 and 2016), Espen Rud (2017), Mats Eilertsen's Rubicon (2016) and Stian Omenaas Klangkammer (2016).

Since 2011, Rob Waring and the world-renowned vibraphonist David Friedman have collaborated in a vibraphone-marimba duo, performing original compositions and exploring new approaches to improvisation. Their album "Wayfarers" was released in November, 2024.

Rob toured internationally with techno star Pantha du Prince & The Bell Laboratory during 2012 - 2014.

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14
Album Review

The New York Second: Room for Other People

Read "Room for Other People" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


The New York Second is led by Dutch pianist and composer Harald Walkate, whose intricate arrangements and evocative compositions have earned him a reputation as a distinctive voice in contemporary jazz. His unique perspective is shaped by his dual expertise in music and photography, two disciplines that dance together in his work like partners in an elegant waltz. This interplay shines throughout his latest project, Room for Other People, which melds auditory and visual artistry into a unified creative statement. ...

Album Review

John Surman: Words Unspoken

Read "Words Unspoken" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


Giunto alla soglia degli 80 anni, che compirà in Agosto, e con alle spalle oltre mezzo secolo di attività professionale che ha prodotto una discografia imponente e importante sia in termini di quantità che di qualità, il sassofonista britannico John Surman aggiunge un'altra gemma luminosa al ricco catalogo delle sue opere, in gran parte documentato sulla etichetta tedesca ECM Records. Non si tratta dell'atteso disco in duo con il pianista norvegese Vigleik Storaas, annunciato durante il loro tour europeo della ...

12
Album Review

John Surman: Words Unspoken

Read "Words Unspoken" reviewed by Joshua Weiner


Englishman John Surman has been one of jazz's most important reedmen since his debut album on the progressive Deram label in 1969. From the start, on classic albums such as John McLaughlin's Extrapolation, Surman displayed a unique voice on the baritone sax, soprano sax, and bass clarinet, sometimes adding electronics to the mix. Since his first appearance on Manfred Eicher's groundbreaking ECM label in 1976, Surman has forged an idiosyncratic path, releasing solo, duo, and quartet albums, transcultural collaborations (such ...

15
Album Review

John Surman: Words Unspoken

Read "Words Unspoken" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


Hypnotic and many of its antonyms--stimulating, arousing, reviving--are old school hyperbole which very often separates the hack from the veteran of critical science. But sometimes those everyday words are exactly what need to be said to tell of music unlike everyday and most others. Words Unspoken is just that. Blowing free and unhindered since 1966, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Terje Rypdal, Archie Shepp, Bill Frisell and John McLaughlin, British multi-reedist John Surman needs no lengthy introduction. He just ...

10
Album Review

Wako: Wako

Read "Wako" reviewed by Mark Sullivan


Bands will often self-title their debut album, as a kind of calling card to the world at large. But doing so on a fourth album implies a serious coming of age statement: this is really who we are. That is certainly the case here. Its third album, Urolige sinn (Øra Fonogram, 2018), was a blend of composed and improvised music: a collective voice, with a rare concision and focus. This album is entirely self-composed, with the bulk of the tracks ...

1
Album Review

John Surman: Invisible Threads

Read "Invisible Threads" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


Dopo oltre 50 anni di attività professionale, il sassofonista britannico John Surman è ancora in grado di sorprenderci. Lo fa con il suo nuovo lavoro, pubblicato sempre dalla ECM, a 6 anni di distanza dal precedente Saltash Bells. Questo Invisible Threads è nato quasi per caso, da un incontro fortuito del sassofonista con la musica brasiliana e il pianista Nelson Ayres (membro del Grupo Pau Brasil), con il quale Surman ha trovato un'intesa musicale immediata e profonda. Il progetto era ...

5
Album Review

Eyolf Dale: Return To Mind

Read "Return To Mind" reviewed by Roger Farbey


The follow-up to Eyolf Dale's Wolf Valley released on Edition Records in 2016 is no less impressive than its predecessor. Dale employs exactly the same line-up here so there are no major surprises except that Kristoffer Kompen now doubles on euphonium, Hayden Powell doubles on flugelhorn and Per Zanussi has dropped the saw. Dale himself is fast becoming one of Norway's most prominent jazz musicians gigging widely in Europe and beyond. He's also associate professor in jazz at the Norwegian ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Words Unspoken

ECM Records
2024

buy

Room for Other People

Self Produced
2024

buy

Wayfarers

Malletmuse
2024

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Beyond Other Stories

Origin Records
2021

buy

Wako

Ora Fonogram
2019

buy

Return To Mind

Edition Records
2018

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Singing Again

From: Beyond Other Stories
By Rob Waring

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