Biography
Building on exceptional technical command and a vivid creative vision, French trombonist Yves Robert has shaped a distinctly personal sound world that occasionally ventures past jazz boundaries yet remains independent of prevailing trends. At the Music Conservatory in Vichy, Robert pursued studies in both flute and trombone. His early professional path moved swiftly through Dixieland, hard bop, and free jazz. This rising profile led to engagements with Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath, Bernard Lubat’s La Compagnie Lubat, and the inaugural 1986 roster of the Orchestre National de Jazz. Subsequent efforts under his own leadership brought his expansive musical concepts into clearer focus. Robert launched his debut bandleader venture in 1988, a trio completed by bassist Bruno Chevillon and drummer Aaron Scott; the group ended in 1990 after Scott returned to the United States, where he joined McCoy Tyner’s trio on a permanent basis. Following that ensemble, Robert assembled a quartet featuring Claude Tchamitchian, Philippe Deschepper, and either Alfred Spirli or Xavier Desandre, which concluded operations by the middle of the decade. He next organized a quintet that crystallized in 1998 upon the arrival of saxophonist Laurent Dehors in place of Julien Lourau, with guitarist David Chevallier, bassist Hélène Labarrière, and drummer Cyril Atef completing the lineup. Concurrently, Robert maintained a trio alongside cellist Vincent Courtois and the steadfast Atef. Beyond these endeavors, he continues to contribute as a sideman, notably within groups directed by Louis Sclavis and Gérard Marais.
Albums