Biography

Rob Barron is a London based jazz pianist, arranger and composer and has been described as “one of the most creative and versatile musicians of his generation.”

Born in East Yorkshire he started playing the piano at the age of five and by the time he was in his teens, was performing his first gigs with infamous local band Jazz Soup, playing a weekly residency in Hull that lasted over two years.

Rob moved to Leeds in 2000 to study Jazz at Leeds College of Music where he was awarded the prize for outstanding performance on the BA Hons programme.

During his time in Leeds he played with Bob Mintzer, Tim Garland and Soweto Kinch and was a first call sideman for visiting artists.

After four years of working as a pianist on the Leeds and Manchester scene, Rob moved to London in 2004 to further his studies at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, gaining an Mmus with distinction in Music Performance. Since graduating, Rob has become a mainstay of the London jazz and studio scene.

His work as a jazz pianist has taken him all over the world and has played with visiting American artists Al Jarreau, Marlena Shaw (Ronnie Scott’s club residencies,) Benny Golson, Phil Woods, Grant Stewart, Sheryl Bailey and in groups lead by leading UK artists Jacqui Dankworth, Stacey Kent, Claire Martin, Dave O’Higgins, Steve Fishwick, Allison Neale, Anita Wardell, Georgia Mancio and Jean Toussaint. Rob was also a member of the award winning group Kairos 4tet. He regularly appears with the BBC Big Band and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra.

Rob released his first album as a leader in 2016 – “What’s in Store” to critical acclaim and features Colin Oxley on guitar, Jeremy Brown on bass and Josh Morrison on drums.

As well as playing at jazz clubs up and down the country, the group played a sell out show at the London Jazz Festival in 2015 and regularly appears at Ronnie Scott’s late show. The group has also appeared as a support act for Louis Hayes and Kenny Barron.

A regular visitor to New York, Rob has studied with NY pianists Mike Ledonne, Michael Weiss, David Hazeltine and Michael Kanan. In January 2017 he performed a series of gigs in New York with Chicago based vocalist Monika Ryan.

Rob’s piano style evokes a passion for the American tradition and cites Wynton Kelly, Cedar Walton, Hank Jones and David Hazeltine as major influences both in his playing and arranging style.

As a commercial session musician, Rob has performed live with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Philharmonia Orchestra, The Ulster Orchestra, Damon Albarn, Paloma Faith, Mari Wilson, Bryan Adams and Ladysmith Black Mambazo as well as in the house band for many TV shows for the BBC.

In the studio Rob has played on several film soundtracks including Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby and The Son of The Sheik with music written by Carl Davis as well as TV series Ethel and Ernest, Peaky Blinders and a new children’s animated adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes.

Rob’s piano playing can be also heard on commercials for M&S, J.Sainsbury (Christmas 2016) H&M, and Boots.