Orphy Robinson

London boy Orphy Robinson is a vibraphonist & multi-instrumentalist. He’s written music for TV, film, theatre, opera & even contemporary classical music. Also, what he don’t know about jazz, funk n’ fusion just ain’t worth knowing…

In the 1990’s he released two critically acclaimed solo albums on the famous Blue Note label ‘When Tomorrow Comes’ & ‘The Vibes Describes’. Audiences first discovered his skills while he played with saxophonist Courtney Pine in the 1980s big band Jazz Warriors & Orphy was also an original member of the Brit funk band Savanna, in which he first came to the notice of critics & audiences.

His work as a composer has led to commissions for contemporary dance companies including the Phoenix Dance & has performed in notable venues including the Royal Albert Hall, the Houses of Parliament & the Hackney Empire, the latter being where he has led the Music Education department successfully for several years.

Along his illustrious career Orphy has worked alongside artists such as Nigel Kennedy, Wynton Marsalis, Hugh Masekela, Springheel Jack, Sunny Murray, Mica Paris, Imagination, Central Line, Junior Giscombe, Kenny Thomas, Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick, Neneh Cherry & many more. His continued work in education has been recognised nationally with a nomination for Jazz Educator of the Year at the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards. He is also a founder member of EDGE (The Shape of Things to Come) a group of artists, writers & promoters curating events originally pitched as a fringe to the London Jazz Festival.

We’ve had the honour of Orphy performing @ two Soulstice events; 2009 with Beggar & Co (The Original Light Of The World) & again the following year with Savanna, who themselves were doing their first live performance in some twenty years.

We know Orphy’s is a very big a fan of Summer Soulstice, as we are of him, & he’s been a regular as both performer, punter & in 2017 even made his DJ debut alongside better half Ruth Fisher at our ‘little doo’. If you’d like to check out Orphy on the airwaves, then tune in every Sunday afternoon between 4-6pm on Delite Radio for his ‘Jazz Joint Jukebox’…

Orphy runnin’ tings!

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