Robin Verheyen studied for 3 years in Belgium, 2 years in the Netherlands and 1 year in New York with Dave Liebman, Steve Slagle, Frank Vaganée, Jasper Blom, Ferdinand Povel, Dick Oatts, John Ruocco…
In Amsterdam he graduated with the highest possible score and at Manhattan School of Music he got a place on the Dean’s List.
In 2001 when he was only 18 years old Robin Verheyen played with a Big Band directed by Maria Schneider at the Jazz Middelheim Festival. In 2002 Brussels Jazz he was a prizewinner at the International Jazz Contest of Hoeilaart with his quartet Gromm. On the Getxo Jazz Contest 2004 in Spain he was awarded the Prize of Best Soloist.///////////
In Belgium Robin worked at a young age with reknown groups such as Pierre van Dormael Vivaces, Brussels Jazz Orchestra,…
His own projects at this moment are Robin Verheyen Int. Quartet with pianist Bill Carrothers, bassist Nic Thys, and drummer Dré Pallemaerts and a new NY-based pianoless quartet with trumpet player Ralph Alessi, bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Jeff Davis.
With his Int. Quartet with Bill Carrothers he just released the cd 'Painting Space' on the label W.E.R.F.//////////
He co-leads Orvalectiq, a sextet with Dré Pallemaerts or Flin Van Hemmen (drums), Pierre Van Dormael (guitar), Otti Van der Werf or Jean-Luc Lehr (bass), Joachim Saerens (keyboards) and Bert Hornix (loops & sounds). It is a band that works on the fusion between jazz and electronic music. //////////
He also co-leads the band Narcissus with bassist Clemens Van der Feen and drummer Flin van Hemmen and guests pianist Jozef Dumoulin and guitarist Guillermo Celano.
They presented their cd ‘Narcissus’ with their former pianist Harmen Fraanje on a tour through Europe in March and April 2006. They recorded a new cd in the fall of 2008 that will be released in 2009.///////////
Till the summer of 2006 he also played in Saxkartel ( with Kurt Van Herck, Sara Meyer and Tom Van Dyck) In 2006 they won the Grand Prix Du Jury on the Tremplin Jazz Avignon In France.////////////
In 2005 Robin moved to Paris where he lived till July 2006. He established himself very fast on the French jazz scene and is currently playing in the band of Italian trumpet player Giovanni Falzone, the band of bass-player and drummer Remi Vignolo, and beside that he works regularly with people like Brazilian guitar-player Nelson Veras, pianist Bruno Angelini,.
With the Giovanni Falzone European Ensemble he released the cd ‘Meeting in Paris’ on the Italian label Soulnote. This release was followed by a European tour in October-November 2006.
He’s also a member of the Belfin Quartet with the Finish pianist Aki Rissanen, Finish drummer Ville Pynssi and Belgian bassist Joachim Florent.
They played in July at the La Defense Competition in Paris where they got the Prize of Best Composition for their whole repertoire.
The collaboration with pianist Rissanen continues in their duo project. They recorded a cd called 'Semplice' in September 2007 which was released in 2009 on the Finnish label Alba Records.////////////
In September 2006 Robin moved to New York. He has just formed a new band there with Ralph Alessi on trumpet, bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Jeff Davis.
They are currently planning a series of concerts in New York and a European Tour in May 2010.
In New York he is also a member of the Roy Assaf/Eddy Khaimovich Quartet and the Pascal Niggenkemper Trio with drummer Tyshawn Sorey./////////////
Discography
As A Leader or Co-Leader:
Narcissus by Narcissus Quartet on W.E.R.F., released March 2006
Painting Space by Robin Verheyen Quartet on W.E.R.F, released in April 2008
Starbound by Robin Verheyen on Pirouet Records, released november 2009
Semplice by Robin Verheyen/Aki Rissanen Duo on Alba Records, released september 2009//////////
As A Sideman:
Airdance by Saxkartel on Igloo Records, Coproduction Klara, released february 2004
Meeting In Paris by Giovanni Falzone European Ensemble on Soulnote, released September 2006
Andarta by Roy Assaf/Eddy Khaimovich Quartet feat. Roy Hargrove on Origin Records , released in September 2008
PasàPas by Pascal Niggenkemper Trio on Konnex, released October 2008
Brewed in Belgium by Alex Maguire Sextet on Moonjune, released November 2008/////////////
Festivals
Jazz Middelheim (Belgium), North Sea Jazz (the Netherlands), Blue Note Festival (Belgium), Getxo Jazz Festival (Spain), Bermeo Jazz Festival (Spain), ….//////////////
Musicians
Branford Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Jeff Tain Watts, Joey Calderazzo, Eric Revis, Ravi Coltrane, Jonathan Blake, Massimo Biolcati, Nelson Veras, Maria Schneider, Tyshawn Sorey…/////////////
Prizes
Best Soloist Prize on Getxo Jazz Contest 2004
Best Soloist Prize in International Jazz Contest Hoeilaart 2004
Winner of the Young JazzTalent Contest in Ghent with the Robin Verheyen Trio 2004
Best Composition Prize on La Défense Competition for the whole repertoire of the Belfin Quartet 2006
Grand Prix du Jury on Avignon Jazzcontest with Saxkartel 2006
Django D'Or Young Talent 2008 Jazz Hoeilaart Sabam Composition Prize 2008
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