Robson & Levy

About this event

The Sofa Sessions at Billy Byrnes presents Robson & Levy

Phil Robson - guitar

Jed Levy - tenor sax

9pm / no cover charge

“Phil Robson is one of the best guitar players in the world today... don’t miss an opportunity to hear this modern giant!!”

NYC guitarist Peter Bernstein

"Jed Levy's tenor is unstoppable: the music flows out of the horn in torrents”

Jazz Review

The Sofa Sessions is thrilled to present the only duo date on Phil Robson and Jed Levy's tour of Ireland. The pair met when Robson was based in New York city, from 2015 to 2020, where they developed a strong rapport.

They arrive in Ireland, direct from dates in Berlin and London, on a five stop tour of Ireland. The Kilkenny gig will be their only duo appearance of the tour, and promises to be a very special, intimate encounter with two internationally renowned musicians.

About Robson & Levy

Phil Robson & Jed Levy formed a quartet in New York City in 2018 to perform the original compositions of the co-leaders in equal measure. Whilst Jed Levy is a celebrated mainstay of the NY scene, UK born Phil Robson lived in the city for 5 five years from 2015, having previously been a major force in London for many years and has now made his home in Co. Roscommon. Having met and begun to play together in 2017 they quickly formed a great musical friendship. Both bring a wealth of experience and diversity to the bandstand, both as composers and musicians.

Robson who is best known in Europe for his work with the cult UK band ‘Partisans’ which he co-led with saxophonist Julian Siegel over 22 years, as well as with his partner, the great singer/songwriter Christine Tobin. He has led many projects featuring such legendary artists as Dave Liebman, Mark Turner, Billy Hart, James Genus etc and he has played with a huge array of internationally acclaimed musicians ranging from Kenny Wheeler, Donny McCaslin, Django Bates to Barbra Streisand.

Levy’s compositions have been performed and recorded by such luminaries as Mike Clark, Charlie Hunter, The Headhunters, Eddie Henderson etc. and Jed has also performed and/or recorded with a wide variety of jazz music's finest, including: Jaki Byard, Don Patterson, Jack McDuff, Lonnie Smith, Attila Zollar, The Village Vanguard Orchestra, Junior Mance, Cedar Walton, Tom Harrell, Curtis Fuller and many others. Having initially played in major NYC venues such as Smalls, the 55 Bar etc, with sold out performances at Birdland, they went on to tour the UK and play gigs in Barcelona, Berlin, Rome and completed a tour of Northern California in 2019 which included a highly successful show in the legendary Oakland club, Yoshi’s at which Peter Slavov and Billy Drummond completed the line-up.

The music written by Phil and Jed is innovative and contemporary, whilst drawing on the vast tradition of jazz, across a whole spectrum of styles. The emphasis is on strong melodies and grooves and the tunes are vehicles for improvisation, allowing each musician to bring their voice and to make them their own, a genuine musical melting pot!

The Duo at the Sofa Sessions at Billy Byrnes will play a combination of this original material mixed with some classics.

Robson/Levy review quotes:

This was high-powered jazz, not by dint of frenetic pace, volume or assertiveness but by the beauty and coherence of the quartet sound that was at once polished but fresh and lively. That’s a difficult poise to strike, even for musicians as able as these, yet for all that they were fully engaged, each seemed entirely in his element.
Whitman Reviews @ Wakefield Jazz

Added to the warmth of his sound and excellent command of the instrument, Levy is an impressive package deserving wider international recognition. Phil Robson is already gaining wider international recognition, as witnessed by the admiring comments on his playing from Peter Bernstein and Wayne Krantz to be found on his website. His great fluidity and fleet inventiveness were, as ever, balm for the ears.
London Jazz News

About Phil Robson

"Robson performs impeccably throughout, whether he's contributing chordal washes in support, or taking the spotlight for some intricate, fluid solos of his own."AllAboutJazz

“Phil Robson is one of the best guitar players in the world today. His musical ideas flow continually and with a seamless logic. His technique is flawless and is in service to his fertile imagination. One of my favorites and a source of inspiration! Don’t miss an opportunity to hear this modern giant!!” Peter Bernstein

About Jed Levy

"The same level of finesse Levy exhibits as a composer also helps distinguish his playing. He extracts a full, clear tone from his tenor, phrases melodies fluidly and improvises, on original pieces as well as standards, with an appealing blend of logic and invention. For all its surprises and twists, his music never sounds forced or gimmicky." - from the Washington Post, review of "Sleight of Hand"

"The first thing to notice about this fine album is what a lot of sax playing you get for your money. Jed Levy's tenor is unstoppable: the music flows out of the horn in torrents”. - from ‘Jazz Review’ magazine’s review of "Round and Round"