Kynan Robinson
Encyclopedia
Kynan Robinson is an Australian musician.
He was born in Australia
but spent his childhood in Bangladesh
, returning to Australia to complete his high school years. After completing his initial studies in psychology he completed his bachelor of music at the Victorian College of the Arts
.
Robinson is considered one of Australia's premier jazz
trombonists
and composer
s. However he hasn't limited himself to that genre playing and leading groups in a range of styles.
He has recorded and played with numerous artists including Brian Brown, The Adam Simmon’s Toy Band, Skazz of Melbourne, Peter Knight’s 5plus2, Adrian Sherriff’s Oynsemble Melbourne and Bone Clan, Ronnie Ferrella’s Broad Band, Ted Vining, The Tim Stevans Quintet, Antboy, Big Fela, Bucketrider, Anita Hustas Ensemble, and the Chipolatas (U.K) and Honkey Trash.
In the last five years he has been active mostly in Melbourne forming his own contemporary improvising quintet, En Rusk which has toured Australia a number of times. They recorded their debut self-titled CD in 2001 to rave reviews and have recently (2004) finished their second recording, "1000 Wide". This CD received significant reviews in both Australia and internationally and really established Kynan as one of the original voices of Australian Jazz compostition.
He has also set up an improvising quartet, Escargone, which has had numerous performances in and around Melbourne
.
He has also ventured successfully into electronic music firstly with his dance/performance act, Des Peres (originally known as Old Des Peres and secondly with Hard Hat, a group that brings together both electronic and acoustic musicians. Both acts have performed regularly for venues and festivals around Australia and internationally, most recently at the Live et taut festival in New Caledonia
. Des Peres recently completed their debut CD in 2004. The album is released through Flict/Shock. Their 2nd album Ace Doubt was released in 2006 through Flit/MGM. Des Peres
is considered a unique voice in the Australian pop scene combining a very theatrcal stage approach to their sample heavy sound. Des In Des Peres Kynan takes the moniker of Old Des and works very closely with Luva DJ (Michelle Robinson) and Mr. Ection (visual artist and brother Kiron Robinson) as well as guitarist Tom Bass and Kelsey James.
He has composed music for jazz ensembles, dance productions, musical theatre, contemporary classical ensembles and electronic dance acts and has had his compositions performed in many festivals around the world.
In 2001 he was a collaborative composer for Double Venturi, a collaborative piece involving musicians and funded by Arts Victoria. In 2004 he received funding through the Australia Council
to compose a concert length work for prepared piano and small ensemble that was premiered at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz
.
He also has scored the music to six short films and has collaborated in numerous cross arts projects with visual artists including Kiron Robinson, Narinda Reevers and Dave Macleod.
Robinson runs a collaborative arts organization called VerSus which holds monthly events and has held events in regional Victoria
. He has been featured many times in newspapers and magazines and on both radio and TV Kynan also runs his own record label Flict Records.
Kynan is now the music teacher and head of IT at North Fitzroy Primary School, Melbourne, Victoria and lectures in Music composition at VUT.
He was born in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
but spent his childhood in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, returning to Australia to complete his high school years. After completing his initial studies in psychology he completed his bachelor of music at the Victorian College of the Arts
Victorian College of the Arts
The Faculty of the VCA and Music is a faculty of the University of Melbourne, in Victoria . VCAM is located near the Melbourne central business district, on two campuses, one - the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music - on the Parkville campus of the University of Melbourne, and the other - the...
.
Robinson is considered one of Australia's premier jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trombonists
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
s. However he hasn't limited himself to that genre playing and leading groups in a range of styles.
He has recorded and played with numerous artists including Brian Brown, The Adam Simmon’s Toy Band, Skazz of Melbourne, Peter Knight’s 5plus2, Adrian Sherriff’s Oynsemble Melbourne and Bone Clan, Ronnie Ferrella’s Broad Band, Ted Vining, The Tim Stevans Quintet, Antboy, Big Fela, Bucketrider, Anita Hustas Ensemble, and the Chipolatas (U.K) and Honkey Trash.
In the last five years he has been active mostly in Melbourne forming his own contemporary improvising quintet, En Rusk which has toured Australia a number of times. They recorded their debut self-titled CD in 2001 to rave reviews and have recently (2004) finished their second recording, "1000 Wide". This CD received significant reviews in both Australia and internationally and really established Kynan as one of the original voices of Australian Jazz compostition.
He has also set up an improvising quartet, Escargone, which has had numerous performances in and around Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
He has also ventured successfully into electronic music firstly with his dance/performance act, Des Peres (originally known as Old Des Peres and secondly with Hard Hat, a group that brings together both electronic and acoustic musicians. Both acts have performed regularly for venues and festivals around Australia and internationally, most recently at the Live et taut festival in New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
. Des Peres recently completed their debut CD in 2004. The album is released through Flict/Shock. Their 2nd album Ace Doubt was released in 2006 through Flit/MGM. Des Peres
Des Peres
Des Peres may refer to:*Des Peres, Missouri - city in St. Louis County, Missouri.*Des Peres - band from Australia...
is considered a unique voice in the Australian pop scene combining a very theatrcal stage approach to their sample heavy sound. Des In Des Peres Kynan takes the moniker of Old Des and works very closely with Luva DJ (Michelle Robinson) and Mr. Ection (visual artist and brother Kiron Robinson) as well as guitarist Tom Bass and Kelsey James.
He has composed music for jazz ensembles, dance productions, musical theatre, contemporary classical ensembles and electronic dance acts and has had his compositions performed in many festivals around the world.
In 2001 he was a collaborative composer for Double Venturi, a collaborative piece involving musicians and funded by Arts Victoria. In 2004 he received funding through the Australia Council
Australia Council
The Australia Council, informally known as the Australia Council for the Arts, is the official arts council or arts funding body of the Government of Australia.-Function:...
to compose a concert length work for prepared piano and small ensemble that was premiered at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz
Wangaratta Festival of Jazz
The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz is an annual festival of jazz and blues held in the town of Wangaratta, 2.5 hours from Melbourne in North East Victoria, Australia. It has become the premier jazz event in Australia and is renowned internationally....
.
He also has scored the music to six short films and has collaborated in numerous cross arts projects with visual artists including Kiron Robinson, Narinda Reevers and Dave Macleod.
Robinson runs a collaborative arts organization called VerSus which holds monthly events and has held events in regional Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. He has been featured many times in newspapers and magazines and on both radio and TV Kynan also runs his own record label Flict Records.
Kynan is now the music teacher and head of IT at North Fitzroy Primary School, Melbourne, Victoria and lectures in Music composition at VUT.
As Leader
- En Rusk (Newmarket Music) 2001
- En Rusk - 1000 Wide (Newmarket Music) 2003
- Old Des Peres – Preserved (Flict/Shock) 2004
- Des Peres - Ace Doubt (Flict/MGM)2006
- Des Peres - The Adventures of Cowboy and Miniman (House of Pow/Amphead)2008
Contributions
- Adam Simmons Toy Band – Happy Jacket
- Melbourne Acid Techno (Dark Matter Records)
- Sample Synthesis 4 and 5 (Clan Analogue Records)
- Paul Colman Trio - Turn (Control Records)
- Matt Fagan
- Malone – This is it (Cavalier Music)
- The Mavis’s – Throwing Little Stones (FMR)
- City City City (Remote Control Records)
- Skazz of Melbourne
- 5+2 Ensemble - Invisible Cities and other Works (Rufus)
- CW Stoneking - Jungle Blues
Film scores
- The Only Person in the World – Ben Chessell
- 3 Weeks in Koh Samui - Alistair Reid
- From The Top – Alistair Reid
- Is God a DJ – Ben Chessell
Installations
- Double Venturi – Collaborative composition with Garth Paine 2001
- The Slow Burn – Collaborative composition with Erik Griswold 2004
Grants and Awards
- Australia Council Promotion and Presentation (En Rusk Recording) 2004
- Australia Council New Works 2005
- Arts Victoria Music for the Future Recording (Des Peres) 2005
- Arts Victoria Music For The Furure Touring (Des Peres) 2005
- D.C.I.T.A Touring (Des Peres) 2005