Orphy Robinson
Jazz
Orphy is an award winning multi-instrumentalist specialising in tuned percussion, and is one of a select few musicians in the UK to have been signed to the legendary US Jazz record label ‘Blue Note’. With a career spanning more than 40 years, he has played on over 100 recordings and won or been nominated for numerous industry awards, including winning Jazz FM’s Live Performance of the Year in 2017. In 2015 Orphy received a top 12 placing in the 'Vibraphonist of the Year' Critics’ Poll for the historic Jazz magazine Downbeat. Orphy is regularly invited to perform with internationally acclaimed artists from many genres of music. These have included such diverse artists as Nigel Kennedy, Carleen Anderson, Dr Robert (The Blow Monkeys), Wadada Leo Smith, Thurston Moore, Joss Stone, Robert Plant, Robert Wyatt, Hugh Masekela and many others.
Orphy is an external examiner for master’s and undergraduate degree studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. An experienced teacher and workshop leader from primary to university level, he is currently the Artist in Residence at the Plumcroft junior school in Woolwich, as well as lead coach at the National Youth Jazz Orchestra for their exciting new ensemble the Jazz Exchange. Orphy sits on various boards including The Ivor’s Academy (formerly known as BASCA ‘the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers & Authors’) where he is the current Chair of the Jazz genre committee. He is a Trustee and Vice Chair of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and sits on the judging panel for many top music industry awards, including the Ivor Novello Awards, The British Composer Awards and The Commonwealth Resounds International Composition competition. In 2018, Orphy was awarded an MBE for his services to music.
