The
Robin Nolan Trio (RNT)
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Based in Amsterdam
(The Netherlands), the Robin Nolan Trio (RNT) is an all-acoustic
gypsy jazz band inspired by the legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt.
Personally endorsed by Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones, Willie
Nelson, and the
late George Harrison of The Beatles (who regularly hired them
to perform at private parties on the grounds of his English
country estate), RNT began as street musicians in 1991 busking
the busy tourist districts of Amsterdam. They have since performed
at some of the world's most prestigious musical events including
the Montreal, North Sea, Barcelona and St. Louis Jazz Festivals.
Having
the distinct honor of playing the world's premier Django Tribute
Festival for the third time in June 2003 at Samois-sur-Seine,
France where the gypsy guitar king is laid to rest, The Trio
also appeared the following month at New York's Lincoln Center
Django Festival commemorating the 50th anniversary of Reinhardt's
passing. American demand brought RNT back to The States only
three months later in September 2003 when they toured select
cities in support of their sophomore CD, Boulevard of Broken
Dreams. One of the stops on that tour included a four-night
festival date at the 3rd Annual DjangoFest Northwest hosted
by Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in the Seattle Sound.
While
RNT's inspiration lies in gypsy jazz, Latin and Hot Club de
France, The Trio has a decidedly contemporary feel and fire
up their music with their own expressive "je ne sais
quoi." Peppered with hypnotic rhythms and rippling melodic
themes, RNT's repertoire features jazz standards from the
greatest composers of the 20th century (e.g., Ellington, Gershwin,
Waller, etc.), as well as an increasing list of original compositions.
Two of eleven originals on their debut CD, Mediterranean
Blues, were featured in the MGM major motion picture film,
Autumn in New York, directed by Joan Chen and co-starring
Richard Gere and Winona Ryder. RNT will return to North America
in June 2004 to perform jazz festivals in Canada as well as
some US dates including a three-night Django Fest in the San
Francisco Bay.
Personnel:
Robin Nolan (United Kingdom) - Lead Guitar
Kevin Nolan (United Kingdom) - Rhythm Guitar
Simon Planting (Holland) - Upright Bass
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Photo: Marcus May |
Applicable
CD releases: Gypsy Swing, Wine-Soaked Whispers, Mediterranean
Blues, Boulevard of Broken Dreams
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“In these days of cacophony, it’s good to hear some
proper music!”
- George Harrison (of The Beatles, who
regularly hired RNT to perform at private parties he hosted
on the grounds of his English country estate)
“Robin
Nolan is so amazingly good…as soon as I record something
in the spirit of Django Reinhardt, I’ll book him a flight
and bring him into the studio.”
- Bill Wyman (of The Rolling Stones, as
quoted in the Dutch music magazine, ALOHA)
“You
play a mighty fine guitar, Robin Nolan.”
- Willie Nelson (as he happened upon RNT
performing in the streets of Amsterdam)
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