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Robert Hurst

A Detroit native, Hurst has enjoyed a stellar career spanning 30 years, and is a highly respected and well recognized composer, electric and acoustic bassist, educator, recording artist, and business man. His cultivation into a membership of talented musicians from around the world was fostered by lengthy tours and GRAMMY® Award winning recordings featuring: Sir Paul McCartney, Charles Lloyd, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Dave Brubeck, Harry Connick Jr., Terrence Blanchard, Tony Williams, Nicholas Payton, Sting, Carl Allen, the legendary Pharaoh Sanders, Barbara Streisand, Willie Nelson, Yo Yo Ma, Ravi Coltrane, Chris Botti and Diana Krall. Robert Hurst has performed on over 150 diverse and critically acclaimed recordings. A select group of these productions have garnered him performances yielding seven GRAMMY® Awards, several RIAA ® certified- Multi-Platinum and Gold recordings whilst his own seven recordings as a Bandleader have all generated Top Ten and Five Star recognition around the Globe. It is probable that you have identified Hurst amongst the jazz world’s most promising new groups and established artists; however, you may also recognize Robert Hurst as the inaugural bassist in the house band of “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno for eight seasons, from 1992 to 1999. His work in performing, directing, arranging, and composing on the NBC program were highlighted with four EMMY® Awards in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1999. Robert‘s music, which transcends genre while keeping the improvisational genius and fascination of jazz glowing at its center, has also penned original music scores for several films including: “The Wood”- MTV/ Paramount Productions, “Brown Sugar”- Fox Films. Hurst appears on over 30 Major Motion Film & Video Soundtracks and has featured solos and performances captured on Block Busters: “Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen,” and “Good Night, and Good Luck “the soundtrack, featuring Dianne Reeves, on Concord Records (A 2006 Grammy Awardee- Jazz Vocal). As a result of Hurst’s virtuosity, improvisational prowess and unique multi-lingual styling, he has been recognized as a huge, authoritative presence in the music industry. Adored by students, critics, master musicians and fellow educators alike, Robert Hurst has expanded his reach of influence and presently serves as a dedicated Associate Professor of Music, with Tenure, and the Director of Small Jazz Ensembles in the Department of Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance in Ann Arbor. In addition to his activities as a full-time professor of music, globetrotting bandleader and sideman and fulfilling ongoing requests as a special guest performer & visiting arts fellow to over 40 Institutions and counting, Hurst maintains membership on the ISIM Advisory Council, has written skill and exercise materials published for the Woodshed Master Class Series in DownBeat Magazine, and has thoughtfully served, since 2002, on the Board of Directors for The John and Alice Coltrane Foundation.

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1
Album Review

Kris Davis Trio: Run the Gauntlet

Read "Run the Gauntlet" reviewed by Alberto Bazzurro


Innanzitutto le dediche: a Geri Allen, Marilyn Crispell, Angelica Sanchez, Carla Bley, Renee Rosnes, Sylvie Courvoisier, sei colleghe di strumento (e non solo), ognuna con la sua brava colonnina esplicativa nel booklet che accompagna il CD, a cui Kris Davis si sente evidentemente vicina. Poi la musica: un piano trio pieno, vitale, contemporaneo ma senza eccessi, come già l'iniziale title--track, tredici minuti di un jazz fluente, privo di particolari barriere, ci dice eloquentemente. Poi, però, ecco subito appresso ...

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Album Review

Kris Davis: Run the Gauntlet

Read "Run the Gauntlet" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


For her first trio outing as a leader since 2014's Waiting For You To Grow (Clean Feed Records), daredevil pianist Kris Davis takes on her inspirations and mentors on the whirlwind Run the Gauntlet. Dedicated to the beacons who have guided and supported her searching, inventive way--Geri Allen, Carla Bley, Marilyn Crispell, Angelica Sanchez, Sylvie Courvoisier and Renee Rosnes-- Davis enlists longtime friend and collaborator drummer Johnathan Blake alongside well respected and well-traveled bassist Robert Hurst (Mulgrew Miller, ...

26
Album Review

Keigo Hirakawa: Pixel

Read "Pixel" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Pixel, Tokyo-born, Ohio-bred pianist Keigo Hirakawa's third album as leader or co-leader of his own ensemble, has the sleek, laid-back feel of a well-engineered jam session as Hirakawa leads the way through seven of his generally engaging compositions (and one by guitarist Brandon Scott Coleman) with reliable backing from his supporting cast. Besides Coleman, the trustworthy team includes woodwind specialist Rafael Statin, bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Alex White, each one a reputable veteran of the jazz ...

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Album Review

Joe Farnsworth: In What Direction Are You Headed?

Read "In What Direction Are You Headed?" reviewed by Dave Linn


Joe Farnsworth grew up in a musical family and began playing drums at a young age. He later attended and graduated from William Patterson College in New Jersey, where the staff included Harold Mabern and Cedar Walton, who would prove instrumental in kick-starting his career. He landed a gig with Benny Golson that lasted eight years and went on to become an in-demand name. His style is deeply rooted in the bebop and hard bop traditions, characterized by a driving ...

5
Album Review

Keigo Hirakawa: Pixel

Read "Pixel" reviewed by Neil Duggan


Science and jazz do not come up too often in the same conversation. Even more unlikely is that spatio-spectral colour filter array design will feature. Unless you happen to be talking with the Ivy League-educated researcher and professor at the University of Dayton, Ohio, Keigo Hirakawa. His work in image processing is part of a major research initiative at the university. More pertinently, in his other career, he has a Master of Music degree and 20 years as a professional ...

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Album Review

Orrin Evans: The Red Door

Read "The Red Door" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


A most generous craftsman, composer and bandleader, pianist Orrin Evans never fails to bring out the best of whoever he chooses to create with. The Red Door is gratefully, and gracefully, no exception to that rule. Whatever musical setting Evans chooses to practice his sinewy, r'n'b inflected post-bop in--sideman, big band, trio, quartet, duo, whatever--a sweet animation propels his music and buoys the players gathered around him. In this case the two core units feature bass legend Buster Williams, ...

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Album Review

Orrin Evans: The Red Door

Read "The Red Door" reviewed by Dave Linn


Orrin Evans released his debut album for quintet, “Justin Time," in 1996, at the age of 21. Over the next 25 years, Evans released over 20 albums in all shapes and sizes. From trio to standard ensembles to large bands and big bands, Evans' history included a ten-year stint as a member of the Mingus Big Band, leading to his formation of the Grammy-nominated Captain Black Big Band in 2009. Additionally, when pianist Ethan Iverson (who wrote the liner notes ...

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Music Industry

Bassist / Composer / Producer / Educator Robert Hurst Signs With Dot Time Records!

Bassist / Composer / Producer / Educator Robert Hurst Signs With Dot Time Records!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

Bassist/Composer/Producer/Educator ROBERT HURST Signs With Dot Time Records! New Release, Early 2017 BoB's Black Current Jam DOT TIME RECORDS ANNOUNCES SIGNING OF MULTI-AWARD WINNING BASSIST, ROBERT HURST! Dot Time Records is pleased to announce the signing of multiple Grammy and Emmy Award bassist, Robert Hurst. Robert, a Detroit native, has enjoyed a stellar career spanning over 30 years, and is a well respected and highly recognized composer, electric and acoustic bassist, educator, and recording ...

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Recording

All-Star Session By Bassist/Composer Robert Hurst, "BoB: A Palindrome," Due For March 12 Release

All-Star Session By Bassist/Composer Robert Hurst, "BoB: A Palindrome," Due For March 12 Release

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

Bassist Robert Hurst is an M.V.P.—a long-standing member of Diana Krall’s and Chris Botti’s touring bands, an esteemed colleague of jazz stars like Branford Marsalis and Robert Glasper, and most recently a key player on Sir Paul McCartney’s Grammy-winning Kisses on the Bottom. But Hurst’s own recordings, with his compositions and his bands front and center, are especially welcome events in the jazz world. On March 12, BoB: A Palindrome, an all-star Hurst date and the fourth release on his ...

126

Event

Jazz Standard Presents Two Rare Nights With Legendary Jazz Bassist Robert Hurst on August 2-3

Jazz Standard Presents Two Rare Nights With Legendary Jazz Bassist Robert Hurst on August 2-3

Source: Dorothy Riley

WINNER OF 6 GRAMMY AWARDS AND 4 EMMY AWARDS TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY AUGUST 2-3 2011 2 SHOWS 7:30pm & 9:30pm NEW YORK, NY—Jazz Standard presents legendary Jazz bassist and film composer Robert Hurst in a rare and special performance for two nights only at New York's premier nightclub: JAZZ STANDARD. The event is Tuesday & Wednesday August 2nd & 3rd, 2011, two shows 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm, ticket price $25.00. About Robert Hurst ...

126

Radio

The Jazz Session #234: Robert Hurst

The Jazz Session #234: Robert Hurst

Source: AAJ Staff

Bassist Robert Hurst has been a first-call musician since his early days with Wynton and Branford Marsalis. Hes just released two new albums, Bob Ya Head (Bebob Records, 2011) and Unrehurst, Vol. 2 (Bebob Records, 2011). In this interview, recorded at Jazz Standard in New York, Hurst talks about the politics and rhythms underlying Bob Ya Head; how his Detroit upbringing impacted his musical life; and why school is great but its no substitute for putting in time on the ...

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Recording

Bassist/Composer Robert Hurst to Release Two New CDs on His Bebob Records Label Jan. 25

Bassist/Composer Robert Hurst to Release Two New CDs on His Bebob Records Label Jan. 25

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

For the last ten years, bassist/composer Robert Hurst's commitments and accomplishments as in-demand sideman, film composer, and university educator have left the music world anticipating new recordings from him as a leader. He delivers this month with the simultaneous release, on January 25, of two new and very different CDs on his Bebob imprint—Bob Ya Head, an intriguing foray into world music and electronica (with Darryl “Munyungo" Jackson, Marcus Belgrave, and Karriem Riggins), and Unrehurst Vol. 2, a 2007 all-acoustic ...

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Radio

Robert Hurst "Live from Blue Lake," 4-16, 10 P.M.

Robert Hurst "Live from Blue Lake," 4-16, 10 P.M.

Source: All About Jazz

Wednesday, April 16th at 10 p.m. Detroit native Robert Hurst performs live on Blue Lake Public Radio with pianist Woody Goss and drummer Quentin Joseph. A respected, recognized composer, bassist, educator and recording artist who's earned four Grammy awards, bassist Bob Hurst recently appeared on record with Chris Botti, Diana Krall, Michael Buble, and the San Francisco Jazz Collective. This former member of the Tonight Show Band with Jay Leno broke into the national jazz scene via extensive recording and ...

Primary Instrument

Bass

Location

Detroit

Clinic/Workshop Information

“ROBERT HURST: ON A DAILY BASSIST” Let’s engage ourselves in a forum designed to maximize the benefits of our ongoing investment in and dedication to the Modern Musician. I would like to offer you a unique opportunity to gain access to my Story, outlining what it took for me as a Bassist, Composer, Producer, and Educator to accomplish performances yielding: Seven -GRAMMY’s ®, Four- EMMYs ® , Six- RIAA ® certified Multiple Platinum and Gold records, Score for Major Motion Film, and record a plethora of critically acclaimed diverse music. Let me identify my beliefs, the rules and principles re: The Daily Bassist, Good Intentions/ I Do My Job, A Great Band, The Business, Session Work, the Live Stage, Pedagogy and Technique, Your Gear, the Power of the Rhythm Section and the Sport of it All

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Adam Armstrong
bass, acoustic

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Screen Time

Imani / 88 Keys Productions
2025

buy

Run the Gauntlet

Pyroclastic Records
2024

buy

Pixel

Origin Records
2023

buy

The Red Door

Smoke Sessions Records
2023

buy

In What Direction Are...

Smoke Sessions Records
2023

buy

Black Current Jam

Dot Time Records
2018

buy

Subtones

From: Run the Gauntlet
By Robert Hurst

Weezy

From: The Red Door
By Robert Hurst

Terra Nova

From: In What Direction Are You...
By Robert Hurst

Pixel

From: Pixel
By Robert Hurst

Big Queen

From: BoB: A Palindrome
By Robert Hurst

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