Robin Nolan Trio

Biography

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...

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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