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Welcome to my website! Here will you find lots of information about myself and the projects I am involved with. Also please check out the “About” page.

Dan has performed or recorded with international jazz stars Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Danilo Perez, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Benny Green, Giovanni Hidalgo, Peter Martin, Cedar Walton, David Sanchez, Xavier Davis, Regina Carter, Bob Dorough, Stefan Karlsson, Greg Hutchinson, Ron Blake, Ulysses Owens, Steve Wilson, Tessa Souter, Ali Ryerson, Van Dyke Parks, John Santos, Rebeca Mauleon, Miguel Zenon, Brian Bromberg, Lewis Nash, John Benitez, Maraca, John Clayton, Bruce Forman, Hristo Vitchev, Jasnam Daya Singh, Taylor Eigsti, Toninho Horta, and many West Coast luminaries such as Frank Martin, Celso Alberti, Claudia Villela, Masha Campagne, Rick Walker, Joe DeRose, Marshall Otwell, Dann Zinn, Jason Lewis, Dick Whittington, Peter, Horvath, Dave Ellis, Calvin Keyes, Smith Dobson, Keith Greeninger, George Marsh, Denny Zeitlin, Sasha Dobson, Paul Contos, Vince Lateano, Christian Tamburr, Mike Shannon, Kenny Stahl, Dan Zemelman, Roger Eddy, Alan Hall, Tammi Brown, Colin Douglass, Derek Smith, Greg Wyser-Pratte, Rick Vandivier, Nate Pruitt, Billy Jones, Wally Schnalle, Murray Low, Martan Mann, Andrew Speight, Mark Levine, Rhan Wilson, Patti Maxine, Amikaeyla, Alan Jones, David Valdez, Nancy King, Randy Porter, Olaf Sciappacasse, Pascal and Remy LeBoeuff, and many, many others.

More information on the “About” page.

About

Dan Robbins has played and recorded in settings ranging from solo, duo, trio, etc. to big band and orchestra, and is known for driving, creative, harmonically and melodically rich background and lead parts on bass. He doubles on both acoustic bass, and four, five, six, and seven-string electric bass, in styles ranging from solo jazz chord-melody arrangements, to hard-swinging jazz double bass accompaniment, acoustic and electric funk, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Carribean, rock, R&B, blues, tango, Indian, and fusion styles, as well as arco (played with the bow) classical and comtemporary interpretations of composed music. He is also known to employ looping and effects to create the impression of a “one man band”.

He brings a fiery improvisational spirit and energy to all the projects he is involved with.  Currently co-leading the funk trio Wasabi, and the acoustic jazz trio Source Field, he also has an ongoing duo project with distinguished California Poet Laureate Al Young, and plays bass for the Hristo Vitchev Quartet, Idiot Fish 3, Joe DeRose & Amici, the Weber Iago Trio, Rick Vandivier/Nate Pruitt and Primary Colors, the BR Jazz Band, and also does solo concerts.  He also teaches at San Jose State University, Santa Clara University, runs a private teaching studio, and is involved as an educator with the Monterey Jazz Festival, Cabrillo Jazz Festival, and the San Jose Jazz Society. In addition, he also freelances as a performer, composer, and arranger in studios and venues in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

Lessons

Dan Robbins offers private instruction on the double bass, and the four, five, six, and seven string fretted and fretless electric basses. He also offers instruction in music theory, ear training, jazz improvisation, and electric bass setup and repair techniques. Please send him an email to arrange for any of these services.

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