Building on a remarkable technique and a fertile imagination, French trombonist Yves Robert has created a very personal universe which sometimes expands beyond the confines of jazz but never bows to fashion. Yves Robert studied flute and trombone at the Music Conservatory in Vichy. Early in his career, Robert made quick transitions from Dixieland to hard bop to free jazz. His growing reputation earned him stints with some fine bands: Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath, Bernard Lubat's La Compagnie Lubat, and the first edition of the Orchestre National de Jazz in 1986. Later, his own projects came to fruition and revealed his rich musical ideas. In 1988, Robert initiated his first project as a bandleader, a trio with bassist Bruno Chevillon and drummer Aaron Scott, which he terminated in 1990 when Scott moved back to the U.S. (where he became a permanent fixture of the McCoy Tyner trio). In the wake of his trio, Robert formed a quartet with Claude Tchamitchian, Philippe Deschepper, and Alfred Spirli or Xavier Desandre, which he disbanded by mid-decade. At that time, Robert put together a quintet which really took shape in 1998 when saxophonist Laurent Dehors replaced Julien Lourau, the other members being guitarist David Chevallier, bassist Hélène Labarrière, and drummer Cyril Atef. In parallel, he also assembled a trio featuring cellist Vincent Courtois and the faithful Atef. Alongside these projects, Yves Robert still manages to make himself available as a valuable sideman, most notably in ensembles led by Louis Sclavis and Gérard Marais. ~ Alain Drouot, Rovi
