Doug Robinson

Can you please re-post the link where we can start listening? Thanks! Doug

Lots of truly great music happening here, guys and gals. I don't think I ever posted this because the camera work is so sketchy--lovingly but shakingly filmed by my father in law--but here is the great Don Grusin and I performing my composition Paris in December at a benefit concert in San Miguel de Allende I produced.

WowâWithout a doubt that was the best sound I"ve ever heard

Oh man! I have a lot to say about this topic, dB. I"m about 4 years older than you and their music is simply part of my dna. I used to hate covers of their music until I gave myself the challenge of doing one right. Since then I"ve written my own band arrangements of Rain (thanks for the plug, Drawbar), Come Together, Yesterday, I Will, Taxman (based on Jim Alfredson"s bluesy 7/4 version) and note for note one-man-band covers of And Your Bird Can Sing and Hello Goodbye. Some covers or rearrangements seem cloying or exploitive, as if Bossa Nova Beatles was actually adding something new to their music. The brilliant mashups that George and Giles Martin did for Love really opened my mind up to new possibilities, though.

I"m in. Please lemme know how to participate and thanks.

Well, well, well Al--that's very nice! I like the bubbling left hand, burping out nuanced arpeggios from time to time--very Don Grolnick, I think.

Here is my new album in its entirety in mp3 form--if you dig it, please download the wav files and paypal me $10 usd. All my arrangements, and mostly my compositions, beautifully recorded in Mexico City and San miguel de Allende. HYMN FOR HER Doug Robinson, piano, melodica, keys Hernán Hecht, drums Benjamin Garcia, acoustic and electric basses With Iraida Noriega, vocals on RAIN

Craig--I'm blessed and cursed by the fact that I don't really NEED to make a lot of money, but I would like (and almost need in order to justify) to cover my costs. At 64, I'm retired and doing only what I love--living in Central Mexico, selling a bit of real estate now and then (not right now!) and gigging when I have something new to say--I put on big concerts (300-400 seats) with musicians from all over Mexico and we all have a ball and put a little chunk of change in our pockets. Again, not right now--I had about $2000 usd worth of gigs cancel for next month, which goes a long way down here. I researched vinyl for this new release, but honestly I only know 5 or 6 audiophile adults who even have turntables. A few young people do, of course, but even if by some miracle they'd be drawn to my work, I don't think I'd even sell 50 units and the cost of entry in that low of a quantity is prohibitive, like around $19 each not counting getting them down here and paying duties, so in order to make any profit I'd have to sell them for $34 each--not likely that young kids will pay that. And I love what you're saying about value-added content upon a usb stick. I wish I was more of a media creator--working with video just wipes me out. Did you see my little promotional video above? That little video I made took 7 hours and it could have been so much better. I'm happy to say that I at least sold 5 downloads overnight, posting it here, on FB and one other place. I do agree that 'good music here' isn't enough anymore. Jazz is a bit of an exception in my eyes--I buy things based on artist reputation all the time, and couldn't care less if I also get interviews or rehearsal clips. But that day will come. But I was raised to think the music and the cover art were enough and it's hard to reinvent myself into a content provider. But I will, to some degree because I basically see the logic in what you're saying. It's a new world for sure, and the contrast is even starker now that gigging is out of the question for the immediate future.

Thanks guys-much to chew on here. Craig it is especially gratifying to hear from you. I will respond in a little bit when I have some time.

Thanks, man! Well, this might belong up in the Shameless Plug section, but since it's my first effort off of my list of creative suggestions, I don't think it's inappropriate to put it here and ask for your feedback.

Thanks for that thoughtful response! I"ll reread it later and get into it.

I am casting about for ideas about promotion and sales in this new day and age. FWIW, it's what I think of as my very best work to date, an hour of mostly original acoustic jazz. Accessible without being simple-minded (or sophisticated without being alienating) is how I think of my style. Way back in the past, I've sold between 300 and 500 CDs a year at gigs. But my last CD was almost exactly a year ago, a latin jazz thang. I live in Central Mexico and the group had real popularity so I created 300 CDs, thinking I'd sell about half. As it turned out, I sold about 30 at gigs--people just don't have CD players anymore. That album and two 'best of' compilations put together by a wonderful hi res download-only audiophile label went on their site and even though I hit number 1 in sales, it still wasn't enough to come close to recouping my costs--it doesn't take much to hit #1 on a small niche music site, I guess! Ok, so now I've got HYMN FOR HER, this wonderful new compilation of music that I feel so strongly about and I have to think of how to get it out to people, one way or the other. I'll tell you what I've ben thinking of and I'd love not only feedback but other bright ideas you've been kicking around. 1. I'll do about 50 CDs to sell at the record-release concert (originally scheduled for peril but obviously now it will be later). I will sell a few and at least have some physical artifacts for myself to prove that it happened. 2. I've been thinking about doing 50 of these USB music cards: https://www.discmakers.com/usb/usb-music-cards.asp I( think the concept is neat for those who only use USBs in their cars--the cards can be imprinted with my artwork and contact info, of course. The cost when all is said and done will be around $4.50 each. I can sell these to people who can't play CDs. 3. I am going to turn my bandzoogle website dougrobinson.com and add a download-only store component. I won't offer single-song downloads, just the whole album, and take paypal or whatever. Better than nothing, I guess. 4. I have thought about creating youtube videos of four of my projects--playing the album from start to finish but customizing the graphic so that at the top of each track, we can see the players info--this is important because I have heavy hitters on some of them whose names do help me sell albums. The idea would be to listen to mp3s on youtube for free and the attempt to drive fans to download the higher quality versions at my website, in order to support my efforts. 5. Can't really see doing merch at this point. I don't gig all that much, and I'm not sure I'd buy one of my own t-shirts. 6. I'm pretty sure I can get some rave reviews from a couple of media sources, one big and one little, that are truly supportive. No point in pursuing that till I have my online store set up. 7. CDBaby is out of the CD fulfillment biz, and amazon advantage--which used to be great for me-- still sends me orders but shipping them north from Mexico costs far more than the profit margin so I will drop those services (but maybe still offer downloads through them, I guess). 8. I have a few friends down here who have audiophile setups and love my work, so I'm going to pitch them on hosting house concert/presentations of the new work, where I'll talk a little about it and then we listen. Even if we only get 10 folks per concert at $10 us each, that's better than nothing. I can also offer download cards or the USB music cards at these events. That's what is in my head now--it seems like a lot of work but I can't really think of how else to do it. Any ideas? Thanks. Doug 686.pdf

That was great, Chuck! Thanks--couldn't get to the show this year but now I know what I missed. Doug

I like a lot about the 1880 and the stacker piece, but...I've lost a few screws and knobs, even after making sure they are tightened. Also, even though I like the weight when carrying it, I tj=hink I'd feel a tad more secure if it was only a pound or two heavier.

What a gentleman innovator.

My new Latin jazz project is now available for downloading here: https://bluecoastmusic.com/doug-robinson/besos-ocultos#.XTaSd63Mwck You can audition each track in its entirety for free. My best features are the organ solo in the title track (Besos Ocultos); acoustic piano on Comes Love; the organ solo on NYBlues and the lovely little solo on Coyote.

I just discovered this and told Denise about it and I have to get it. But its a very complicated situation. I will explain below, but if you have one that is in good condition and is covered in cotton, I will buy it from you and pay whatever it takes to have it shipped to me in Georgia overnight so that I have it to tomorrow, Tuesday, June 11. I am leaving late that night to fly back to Mexico and Denises surgery is on the 12th. There is no other way for me to get one. I placed an order from Amazon and even though I am a prime member and it says one business day, the estimated date of receipt is Wednesday the 12th, and I will be gone. If you have something, please just email me directly at jazzooo@aol.com. Thanks. Below I will put a link so that you can see the product I am talking about. Obviously doesnt have to be this make and model, but it has to be this shape. Here it is: https://www.etsy.com/listing/292850461/mastectomy-pillow-for-breast-cancer-post?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=mastectomy+pillows&ref=sc_gallery-1-1&referring_page_type=market&plkey=7e1a1b255ceda41537896c66f850d168bd8fc31b%3A292850461&col=1

Im in the states and had the opportunity to play and S1000 at guitar center today. And I really really enjoyed myself. I wasnt able to access any sound other than the grand piano and the Rhodes, but Im sure a moment with the manual would have helped me :-) the speakers sounded fabulous, and I think they would be loud enough for my rehearsals with my Latin jazz band. If its borderline, I would just ask everyone to play a little softer.

Just saw itwatchable for sure and very enjoyable at times but also sappy and redundant (although addicts behaviors are always redundant to begin with). My two biggest problems were not getting know the band even a little. Nigel Olsson on drums was the first important post-Ringo rock drummer for me. I even bought his solo album. Harder for me, though, was the leads voice. Capable but not even in the same zip code as Eltons. They should have used the original vocal tracks but that would have limited the production numbers and new arrangements, some of which I felt were unnecessary. If youre doing a biopic of Picasso, you can show an actor starting a painting but in the end you would show real Picasso, not an imitation by someone who painted kind of like him.

His autobiography was interesting--no questions he's a genius and seems to be a nice cat too, although his writing is just ok. But he's been near or at the center of so many fascinating groups, you barely notice.

Well, that would mean a three-tier keyboard setup, Math--not really ready for that for one or two songs' worth of fun. I do already use the hose, though--always have.

Good thoughts, thanks. Two stands might be better than one, but the clamps that hold the phone/melodica are still not quite wide enough. Understandable--who would carry a cell phone that had the girth of a melodica? Velcro could work too...but the idea of my $400+ Hammond melodica crashing to the floor if I don't get it placed just right is a little daunting.

The arm isn't the problem, lots of solutions floating around out there for holding tablets and phones. It's the grip mechanisms that aren't wide enough to really hold the instrument, at least not while you're playing it, even with a soft touch.

So I've got a double keyboard set up for my larger gigs--I used the K and M fancy-shcmancy lightweight stand which works well, although I'ts a tad fragile for my uses. Regardless, I also play a Hammond Pro44 melodica on some numbers. usually, I stand up and leave the keyboard area, walking to the front of the stage for a solo. But I'df like to be able to play it while sitting and playing one of my keyboards with my left hand. I've been searching for some kind of device that would clamp onto some part of my stand and enable me position the melodica to my right at about 45 degrees from my face. The closest thing I've found is a cellphone holder with a clamp on the bottom, stiff but bendable tubing leading up to big alligator clamps. They actually fit my melodica, but once I start playing, the clamps just aren't right size and thus aren't sufficient to keep it there. Anyone have ideas about how to accomplish this? Thanks!

Oh, and I labeled everything--it's not as if I was confused, but it's still satisfying.