Pete grew up in Andover, Massachusetts (outside of Boston). He started playing piano at age 6, clarinet at 9, guitar at 11, and alto sax at 12. He'd listen to Miles, Bird, and Dexter with his dad; he'd check out Yes, Living Colour, and Tower of Power with his friends. Robbins moved to Brooklyn in 2002 after attending Phillips Academy (Andover), Tufts University, and New England Conservatory, where he studied with Paul Bley, George Garzone, John McNeil, Allan Chase, George Russell, and others.
He has since performed or recorded with John Zorn, Mark Dresser, Craig Taborn, Ben Monder, Mario Pavone, Kenny Wollesen, and countless others, and has performed at festivals and clubs in nine different countries.
Robbins’ leads “an ambitious ensemble that combines spacious avant-gardism with the melodic punch of rock” (New York Times), and has been called a "style master" (AllAboutJazz.com), "fiercely creative" (Time Out New York), and "a real force" in jazz (pianist Paul Bley). His studio releases “Waits and Measures” (Playscape) and “Do The Hate Laugh Shimmy” (Fresh Sound/New Talent) were both named as top-10 jazz releases in 2006 and 2008, respectively; Robbins's fourth album as a bandleader will be released on May 25, 2010 on his own Hate Laugh Music label.
Robbins has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, JazzTimes, JazzWise, Jazzman, and National Public Radio. For his compositional achievements, Chamber Music America recently awarded Robbins with their prestigious “New Works: Creation and Presentation” grant as well as their "New Works: Encore" award on behalf of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
Robbins was also a 2009 guest adjudicator for the Brooklyn Arts Council regrant program. |