February 2025

Snowy Day - composition by Diane Roblin; horn arrangement Bruce Cassidy...on Diane Roblin<s LIFE FORCE CD.  Diane Roblin, composer, grand piano; Jeff LaRochelle, bass clarinet; Bruce Cassidy, EVI, Kevin Turcotte, Trumpet; George Koller, upright bass; Ben Riley drums.   Performed in concert and clubs.

http://www.dianeroblin.com/

Diane Roblin - Snowy Day

LADYFINGER is Diane Roblin (piano & keyboards) and Kayla Milmine (soprano saxophone) aka “Ladyfinger” are two distinguished players within Toronto’s creative music scene. Both playful and expressive, they explore their own original compositions through whimsical dialogues and progressive improvisation. Their soulful interpretations of compositions by McCoy Tyner, Carla Bley, Wayne Shorter, and other greats are unique and engaging.

BluesforAnnette

Cássia Carrascoza Bomfim and Diane Roblin in Sao Paolo #!

Cássia Carrascoza Bomfim and Diane Roblin in Sao Paolo #2

✨ FACELESS (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Available on all streaming platforms :)
↳ https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/insiya/faceless-original-motion-picture-soundtrack

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This soundtrack includes three short tracks which served as the score for the upcoming film by the same name, 'Faceless' written & directed by the wonderful Assel Akhmetova. It will premiere at the Reel Asian Film Festival on November 16th, 2024.

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Faceless (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

I Am Not Them

Ladyfinger with Diane Roblin (piano, keyboards) and Kayla Milmine (soprano sax) is an ensemble of two distinguished players within Toronto’s creative music scene. They are composers of original music and interpreters of compositions by jazz greats like McCoy Tyner and Carla Bley. Jazz music is all about improvisation and interpretation, and it's clear that Ladyfinger is a group that takes this approach to heart. By creating their own original compositions and interpreting the works of established jazz composers, they are able to showcase their own unique musical voice while also paying tribute to the artists who have inspired them. Both playful and expressive they explore their original compositions through whimsical dialogues and progressive improvisation. 
They Call It A Tree is composed by Kayla Milmine.

They call it a tree.

Ladyfinger with Diane Roblin (piano, keyboards) and Kayla Milmine (soprano sax) is an ensemble of two distinguished players within Toronto’s creative music scene.  They are composers of original music and interpreters of compositions by jazz greats like McCoy Tyner and Carla Bley.   Jazz music is all about improvisation and interpretation, and it's clear that Ladyfinger is a group that takes this approach to heart. By creating their own original compositions and interpreting the works of established jazz composers, they are able to showcase their own unique musical voice while also paying tribute to the artists who have inspired them. Both playful and expressive they explore their original compositions through whimsical dialogues and progressive improvisation.  





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Interview: Diane Roblin (2025)

Thoughts on a Still Night 靜夜思 is one of the most popular Chinese poems by the beloved Chinese poet 李白 (Li Bai, 701-762AD) of the Tang Dynasty. Like many others, I was taught to recite the poem at a very young age. Setting this beauty poetry to music naturally became my first goal when I started to compose many years ago. The piece itself is romantic and sentimental in style. The choral setting is lyrical and non melismatic. The vocal line stresses on the natural rhyme of the words such that it echos the simplicity and hyperbolic language of the poem. The piano accompaniment is impressionistic and at times elaborate. It serves as both the harmonic pillar and the backdrop that highlights the imaginative scenario of the poem. The theme depicts the wandering feeling of the poet at his time; in a contemporary sense, the music conveys certain nostalgia for those who travel and settle abroad.
A beautiful performance by the Exultate Chamber Singers "SONGS NEW AND OLD October 25th 2024.

Thoughts on a Still Night 靜夜思 (SATB choir) - Alice Ping Yee Ho


Kerata for Straton for 19-Division Trumpet by Coreen Morsink 
This live home studio recording predates a planned World Premiere and future professional studio recording. 

' 'Kerata for Straton' depicts a day in the life of Straton, a fictional salpinx (trumpet) player at the time of the Trojan War. Although Straton is a made up character, he is based on the fact that music was a part of life in ancient Greece and the trumpet,
or rather the salpinx at the time, was used as an instrument for armies during the Trojan War as written in Homer's Iliad. References to music making are not frequent in the Iliad but even Achilles, when not fighting, sits with his friend Patroclus and plays the phorminx. In this made up story, all Straton, wanted in life was to enjoy playing the trumpet and to play instruments like the phorminx, kitharis, lyra and other instruments at happy events but he was forced to play salpinx commands in the army. Generally of good humour, Straton carries on after witnessing the horrific carnage of war
as well hearing of the sorrow of Achilles upon receiving the news of Patroclus' death. From this experience, Straton decides to become a bard and relay the sadness of the war through song and the playing of the kitharis and lyra.
Note about the title: Kerata means 'horns' in Greek and animal horns were used in ancient Greece as musical instruments (and thus the word). Straton was a boy's name in ancient Greece and is related to the word 'stratos' στράτος which means army.' (C.M.)
Quotes
"...what satisfaction can I get from that, now that my closest friend is dead, Patroclus, who was more to me than any other of my men, whom I loved as much as my own life?" Iliad by Homer-XVIII.65
"Clear as the trumpet's voice when it soundeth aloud beneath the press of murderous foeman" Iliad by Homer- XVIII.219

https://coreenmorsink.wordpress.com/about/


Kerata for Straton for 19-Division Trumpet (2024) by Coreen Morsink

Performed live by Black Box Ensemble, November 23 2024 at Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew, NYC.
Tyler Neidermayer, Recording and mixing engineer

Leonard Bopp, conductor
Annie Nikunen, flute
Tyler Neidermayer, bass clarinet
Lauren Conroy, violin
Jordan Bartow, cello
Yifei Xu, keyboard
J Clancy, pecussion

Originally commissioned by Ensemble Paramirabo. 

ABOUT
“Stygian pulse” (2023) refers to a chronic throbbing pain in my left shoulder and neck that I have been experiencing for over ten years. It is shapeshifting in its colour and intensity and even its sonic properties, but most days it is an inky, dark, and dull recurrence. The normal medical routes for pain relief have proven ineffective beyond a temporary period.

While the pain doesn’t majorly inhibit any of my daily activities, my inability to alleviate it has
created a sort of “settling:” the pain has become mundane, foreverhere – unpredictable in its exact rhythm or temperament, but with a certitude that it will return, beating darkly. As a feature of my body for over a third of my time on Earth, I’m quite sure it’s here until the end. My stygian pulse – tiny focused outbursts until I die.

Stygian Pulse (sextet + electronics)

Mecca Illuminations

Side Eye: Rusty Belt

My first recording using a Haken Continuum Fingerboard. I used one setting - CF FM DreamPiano.

Ode To A Fantasia.WAV

Diane Roblin on grand piano and Yamaha ReFace got together with Tom Bickley, on  Akai EWI 4000S   ....free improvisation via JackTrip audio.  2nd set

Tom Bickley and Diane Roblin March 3rd 2021 (set one)

Tom Bickley on  Akai EWI 4000S and myself on grand piano and Yamaha ReFace got together and improvised....this is the recording from our JackTrip audio session.

Tom and Diane Mar. 3rd 2021 (2nd set)

Roblin reminds us of her skill, not only as a pianist, but as a new music composer” Leslie Mitchell-Clarke, The Whole Note ”This much anticipated recording proves once again Diane Roblin has something unique to offer jazz fans. Fascinating compositions with a virtuosic ensemble of Canadian hotshots.” Jaymz Bee, JAZZFM91Diane Roblin is a composer,  pianist/ keyboardist, improviser and band leader.   Living in Toronto Canada, Classically trained, Diane is a student of world, electronic and jazz music; her studies also took her to NYC’s Karl Berger workshop at Ornette Coleman’s studio as well as to the Dutch Improv Academy in Amsterdam with Hans Bennick and others.   From rockin' Rough Trade to free improvisation with avant garde musician Charles Gayle, her performance experiences have been eclectic.  Her current "Life Force" album with a six piece horn band playing her funk-jazz-impressionistic compositions has been well received here and abroad.It was on All That Jazz's Top10 list. and her earlier Reconnect record was on Jaymz Bee's Top10 2019.  Diane performs with many groups and is a member of Glen Hall's Ossingtones, the Toronto Improvisers Orchestra, and the internatiional telematic NowNetArts and Say That Again ensembles. Diane has performed at diverse venues domestic and abroad: Kensington Market Jazz Festival, Hugh’s Room, Jazz Bistro, Lula Lounge, TDJazz, The Pilot Tavern, Alliance Francaise,Harbourfront, Array Space, Toronto 416 Improvisers Festival,Somewhere There Festival, Toronto Improvisers Orchestra,Tennessee Plum Festival, Cannes, Antibes/ Juan les Pins;Goro Merida Mexico, Smalls NYC, Ronnie Scotts,and London UK,Amsterdam’s Bimhaus, "Chris Spector of midwestrecords.com reviews Life Force saying,“This all field hitter does a great job of delivering the goods again without repeating herself. A genuine wild ride you wish wouldn’t end.”

Association of Canadian Women Composers

The ACWC is a professional organization for Canadian women composers, their supporters, and the performers of their music.

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Diane Roblin

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