Perry Robinson

by Scott Yanow Throughout his career, Perry Robinson has sought to do the near-impossible: establish himself as an avant-garde leader on an instrument still closely associated with the swing era. After extensive formal study (including the Lenox School of Jazz in 1959), Robinson played with such advanced musicians as Paul Bley, Archie Shepp, and Bill Dixon. He was with Roswell Rudd's quintet in 1968, appeared on several works by the Jazz Composers' Orchestra, and in 1972 worked with Gunter Hampel. In a change of pace, Robinson was with Dave Brubeck's Two Generations of Brubeck band in 1973, but afterward he continued recording and performing avant-garde jazz.