Part 20b: Taking a Break: A Brooklyn Day: Rob Schwimmer in Concert
Rob Schwimmer with theremin in the background
(Cousin) Rob Schwimmer’s performance at the Stone House in Brooklyn, near Park Slope, was as brilliant as always. he is an accomplished pianist and composer and has played solo and with top performers worldwide. He is one of the most famous Thereminists as well, and is remarkable on the continuum. I am not sure if there is anything he doesn’t play. I heard him about three years ago at Caramoor accompany a symphony orchestra. One of the pieces was from Vertigo, the movie, and you can hear it here. Rob is also one of the top theremin virtuosos in the world and recently featured on the popular PBS series “History Detectives.” He is co-curator of The NY Theremin Society.
Rob accompanies himself with recordings of himself playing other instruments.
Rob played keyboards, theremin and vocals with Simon and Garfunkel at the Rock & Rock Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concert at Madison Square Garden (where he played “The Boxer” on the theremin) as well as their New Zealand, Australia and Japan, North American and European tours. He has worked with Wayne Shorter, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Bobby McFerrin, Willie Nelson, Chaka Khan, Laurie Anderson, Bette Midler, Queen Latifah, Arif Mardin, Adam Guettel, Mary Cleere Haran, T-Bone Walker, Sam Rivers, Marc Shaiman, The Klezmatics, Christian Marclay, Matthew Barney, David Krakauer, Ang Lee, Maria Schneider, Michel Gondry, Trey Anastasio, Bernie Worrell, Nels Cline, Annette Peacock, Gwyneth Paltrow, Marshall Brickman, Larry Campbell, Josh Groban, Mabou Mines, Geoffrey Holder, John Cale, Steve Buscemi, Theo Bleckmann, John Stubblefield, Burt Bacharach, The Roches, Edie Brickell, Teo Macero, Hal Willner, Vernon Reid, The Everly Brothers, Ethel, James Emery, Bela Fleck, Lenny Kaye, Kurt Vonnegut, Anjani Thomas, Odetta, Drepung Loseling Tibetan Monks, Bernie Worrell, Joseph Jarman, Alwin Nikolai/ Murray Louis Dance Company, Henry Jaglom, Talujon Percussion Quartet, Fred Anderson, Marc Ribot, Frank London, C&C Music Factory and Sammy Davis Jr. among others.
He also plays with Jay and the Americans
This series is linked: see “continued here.” Also, below the line there will be links for the previous post and the next.
So original but also looks like a magician in the videos where he is not touching the keyboard!
It IS amazing. I had never heard a theremin before. Does he hum along with the music? Congratulations on your very artistic family, Sue.
The theremin was invented in the 1920’s by a Russian, Leon Theremin and it has been incorporated int music from Hitchcock to the Beach Boys and beyond. It is the music of sci-fi. He doesn’t hum along but he subvocalizes, a term used in silent reading.
If you think about a song or words enough and internalize it, the body/larynx silently goes through the motions. I pointed this out to him long ago, he had no idea. It is the only instrument you don’t touch and it can be difficult to tune (actually radio waves, one side of volume the other pitch)so that he is in a way mouthing what he wants to hear.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5qf9O6c20o
I knew it was The Beatles but couldn’t name it, thanks!! The continuum and theremin are both amazing instruments.
He is an amazing musician.
The first song is called, “Because” by The Beatles. It’s from the Abbey Road album. The theme he did from “Vertigo” is awesome!
That’s the show you missed a few years ago at Caramoor. He was amazing with a full orchestra.