Saxophonist/Flutist/Composer Robert Kyle has become known for his unique warm sound, melodic style, and his ability to harmoniously cross musical borders. His lyricism and passion are evident in whatever situation he finds himself, and he is fluid in many styles including Jazz, Blues, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, R & B and Classical. His performing and recording credits include work with Stevie Wonder, Michael McDonald, Natalie Cole, Jason Mraz, Vince Gill, Michael Bolton, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Brenda Russell, Lou Rawls, Della Reese, Chaka Khan, Francisco Aguabella, Marisela, Pete Escovedo, Jessica Simpson, Babyface, Kenny Loggins, Al McKibbon, Billy Mitchell, Roy “Guitar” Gaines and many others. As a 19 year member and musical director of blues diva Linda Hopkins band, he has made over fifty trips to Europe and Japan, performing internationally at many of the biggest Jazz festivals, theaters and clubs in the world. He is featured on Miss Hopkin’s recordings “Here’s the Kid” and “Wild Women Blues.” He’s also the musical director for salsa artist Leslie Paula and Jazz vocalist Carol Bach-y-Rita. He has played for the Academy awards, the Emmy awards, The BET awards, The Nick & Jessica Variety Show, Lou Rawls cavalcade of stars, The NAS awards and many others.
In addition to being a very busy and in demand live & session musician, Robert also leads several of his own groups and has released eight CD’s on his own “Dark Delishious Music” label available through his website www.robertkyle.com. His band plays a variety of instrumental music with a focus on Latin & Brazilian Jazz, and is regularly featured at clubs and festivals all over. His Brazilian trio plays a mix of classic as well as contemporary Samba, Bossa Nova & Brazilian Jazz, mixing vocal and instrumental music.
Besides producing his own projects, Robert has acted ass producer on numerous recordings. In 2004 he produced the highly successful CD “Es Cosa Latina” for salsa artist Leslie Paula, for which he did all the arranging. He also produced and arranged the debut CD for salsa artist Miguel Gutierrez, “Oye mi Ritmo-Oye Mi Voz.” In 2008 he produced & arranged vocalist Rose Mallet’s CD “Building Dreams.” In 2009 vocalist Carol Bach-y-Rita released her debut CD “What Love Is” on which Robert again acted as producer & arranger. He was co-producer & arranger on the debut from “Brazliando” and on the Hi-Fi Quintet’s CD “This is the Hi-FI Quintet.” Robert’s songs have been recorded by Alessa, Betty Bryant, Bobby Zee, Zoe, Leslie Paula and Miguel Gutierrez. His music has also been featured on the hit television series “ER,” and on many American and European Jazz compilations.
Robert’s playing is featured on the Hal Leonard instructional books, CD’s and DVD’s “Brazilian styles for drum set” and “Afro-Cuban styles for drum set” by Maria Martinez, for which he also composed and arranged all the music. He is a regularly invited to perform, teach and lecture for the “Ethnic Styles” class at The L.A. Music Academy.
He has studied privately with Phil Sobel, Bill Green, Plas Johnson, Lanny Morgan, Danilo Lozano & Herb Geller. His love of drums and rhythms caused him to become increasingly interested in Brazilian and Afro-Cuban music. He has studied African drumming with Nigerian Master Drummer Francis Awe, and Brazilian drums and hand percussion with Maria Martinez, Cassio Duarte, Edson Gianesi, Carlinhos “Pandiero” Deouro, Gello and Chalo Eduardo. In 2002, Robert’s love of Cuban music led him to Cuba to study traditional “Charanga” style flute at The Havana Conservatory with the great “Lele” (from Los Van Van) and the legendary Richard Egues (from Orchestra Aragon.) He has studied composition with Mauro Bruno and is a student of Lyle “Spud” Murphy’s Equal Interval System of composition & arranging. In 2010 he traveled to Brazil to study with the Brazilian masters Hermeto Pascoal, Jovino Santos Neto and Alessandro Penezzi.
He lives in Altadena, a small suburb of Los Angeles, and when he’s not touring, he keeps a full performance schedule. You can hear him around town with one of his own bands, as well as with Linda Hopkins, Leslie Paula, Billy Mitchell, The Hi-Fi Quintet, Betty Bryant, Greg Poree, Kleber Jorge, The Jumpin’ Joz band, Alessa, Tony Guererro, the .L.A. Choro Ensemble and many others.
He is an avid Yoga practitioner and reader of books.
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