ROBBY AMEEN

Growing up near New York City, Robby experienced jazz firsthand in clubs and on the streets in his neighborhood. In high school, teacher Ed Blackwell exposed him to more even more jazz rhythms. While earning his literature degree at Yale University, Robby studied classical perfusion with Fred Hinger. Despite all of these influences and even Robby’s Lebanese heritage, his speciality is Afro-Cuban rhythms.

Robby moved to New York and almost immediately began recording with Latin luminaries like Dave Valentin and Ruben Blades. In 1984 Robby recorded New Faces with Dizzy Gillespie. Robby went on to record with Latin artists Eddie Palmieri, Mongo Santamaria, Hilton Ruiz, and Daniel Ponce. He also toured with Willie Colon, Paquito D’Rivera, Gato Barbieri, DLG, and Marc Anthony.

Robby has been touring and recording with producer/composer Kip Hanrahan for more than twenty years. Robby also worked closely with Paul Simon on his show, Capeman, through long rehearsals, recordings, and the show itelf. Robby and Horacio "el Negro" Hernandez created the El Negro & Robby band, recorded three albums, and toured teogether in support of those albums.

Robby is also an instructor. He co-wrote Funkifying the Clave: Afro-Cuban Grooves for Bass and Drums with Lincoln Goines. Recently, they created a video companion for the text. Robby offers clinics around the world at events like Modern Drummer Day, NAMM, and PAS. He also frequently records for television, movies, and commercials.

Throughout April of 2008, Robby performed with Paul Simon at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.