Robb Janov Musician
“I look back on my childhood. Music saved me.”
- Robb Janov
Music transforms lives. When I look back on my childhood, I realize that music saved me. I was a shy kid. My parents thought Karate lessons would bolster my confidence, but I was too young to join the local dojo. My mom brought me to a Suzuki strings demonstration and I was immediately drawn to the violin. It had a transformative, ‘superpower’ impact on me.
When I was in 4th grade, I didn't even hesitate when asked to perform for the entire school. Some people have teddy bears. I have the violin.
I was lucky. Growing up in the near north suburbs of Chicago, I was surrounded by seemingly endless resources and brilliantly talented classmates. At 16, I was studying privately with Joe Golan (Principal 2nd violin, CSO) and auditioned successfully for the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the training ensemble for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. We worked with some of the world’s most prestigious conductors, including Claudio Abbado, Leonard Slatkin, Michael Tilson Thomas and Sir Georg Solti.
In my senior year (at New Trier High School) came an unexpected and life-changing invitation. I found new friends in the jazz department. They suggested I get an electric pickup on my violin and join their jazz fusion band. My friend Bill told me I had to get a Jean-Luc Ponty album. I remember dropping the needle on the first track of Mystical Adventures. It was a jaw-dropping moment. “That’s a violin?”, I thought. I want my violin to sound like that.
My new friends turned me on to King Crimson, Miles Davis, the Dixie Dregs, Rush, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Mahavishnu Orchestra, as well as the mind-bending world of effects pedals. The experience of exploring new sounds on my violin and a variety of styles of music was the impetus for me to continue creating, performing and ultimately educating others.
Currently, I perform as a solo, live-looping, one-person band and with a variety of ensembles. Repertoire includes gypsy jazz, funk-fusion, salsa, classical and pop.
I’ve appeared in film and television productions including Jane Got a Gun (Natalie Portman), Sweetwater (Ed Harris), Graves (Nick Nolte) and Roswell, New Mexico (CW Network). I also served as a violin coach for News of the World (Tom Hanks).
Studio projects include Matt Walker (Morrissey, Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage, Filter), award-winning composer Elizabeth Capra (Delphi Project), KUNM Public Radio and others.
“Some people have teddy bears. I have the violin.”
- Robb Janov