At the age of 18, Rob Banken started his Master in Jazz at the Lemmens-institute Leuven, with Frank Vaganée as his main teacher. Here he learned the techniques of soloing, improvisation and big band/section playing. During his Master studies, Rob was also taught the clarinet and flute by Greet Severens and Wim brabants.

Over the years, Rob participated lessons and workshops from Frank Vaganée, John Ruocco, Bart van Caenegem, Peter Hertmans, Dré Pallemaerts, Mark Turner, Bill Carrothers, Nicolas Thys, Robin Verheyen,…

Rob's own band with trumpet player Carlo Nardozza (C.N. Quartet, Nardozza/Bisceglia, BJO,…) bass player Anneleen Boehme (Lab-trio,…) and drummer Matthias De Waele (De Looze/Machtel/De Waele, PHD,…) is one of the many bands Rob currently works with. He also is a member of the Brussels Youth Jazz Orchestra (BYJO), 8 o'clock Shadows (an octet of trumpet player Sam Joris) and Daan Demeyer Quintet (w/ Carlo Nardozza, Daan Demeyer, Jos Machtel and Matthias De Waele). As a freelance musician he has had the opportunity to play with Gary Smulyan, Frank Vaganée, Bart van Caenegem, Thomas De Prins, Jos Machtel, Carlo Nardozza, Peter Delannoye, Steven Delannoye, Janos Bruneel, Jo Hermans, Tuesday Night Orchestra, Jazz Station Bigband, De Maan (theater), Modern Bop Society, Nilfisq, and others.

Together with actor Thomas Vancaeneghem, actress Astrid Ogiers and bass player Trui Amerlinck, Rob now works on a brand new musical theater group called The Katunaric Family.

Since 2009 Rob teaches saxophone at the Academy for Music and Word Maaseik.

Current Bands:
Rob Banken Quartet (leader)
Brussels Youth Jazz Orchestra (sideman)
8 o'clock Shadows (sideman)
Daan Demeyer Quintet (sideman)