Robin Verheyen
© Jos L. Knaepen

Robin Verheyen

Robin Verheyen studied for 3 years in Belgium and 1 year in the Netherlands with Frank Vaganée, Jasper Blom, Ferdinand Povel, Dick Oatts and John Ruocco.

In 2001 Robin Verheyen played with a Big Band directed by Maria Schneider at the Jazz Middelheim Festival. In 2002 he played at the Brussels Jazz Marathon with Pierre Van Dormael and he was a prizewinner at the International Jazz Contest of Hoeilaart with his quartet Gromm.

On the Getxo Jazz Contest 2004 in Spain he was awarded the "Prize of Best Soloist". With the Robin Verheyen trio he won the ‘Young Jazztalent Competition' in Gent (Belgium).

In Belgium Robin worked with Pierre van Dormael Vivaces, Brussels Jazz Orchestra, Ecaroh, Anne Wolf Quartet, Renaud Person 5 ......

In the Netherlands Robin worked with with musicians like Jesse Van Ruller, Jasper Blom, Harmen Fraanje, Thomas Andersen, David Fettman, Flin van Hemmen, Joost Kesselaar, Joost Van Schaik, Klaas Van Donkersgoed....

On sessions and workshops he played with Bill Mays, Matt Wilson, Richard Bona, Ari Hoenig, Johannes Weidemuller, Bill Carrothers, Joey Calderazzo,...

His own projects in Belgium at this moment are Robin Verheyen Trio and Orvalectiq. With the Robin Verheyen Trio ( Martijn Vanbuel (double bass), Toon Van Dionant (drums), he performed at the Festival de Lundis d'Hortense 2004 in Botanique, Brussels.

They also performed this summer at the Getxo Jazz Festival and the Bermeo Jazzfestival in Spain. In 2005 They will perform at the Blue Note Festival (Gent).

Orvalectiq consists of Dré Pallemaerts (drums), Pierre Van Dormael (guitar), Otti Van der Werf (bass), Joachim Saerens (keyboards) and Bert Hornix (loops & sounds). They did presentation concerts in January and February 2004 and are currently planning new concerts for the end of 2004 and 2005.

In the Netherlands he has a quartet with Harmen Fraanje, Clemens Van der Feen and Flin van Hemmen.

Other bands together with Tom Van Dyck are Quintessence and Saxkartel.

With Quintessence ( with Tom Van Dyck, Bart Van Caenegem, Guus Bakker and Mimi Verderame) he is focussing on the music from the school of Lennie Tristano. They finished a residency of 1 month in Jazz Club Hopper in Antwerp.

With the Saxkartel ( with Kurt Van Herck, Sara Meyer and Tom Van Dyck) Robin Verheyen recorded a cd called Airdance (Igloo Records) which is came out in february 2004. They did a tour in March 2004 to present this cd.

He is also a member of the group of vocalist and bassist Chantal Willie, Rainbow Rhythms, New Groove Sextet, Anne Wolf Quartet...

Living in Paris since september 2005 Robin established himself very fast on the French jazzscene and is currently playing in the band of Italian trumpet player Giovanni Falzone, the band of bass-player and drummer Remi Vignolo, and beside that he works regularly with people like Brazilian guitar-player Nelson Veras, pianist Bruno Angelini,..... With the Giovanni Falzone European Ensemble a cd is coming out in September 2006 on the Italian label Soulnote. This will be followed by a European tour in October-November 2006.

Robin asked twice by Branford Marsalis to sit in during his concerts with his Quartet in Belgium.

He toured with an American quartet with a.o. drummer Billy Hart.

Sabam Jazz Award 2018 in the category "Confirmed musician".