Nationality: Sweden
Field of Art: Trombonist
Website: www.michaelrorby.com
Michael Rörby, trombonist, originally from Stockholm, Sweden, grew up in a house full of music, being the third son of guitarist & lutenist Jörgen Rörby, and the grandson of priest, organist & conductor Ingvar Sahlin.
At an early age he studied piano and trumpet but it wasn’t until he was 19 that he picked up the trombone which soon became his main means of expression.
In 2001 he moved to The Netherlands, where he got introduced to the scene with the generous help of his friend, trumpetist Philip Harper (The Jazz Messengers, Charles Mingus’ Big Band, The Harper Brothers) .
In 2008 – 2009 he went to New York, with the kind help of a Swedish and a Dutch Cultural Grant, but left for Europe, when Blazin’Quartet won the Dutch Jazz Competition, with extensive touring and Cd Recordings to follow. He stayed there for 5 years, performing, teaching, touring, and recording before finally re-installing himself in New York City by the end of 2014.
In present time he divides his time between New York, Stockholm, Amsterdam and Paris, where he performs with different groups and artists, teaches and gives masterclasses.
As a touring musician he has performed on music festivals and in clubs on 5 continents. In The Netherlands he has played the North Sea Jazz Festival , annually, for more than 10 years.
In Sweden he works with Michael Rörby Quartet, Blue House Jazz Orchestra, Jakob Norgren Jazz Orchestra and Peter Asplund Big Band.
In New York you can see him with Dennis Davis (David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Roy Ayers), Patience Higgins (Wilson Picket, Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder), Harvie S (Gil Evans, Lee Konitz, Shiela Jordan) , Enrique Haneine (Ricky Martin) and many more.
In France he is a member of the Glenn Miller Memorial Orchestra, The Afro Boriken Ensemble and the award winning Blazin’ Quartet. He performs regularly with the French edition of Michael Rörby Quartet and the group of Benjamin Henocq.
In The Netherlands he works with Michael Rörby Quartet, Pieter Bast ESP Quintet, Rob Mostert Hammond Group, Blazin’ Quartet, Holland Big Band, Olaf Tarenskeen and many others!
Musical collaborations includes the quartet and nonet of the unique saxophonist and composer Gijs Hendriks, Bluebird Quintet, with John Engels, the nestor of Dutch drumming, the forceful big tet Tetzepi, pianist and arranger Edy Martinez (Ray Baretto) , Roberto Aran, Calixto Oviedo, Mischa van der Wekken Quintet, Gerardo Rosales, Randal Corsen’s Tumbabo and many, many more.
Michael Rörby frequently works as a studio musician and cooperates with studio’s all over the World
Studio Credits includes: Jerique Allen, Mikheil Urushadze, Marco Toro, Roberto Aran, Gee Titulaer, Gerardo Rosales, Scallymatic Orchestra, Corresponcence, Amsterdam Jazz Collective, Big Boy Caprice, Giovanca, Erik Löfmarck, ILLICIT, The Opposites, Pro Seed, DJ Guy Lejune, Jon Rekdal, Branko Galoic and kayaman.
The last years has included television performances (VPRO), radio broadcasts, appearing in the Swedish comedy “Once in a Lifetime” (Livet är en schlager) directed by Susanne Bier and in René Seegers’ film “Madame Jeanette” directed by Paula van der Oest.
Michael Rörby is an alumni of Kungl Musikhögskolan – Stockholm, Sweden, from which he holds a Master of Fine Arts in Music year 2000 and Conservatorium van Amsterdam, The Netherlands, where he graduated the Second Phase with highest honors in 2003.
Awards:
Winner Dutch jazz Competition 2008 – with Blazin’ Quartet
Winner Holland Casino Jazz Award 2008 – with Blazin’ Quartet
3rd Price Leiden Jazz Award – with Michael Rörby Quartet
Grants:
HUYGENS
HELGE AX:SON JOHNSONS STIPENDIEFOND
MUSIKALISKA AKADEMIN