Rob Buckland - Saxophonist

Following on from a hectic 2008, this year finds me straight into the usual variety of gigs. I'm currently working hard towards a couple of Concerto dates: On 28 Feb I'm playing John William's "Escapades" - the concerto version of the soundtrack to the Dreamworks film "Catch Me If You Can" with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool.

Summer - such as it was(!) - was filled with some great gigs - including the televised BBC Prom with the BBC Concert Orchestra - summer schools, (Woldingham and Harrogate this year - both really amazing weeks, both saxophonically and socially) and listening to some inspiring concerts - I’ve just got back from hearing Guy Barker’s Amadeus Project, without doubt one of the most stunning musical events I’ve witnessed for many a year - I urge you to check it out if you can, both live and on CD.

The last four months have seen me playing with such diverse groups as SaxAssault (2 NW gigs, which featured a new set of compositions, including a new chart from me), Orchestral work with the RLPO, Northern Sinfonia (playing music by Turnage and Tim Garland), CBSO, BBC Concert Orchestra, writing a new piece for Saxophone and Horn Quartet, playing gigs in Athens, Drogheda(Ireland) and Santiagio (Spain) with the Michael Nyman Band, fronting a single reed weekend at Chetham's School in Manchester,

It occurred to me recently that my life as a musician takes me to some incredibly diverse and extraordinary places, and brings me into contact with some incredible musicians, from all parts of the musical world.

How can it possibly be August already?! I don't seem to have stopped since I wrote the last welcome note in February! February and early March saw a really enjoyable tour with my Equivox Trio (our new CD "The Time is Now" is getting great reviews - there's one on the site now - follow the link on the left, and you can order it directly from my site too).

Life since my last note has been even more hectic than usual. I spent Christmas day travelling to China (including a seven hour transfer wait at Frankfurt airport on Xmas day itself, before the 11 hour flight to Beijing! Ho ho ho!!) to play three concerts with the Chinese National Symphony Orchestra.

The exciting news, as you'll see from the link on this page, is that my NEW CD "The Time is Now" is now available! It was launched at the 6th RNCM Saxophone Day on 12th November (more below), and is now available to buy directly from this site. I'm really over the moon about this new CD. It's been a long 8 years since my last CD "Towards the Light" (now available in re-issue from quartzmusic.com), a lot has happened in my life, and the new CD really marks so many things for me.

Another hectic few months have passed since I last updated this page. June was taken up with the end of the academic year at the RNCM, and final recitals for my fourth year students.

I can't believe it's been five months since I wrote my last page! Life has been incredibly hectic!

I am writing this page in London 3 days after the fantastic events of the 5th RNCM Saxophone Day, sponsored by Henri Selmer Paris, on Sunday 6th November. What a great celebration of all things saxophonic!