Biography
Robert's first recordings can be found on his 2001 demo, which featured (among others) the songs "Scent of Rain," "Mountain Mist," and "Autumn Moon." These tracks would later be re-recorded and released on his CD Pale Shades. By 2005, Robert had released his second CD Within the Outline. It was while promoting Within the Outline that Robert first connected with noted guitarist and founder of the ground-breaking label Windham Hill, Will Ackerman, (currently the hottest producer in contemporary instrumental music via his Imaginary Road Studios). Agreeing to produce Robert's next CD, Whisperings at Nightfall, Ackerman added other instruments to Robert's sublime guitar compositions, calling on the members of a crew of accompanists who have since been featured on many excellent recordings from Imaginary Road. After the release of Whisperings at Nightfall, Robert took time away from recording his music to write musicfor the library of Harpo Productions.
In February of 2011, Robert released Throughout the Autumn Light. Mixed, mastered and co-produced (with the artist) by the highly regarded studio engineer and overall sonic wizard Corin Nelsen, the album features a stellar cast of guest artists: Stephen Katz (cello), Jeff Oster (flugelhorn), Tracy Silverman (violin), Jill Haley (English Horn) and Jeff Pearce (EBow guitar). In March and April of 2011, Throughout the Autumn Light reached number two on the Zone Music Reporter Top 100 Radio Airply charts. By the beginning of 2012, the CD had been nominated for Best Instrumental Acoustic Album by radio broadcasters reporting to Zone Music Reporter. Also during this time, Throughout the Autumn Light and Whisperings at Nightfall were added to the music library of The C.A.R.E. Channel, a program of Healing Healthcare Systems, which is played in more than 900 leading hospitals around the country.
At the start of 2016, Robert's album Beyond the Clearing was released with contributions by guest artists Sara Milonovich (violin), Adam Miller (guitar), Jeff Pearce (Ebow guitar), Stephen Katz (cello), Jeff Oster (flugelhorn), Heidi Breyer (piano) Kitty Thompson (cello) and Jill Haley (English Horn). With Corin Nelsen at the helm of mixing and mastering, Beyond the Clearing went on to be nominated by the Zone Music Awards for Best Instrumental Acoustic Album of 2016.
On April 5th, 2019 Robert's album Adrift in Wonder was released. Co-produced, mixed and mastered by Corin Nelsen, this album includes performances by Sara Milonovich(Violin), Premik Russell Tubbs(Alto Flute, EWI), Eugene Friesen(Cello) and Jill Haley(English Horn). The album won the Zone Music Reporter’s Best Acoustic Album of 2019 at the 2020 ZMR Awards. Songs from Robert's albums have received airplay on Sirius XM radio, Pandora Radio and independent radio stations from around the world.
Robert’s most recent release, In the Calm of Christmas, is a collection of traditional carols. It includes two original compositions, Under the Glistening Wood and Snowfall on the Eve.