In case you missed it (or want to see/hear it again), the video of my solo concert is now available! This is at PianoForte on September 2, 2015 as part of the Chicago Jazz Festival. Enjoy!
I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback about my last blog post, “Ten Films.” It seems that these movies are largely underseen by my friends and readers, so I’m very excited to announce a unique viewing opportunity of one of these films! Over the next two Sunday afternoons, my beloved community Grace Commons will...
I was going to make a best-of music list for 2014, but I don’t think I can really do that fairly. Then I thought of movies, but realized that I’ve only seen five that were released in 2014. But I watched a lot of other movies! So here are my top ten films that...
There is always much talk in jazz about finding your own voice and being original. One unfortunate consequence of this is that, in the face of the importance we attach to having your own sound, a lot players feel that they must sacrifice various elements of the music to find that voice. Elements like...
On Monday, October 27, I have the privilege of presenting my quintet at the Green Mill, one of the greatest (and oldest) jazz clubs in the world! We’ll play three sets of old and new original music of mine from 9pm to 1am. THE ROB CLEARFIELD QUINTET is: Scott Burns-tenor saxophone John Kregor-guitar Rob...
As you hopefully already know, my good friend Matt Ulery writes amazing, beautiful music, which he composes and releases at a pace which the rest of us find quite humbling. There are many great events, past and future, celebrating Matt’s latest release “In the Ivory.” I’m writing here to highlight two in particular, which...
Tomorrow is the beginning of my four-week residency at The Whistler in Logan Square! For the past 5+ years, The Whistler has presented (and occasionally released) jazz and improvised music on a regular basis. I’m proud to say that I had the pleasure of playing at The Whistler’s very first show in 2008, with...
I had the pleasure of presenting some of my original music live on the air at WBEZ today. Dan Thatcher on bass, Marcus Evans on drums, and me on keyboards. You can listen to the show here. Many thanks to Jason Marck, Adam Yoffe and Andrew Shaw at WBEZ for making it happen! Marcus,...
One of the best back-handed compliments I’ve ever heard, “Your solo sounds great on that tune,” came from one Rob Amster. As exemplified in that line, Rob could be very funny and sometimes harsh, but also insightful. When I left school in 2005, I would often cover the first set at Andy’s with Mike...
Enjoy these two very favorable albums reviews/concert previews: Neil Tesser at chicagomusic.org http://www.chicagomusic.org/blog/preview-rob-clearfield-unveils-cd-green-mill-august-10#.UgUAO5LqmSo Howard Reich at the Chicago Tribune http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-ott-0809-jazz-scene-20130808,0,896795.column Also enjoy this less favorable one by Peter Margasak in the Reader http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/rob-clearfield-quintet/Event?oid=10515870 I sincerely hope you can make it tomorrow night. We play 3 sets, 8pm-12am at the Green Mill, 4802 N Broadway...