Saul Rubin article in The Forward

[mjzee]

Despite his easygoing presence, guitarist Saul Rubin reveals a contrarian side when contemplating the commercial zeitgeist. Having gone largely unrecognized for much of his performing life, this master of the musical conversation has, at 54, little time for interplay, musical or otherwise, with the single-minded strivers who populate today’s fragmenting marketplace.

It’s no small quirk of fate, then, that Rubin’s marketplace profile is receiving the kind of boost money can’t buy, courtesy of a new relationship with saxophonist

A venerated cultural figure, Rollins now counts Rubin among the members of his band. But Rubin, true to his skeptical nature, views even that development with some ambivalence.

“It’s a paradox,” he said in a recent interview. “All of a sudden I’m Saul Rubin, the guy who plays with Sonny Rollins. It gets me a lot of stuff, but I can’t really pursue my own career as an artist right now.”

More here:

Forward

[fasstrack]

I was glad to see this online some days ago. Saul is a NY crony of mine and is a super-talented guitarist (also very good on piano) flying under the radar for a long time. The Rollins gig is giving him well-earned exposure. I know he was thrilled to join Sonny's group (who wouldn't be?) Lotta dues preceded, and I'm happy for him. There's a youtube video of Sonny, with Saul on guitar, playing St. Thomas at the Detroit Jazz Festival last summer. I can't post it, not being at a computer. Perhaps someone else can?

[robertoart]

Edited February 19, 2013 by freelancer

[fasstrack]

Thanks!