Rhonda Robinson’s Story: From Engineering to Jazz
On October 20, as part of Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts’s Free Fall Baltimore series, vocalist/flautist Rhonda Robinson presented her new show, “Jazz Crept Into My Life.” The cabaret atmosphere of Eubie Blake Cultural Center’s fourth floor was ideal for a program that included storytelling as well as song, and the space was filled to near capacity.
Robinson took us on her journey all the way back to age three, singing in church in Virginia. From there it was on to Indian Head, Charles County, Maryland, where she took piano lessons along with her sisters, sang in musicals from elementary school on, and played flute in school bands from grade five through high school. Robinson earned a degree in chemical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, went to work for the Department of Defense (manufacturing rocket fuel!), then began a master’s program in environmental engineering, envisioning a career at the Environmental Protection Agency.
But one night while singing in a community theater production, Robinson had an epiphany, a strong feeling of love within her that emanated out into the audience, then back to her. She quit the engineering path, then enrolled in the Americana Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. Jazz “crept” into her life at a workshop back in Baltimore with Grammy-nominated vocalist Janet Lawson. In 1998 Robinson played her first jazz gig, at the Charles Village Festival, and has since become a mainstay on the local jazz scene, particularly noted for working with young players and finding gigs in new settings for jazz.
Robinson, masterfully accompanied by Damien Noble on piano and Obasi Akoto on bass, illustrated each phase of her life with song, including some great pop music by Angela Bofill, Natalie Cole, and Carole King. Jazz songs included Charlie Parker’s “Now’s the Time,” and Thelonious Monk’s “Monk’s Dream,” which Robinson learned from Carmen McRae’s seminal album of Monk tunes. She ended her show with her own composition, the lovely, uplifting bossa nova “Idyllic Day Be There Now,” then answered questions from the audience, many of whom clearly appreciated the journey they had just vicariously taken.
On October 20, 2024 as part of Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts’s Free Fall Baltimore series, vocalist/flautist Rhonda Robinson presented her new show, “Jazz Crept Into My Life.” The cabaret atmosphere of Eubie Blake Cultural Center’s fourth floor was ideal for a program that included storytelling as well as song, and the space was filled to near capacity.
Robinson took us on her journey all the way back to age three, singing in church in Virginia. From there it was on to Indian Head, Charles County, Maryland, where she took piano lessons along with her sisters, sang in musicals from elementary school on, and played flute in school bands from grade 5 through high school. Robinson earned a degree in chemical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, went to work for the Department of Defense (manufacturing rocket fuel!), then began a master’s program in environmental engineering, envisioning a career at the Environmental Protection Agency.
But one night while singing in a community theater production, Robinson had an epiphany, a strong feeling of love within her that emanated out into the audience, then back to her. She quit the engineering path, then enrolled in the Americana Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. Jazz “crept” into her life at a workshop back in Baltimore with Grammy-nominated vocalist Janet Lawson. In 1998 Robinson played her first jazz gig, at the Charles Village Festival, and has since become a mainstay on the local jazz scene, particularly noted for working with young players and finding gigs in new settings for jazz.
Robinson, masterfully accompanied by Damien Noble on piano and Obasi Akoto on bass, illustrated each phase of her life with song, including some great pop music by Angela Bofill, Natalie Cole, and Carole King. Jazz songs included Charlie Parker’s “Now’s the Time,” and Thelonious Monk’s “Monk’s Dream,” which Robinson learned from Carmen McRae’s seminal album of Monk tunes. She ended her show with her own composition, the lovely, uplifting bossa nova “Idyllic Day Be There Now,” then answered questions from the audience, many of whom clearly appreciated the journey they had just vicariously taken.
–by Bob Jacobson
Bob Jacobson plays saxophone and clarinet and leads combos “Sounds Good” and “Swing ‘n’ Samba.” He has written numerous articles for the BJA newsletter. He is a mostly-retired social worker who still dabbles in counseling, freelance writing, teaching, and writing about music. He was vice president of BJA for 12 years.