Atención Music Spotlight: Doug Robinson, Between the Notes

By Felecia Ford

With decades of work across jazz, rock, and classical composition, San Diegueño mega-pianist Doug Robinson has been one of San Miguel de Allende’s musical heavyweights for over 20 years.

FF: Your group, The DVR Trio just returned from a huge music festival in Cuba. How was your experience?

DR:  It was an amazing trip, profound and beautiful, and filled with contradictions. Such a vibrant  and joyous culture, despite so many layers of hardship and oppression. We were invited to perform at the International Jazz Festival. It’s sprawling and it takes over every performance venue, restaurant and club in Havana and in other cities. We performed twice, once in a club called Saudade and once on an outdoor stage in the afternoon. We got a lot of respect from some of those players who we invited up to perform with us at the end of our set. The second performance was for an older Cuban crowd, and I was afraid that our music would be too introspective and nuanced, but they really seemed to love us.

FF: Of course they did!  You’ve said the phrase “This is jazz, man—just play what you feel” changed everything for you.

DR: I was 12 years old when I first heard that and was performing with an all-black jazz quartet, whose drummer had gotten sick. I was a rock drummer and told him that I didn’t know what to do, and that was their sage advice, just to play when I felt.

That gave me such creative freedom… I can always take a breath and respond in a way that feels authentic rhythmically.

FF: That breath is the key.  You play many styles of music. How do you juggle so many different musical aspects of yourself?

DR: What’s interesting to me is that it’s not really that compartmentalized. When I play with you, it’s bluesy. When I’m playing with my acoustic piano trio, it’s delicate and nuanced. When I’m playing with rockers, I rock.  I’ve had the opportunity to write string quartets, saxophone quintets, classical and jazz, solo piano, big band music… I guess I’m kind of a shapeshifter.

FF: You’re also a songwriter. What song of yours says the most about who you are?

DR: My favorite songs with vocals usually come from a loss, disappointment or a break up. I think my most personal songs have also been composed around milestones of aging… I have five songs written about how my perspective keeps changing the older I get. Some are heavy, many are funny, and just poignant enough for the audience to identify.

FF: I love your newest song “For All of Us” on YouTube. Great song and message.  Where do we go to hear all of your music?

DR: Go to dougrobinson.com. I’ve released 18 independent CDs there and lots of singles.

FF: That’s a lot!  What would you like to accomplish in 2026?

DR: I want to go to México City and record “Who’s Saving Who,” a song I wrote to benefit a local animal shelter. I will be performing it live in the studio with a string quartet. I also want to record my trio, hopefully in Myles Wakeham‘s new studio.

FF: San Miguel has a way of calling out to creative souls— what did this town offer you that you didn’t realize you were searching for after moving here?

DR:  When I arrived in 2004, I was stunned at the level of talent that existed in this out-of-the-way town in the middle of nowhere. It’s even more impressive today with great musicians like yourself, Rick Shlosser, Steven Jaymes, and a whole bunch of other talented people.I like the fact that we all crossover and play with each others projects… It feels pretty healthy to me.

FF: Doug, I admire your musicianship so much and I thank you for taking the time for this interview. Will you leave us with your favorite music quote to close?

DR: Thank you, Felecia. I think my favorite quote about music is one that came from Cannonball Adderley: "It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be great."

Hear their Cuban set - DRV TRIO at Paprika on March 12^th- 6:30 p.m.

dougrobinson.com