Bio
Saxophonist/Flutist/Composer Robert Kyle has become known for his unique warm sound, melodic style, and his ability to harmoniously cross musical borders. His lyricism and passion are evident in whatever situation he finds himself, and he is fluid in many styles including Jazz, Blues, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, R & B and Classical. His performance & recording credits include work with Gino Vannelli, Cee Lo Green, Natalie Cole, Michael McDonald, Johnny Mathis, Jason Mraz, Chaka Khan, Michael Bolton, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Kenny Loggins, Brenda Russell, Lou Rawls, Guinga, Chico Pinheiro, Seu Jorge, Googoosh, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Pharrell, Blake Shelton, Babyface, Della Reese, Francisco Aguabella, Pete Escovedo, Jessica Simpson, Al McKibbon, Billy Mitchell, Roy “Guitar” Gaines and many others. He's served as musical director for blues diva Linda Hopkins, Jazz Bliss
In 2018 Robert did MANY concerts & festival throughout the spring and summer as well many club dates & private events. He also produced the new cd "Project 88" for the great pianist/vocalist Betty Bryant slated for an early November release. He also recorded all of the sax, flute as well as arranged all of the horn section tracks for New Zealand based "Groove Express" latest release "Amsterdaam," which reached #1 on the Billboard's "Contemporary Jazz" charts and has been nominated in six categories for the 61st Grammy awards, including a "Best Improvised Jazz solo" nomination for Robert. In September, Robert was the featured artist at the prestigious Moss Theater for the concert "Bossa Nova 60th Anniversary Concert" also celebrating Sergio Mielenczenkos' 40th anniversary as host of "The Brazilian hour" radio show.
In addition to being a very busy and in demand live & session musician, Robert performs regularly in the LA area with along list of groups, including the Tony Guerrero Quintet, Betty Bryant, Billy Mitchell, Heartbeat Brazil, Excursion, also leads several of his own groups and has released ten CD’s on his own “Dark Delishious Music” label available through his website www.robertkyle.com. His quartet plays a variety of instrumental music with a focus on Latin & Brazilian Jazz, and is regularly featured at clubs and festivals all over. His Brazilian trio plays a mix of classic as well as contemporary Samba, Bossa Nova & Brazilian Jazz, mixing vocal and instrumental music.
Besides producing his own projects, Robert has acted as producer on numerous recordings, including “Es Cosa Latina” for salsa artist Leslie Paula, the debut CD for salsa artist Miguel Gutierrez, “Oye mi Ritmo-Oye Mi Voz,” Carol Bach-y-Rita's debut CD “What Love Is,” vocalist Rose Mallet’s “Building Dreams.” He has produced and/or co-produced the last 4 projects from legendary Kansas City pianist/vocalist Betty Bryant. He was co-producer & arranger on the debut CD from “Brazliando” and on the Hi-Fi Quintet’s CD “This is the Hi-FI Quintet.” Robert’s songs have been recorded by Alessa, Betty Bryant, Bobby Zee, Zoe, Leslie Paula, Miguel Gutierrez, Larry Williams & Anna Estrada. His music has also been featured on television & in movies and commercials internationally. His songs can also be found on numerous American and European Jazz compilations.
Robert’s playing is featured on the Hal Leonard instructional books, CD’s and DVD’s “Brazilian styles for drum set” and “Afro-Cuban styles for drum set” by Maria Martinez, for which he also composed and arranged all the music. He is a regularly invited to perform, teach and lecture for the “Ethnic Styles” class at The L.A. Music Academy.
He has studied privately with Phil Sobel, Bill Green, Plas Johnson, Lanny Morgan, and Danilo Lozano & Herb Geller. His love of drums and rhythms caused him to become increasingly interested in Brazilian and Afro-Cuban music. He has studied African drumming with Nigerian Master Drummer Francis Awe, and Brazilian drums and hand percussion with Maria Martinez, Cassio Duarte, Edson Gianesi, Carlinhos “Pandeiro” Deouro, Gello and Chalo Eduardo. In 2002, Robert’s love of Cuban music led him to Cuba to study traditional “Charanga” style flute at The Havana Conservatory with the great “Lele” (from Los Van Van) and the legendary Richard Egues (from Orchestra Aragon.) He has studied composition with Mauro Bruno and is a student of Lyle “Spud” Murphy’s Equal Interval System of composition & arranging. In 2010 he traveled to Brazil to study with the Brazilian masters Hermeto Pascoal, Jovino Santos Neto and Alessandro Penezzi.
He lives in Altadena, a small suburb of Los Angeles, and when he’s not touring, he keeps a full performance schedule and also teaches out of his home. He is an avid Yoga practitioner and reader of books.