Diane Roblin’s Life Force
May 16 @ 2:00 PM

Diane Roblin - Piano/Keys/Compositions
George Koller - Electric/Upright bass
Kevin Turcotte - Trumpet/Flugelhorn
John Johnson - Bass Clarinet/Tenor Sax
Colleen Allen - Soprano/Alto sax
TIm Shia - Drums

Diane Roblin’s Life Force band has been described as a "virtuosic  ensemble of Canadian hotshots” who play Diane’s diverse and spirited compositions that blend her broad influences ranging from high-energy  jazz-funk to impressionism…something unique to offer jazz  fans" (JAZZ.FM91). 

Diane Roblin’s dynamic career has earned her a place among Canada’s most respected women in jazz.  Diane is an International Songwriter Competition winner.  She is known for her powerful compositions and expressive keyboard style blending technical agility with a deep commitment to the connective power of music. As a composer, pianist, electric keyboardist, improviser, and bandleader, Diane’s spirited, genre-crossing work has led to collaborations with artists ranging from avant-garde improviser Charles Gayle to the iconic rock band Rough Trade. Her new album, Breath of Fresh Air, released on Zsan Records in late 2024, continues this legacy. It showcases Roblin’s expansive musical voice, weaving jazz, funk, and impressionist harmony into compositions that are both adventurous and deeply moving. Leading her six-piece ensemble, Life Force, Diane explores high-energy soundscapes punctuated by intricate, emotionally resonant improvisations. A classical pianist by training, Diane pursued a diverse music education,  immersing herself in jazz improvisation, world music, as well as electronic composition with David Rosenboom. She has also studied with mridangam master Trichy Sankaran and participated in the Ornette Coleman/Karl Berger workshop in NYC, where she worked with luminaries like Lee Konitz, and in the Dutch Improv Academy with drummer Hans Bennink. Diane’s collaborations span an impressive range of Canadian jazz and experimental musicians, and she regularly performs in both traditional and experimental contexts.  Her CDs have had international airplay and her performances have reached audiences at major venues and festivals in North America and Europe including Amsterdam’s Bimhuis and New York’s Smalls. Diane is also an active member of the Association of Canadian Women Composers. www.dianeroblin.com