Profile
Robert Sadin has distinguished himself in a remarkably wide range of musical idioms as conductor, arranger, and record producer. He is respected for his singular vision— his ability to create music that blends the different storytelling qualities of classical, jazz and folkloric music into a seamless and organic entity.
He conceived, arranged, and produced Gershwin's World featuring Herbie Hancock with guest artists Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Kathleen Battle, and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. This widely acclaimed album won three Grammy awards, was named Album of the Year in the Downbeat Readers’ poll and Critics’ poll, and was named jazz album of the year in Japan and Germany.
He produced and conducted Wayne Shorter’s Alegria, which won the Grammy award for best instrumental jazz album. He conducted the Carnegie Hall Tribute to Wayne Shorter as well numerous orchestral performances of Shorter’s music in the US and Europe.
Mr. Sadin has guest conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, The Detroit Symphony, The Buffalo Philharmonic, The Brooklyn Philharmonic, and the Orquestra Nacional of Porto, Portugal, among many others.
His album, Art of Love (DG), features Milton Nascimento, Brad Mehldau, Natalie Merchant, and Madeleine Peyroux in a celebrated far-ranging reinterpretation of the music of Machaut. It was named world music album of the year in Canada.
Mr. Sadin collaborated with Sting on If on a Winter’s Night (DG), presenting a broad range of songs including music of Purcell, Bach, Kentucky ballads, and old English folk songs. It was a world-wide best-selling album.
He produced and arranged Encanto del Mar (Sony), featuring Plácido Domingo in Mediterranean songs, ranging from Morocco, to Israel, to Catalonia.
Sadin’s performance of Ellington’s The Tatooed Bride with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra is highly regarded. He produced and conducted Tom Harrell’s acclaimed interpretation of Debussy and Ravel, First Impressions,” and recently produced and arranged The Journey, featuring the great Lionel Loueke.
So Many Stars, produced and arranged for Kathleen Battle (Sony) was #1 on the Billboard charts for 23 weeks. It is considered a groundbreaking album featuring this great artist with leading jazz, Brazilian, African, and R&B musicians in an organic and natural setting.
Mr. Sadin's orchestrations and arrangements have been performed by the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic and the Vienna Symphony as well as numerous other leading orchestras throughout the world.
Musicians he has collaborated with in concert and on recordings include: Wynton Marsalis, Gilberto Gil, Joe Lovano, Charles McPherson, Ivan Lins, Hank Jones, Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Barron, André Previn, Christian McBride, James Carter, Cyro Baptista, Brad Meldhau, Wallace Roney, Michael Brecker, Branford Marsalis among many others.
He produced Conquerors featuring the legendary Clark Sisters. The single Computers Rule the World featured Melle Mel—the first appearance by a rap artist in gospel music.
His arrangement and production of Glory to God on the WB album Handel’s Messiah—A Soulful Celebration brought together Busta Rhymes and the Boys Choir of Harlem.
He created an evening blending original compositions and arrangements for the Savannah Music Festival: Messina, Songs of the Night, featuring the great cellist,Vincent Ségal, Étienne Charles, Patrick Messina (solo clarinet of the Orchestre de Paris) and harpist Bridget Kibbey among others.
Mr. Sadin was a member of the Princeton University Music Department for six years. He was previously Music Director and Conductor of the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music Orchestra, where he received international recognition for his conducting of Schoenberg's Moses and Aaron as well as the first American performances of music by Lutoslawski, Babbitt, and Zimmermann.