#eddiejobson #curvedair #jethrotull #rockfileradio
Edwin "Eddie" Jobson (born 28 April 1955) is an English keyboardist and violinist noted for his use of synthesizers. He has been a member of several progressive rock bands, including Curved Air, Roxy Music, UK, Jethro Tull and (very briefly) Yes. He was also part of Frank Zappa's band in 1976–77. Aside from his keyboard work Jobson has also gained acclaim for his violin playing.
Jobson was born in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, England. He began playing the piano at age 7 and added violin the following year. Later he attended Bede Hall Grammar School, leaving at age 16. It was his hope to continue onto the Royal Academy of Music; while he applied to and had the necessary qualifications for the academy, he was not admitted because he was only 16 years old. The academy would make exceptions for 17-year-olds, subject to a special examination, so it was suggested that Jobson spend the next year working in a record shop until that time. Instead, he opted to play piano at a ballet class, and for the occasional theatre production. This time also afforded him the opportunity to explore new instruments, specifically synthesizers, as well as transitioning between musical genres.
Jobson, along with a group of local university graduates, started the band Fat Grapple, who performed original music and cover versions from 1970s popular groups Curved Air and Fairport Convention. One local performance at the Redcar Jazz Club paired Fat Grapple as opening act for Curved Air, and it was here with Jobson fronting on electric violin, covering tracks including the current hit song "Jig-a-Jig", that his wide-ranging music aptitude came to wider notice. Shortly thereafter when Curved Air lost key members Francis Monkman and Darryl Way, Jobson was asked to replace the two. By this time, he was 17, but the Royal Academy was no longer in Jobson's plans.
The group had some regional success with their 1973 release Air Cut. They toured in Europe, however they disbanded shortly thereafter. In 2009, previously recorded tapes were released as the Lovechild album, which included two of Jobson's compositions.
While still in Curved Air, Jobson became acquainted with Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry as their sisters shared a room in college. Upon hearing a Curved Air performance, Ferry asked Jobson to play keyboards and synthesizer for his solo album, These Foolish Things (1973). Before the recording was completed, he had not only provided the requested instrumentation, but also wound up contributing as a composer, arranger, and performer of all the string parts for the band.
In 1973 Jobson replaced Brian Eno in Roxy Music, where he found himself playing three roles: Eno's, Ferry's (who had stepped up as a frontman after initially playing piano), and his own. Jobson stayed with the band for three studio albums and numerous tours before the band went on an extended hiatus in 1976.
Throughout the 1970s, Jobson continued to perform on keyboards and violin for a variety of recording artists, including King Crimson, Phil Manzanera, Andy Mackay, John Entwistle, Bill Bruford, and others.
While touring in late 1975, Roxy Music opened for Frank Zappa's band in Milwaukee, WI; it was at this performance that Jobson and Zappa first met. After the Roxy tour ended, Jobson subsequently spent a week in early 1976 travelling with Zappa's band in Canada, during which time the Jobson and Zappa performed a varied repertoire in hotel rooms and backstage at concert venues. Jobson was eventually brought onstage with only minutes' notice to perform what was essentially an audition before thousands of Zappa fans.
Once Roxy Music went on hiatus in 1976, Jobson's became heavily sought after. He contemplated an offer to join Procol Harum, but ultimately decided to become a member of Frank Zappa's band. Although Jobson appeared on the cover of the Zoot Allures (1976) album, he did not perform on any of the recorded tracks. In a 1995 interview with Art Rock Magazine, Jobson explained that Zappa always recorded everything and whoever was in the band at the time of its release made it onto the album cover: "You may be in the group when it comes out, or maybe you left the band five years before the album comes out. That's how he makes records". Jobson did however perform on the 1978 live album, Zappa in New York and Philly '76 which Zappa's label released posthumously in 2009.
In 1977, Jobson helped form the progressive rock supergroup UK. Initially, the band also included former King Crimson members Bill Bruford (drums) and John Wetton (bass and lead vocals), along with the addition of guitarist Allan Holdsworth. However, after their debut album UK (1978) and subsequent tour, Bruford and Holdsworth departed to pursue other musical directions.
Drummer Terry Bozzio, who knew Jobson from their time together in Zappa's band, was available and thus enlisted to join UK The trio released two additional albums: Danger Money (1979) and the live concert production Night After Night (1979), and embarked on a successful tour before UK disbanded in 1980.
Jobson was asked to participate on Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson's solo endeavour, which was eventually released by Chrysalis Records in 1980 as a full-fledged Tull album, A. Jobson, credited as a 'special guest', performed on keyboards, electric violin, and was cited on liner notes as providing additional musical material. He remained with the band for their subsequent world tour in 1980, and which lasted into February 1981 where it ended in France. However, Jobson did reunite with the band onstage for several songs at the International Congress Centrum in Berlin, Germany on 16 March 1985 to celebrate Johann Sebastian Bach's 300th birthday. Jobson was featured on the band's performance of Bach's "Double Violin Concerto".
Jobson was briefly a member of Yes in 1983 after the departure of keyboardist Tony Kaye. Jobson never recorded nor performed live with Yes. His only official appearances with the band were in promotional photographs, and in the video for "Owner of a Lonely Heart". But the video was released after Kaye had rejoined and Jobson had departed. This resulted in Jobson appearing (though edited out as much as possible) in the original version of the song's video. Jobson has stated on his website that he was asked to replace Kaye, and was hesitant to do so until after hearing the band's new release, and then rehearsing with the band in London. He returned to his home in the US as a full member of Yes, and set forth learning the band's repertoire. However, several weeks later he received a call from the band's management advising that Kaye was back in the group and the two would be sharing keyboard duties. Jobson declined, and left the band.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Jobson also built a successful career as a composer of TV and film soundtracks. He scored nearly 100 episodes of the TV series Nash Bridges (1996–2001). He served as choral music arranger for two 2003 Walt Disney Pictures releases, The Haunted Mansion and Brother Bear.
Jobson also composed music for the world of advertising, most notably the Amtrak "California Zephyr" commercial that featured Richie Havens singing "There's Something About a Train That's Magic". For his scoring and music direction on this effort, Jobson won the Clio Award for original music scoring in 1988. He continued to receive Clio Award accolades as either a winner or finalist for a number of years running.
source: wikipedia
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