Although Robin primarily focuses on solo performance, another side of his musical life is that of the veteran sideman; his combination of instrumental expertise on guitar, cittern and mandolin, musical taste, improvisational inventiveness and lightning-fast ability to master repertoire (sometimes on the fly, onstage!) make him a valued and trusted compadre to those lucky enough to work with him in a support role. His best-known and longest-lived association as a touring sideman has been with legendary folksinger/songwriter and Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award winner Tom Paxton, with whom Robin has played hundreds of concerts throughout the U.S., the U.K., Ireland, France and Denmark, along the way also collaborating with and supporting such Grammy-winning luminaries as Janis Ian (four international tours), John McCutcheon, Don Henry and Jon Vezner. He has also toured extensively and internationally with seven-time All-Ireland button accordion champion John Whelan, the trailblazing percussive dance ensemble Footworks and hammered dulcimer pioneer Walt Michael.
Robin’s ability to find just the perfect instrumental (or even vocal) part to complement and enrich the featured performer’s musical statement is why those who have had him on their team unanimously agree, in the words of Baltimore Bluegrass owner Steve Cunningham, “He makes everyone he plays with sound better.”
