Rob Clearfield/ Quin Kirchner

Biography

Rob Clearfield, born on November 12, 1984, in Oak Park, Illinois, grew up immersed in diverse musical environments including garage bands, gospel choirs, and South American guitar ensembles. He pursued formal studies at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where he became deeply embedded in Chicago's vibrant jazz scene, residing in the city for fifteen years before relocating to Marseille, France, where he now lives as a native.[2][7] His early career featured founding the prog-rock group District 97 and indie rock band Hood Smoke, alongside sideman roles with prominent artists such as Patricia Barber, Howard Levy, Makaya McCraven, and Matt Ulery.[2]

Clearfield's musical style blends jazz with indie-rock and improvisation, evident in his six bandleading albums: debut releases with Information Superhighway, followed by instrumental works like The Long and Short of It (2013) and Islands (2016), and solo piano albums A Thousand Words (2010) and Wherever You’re Starting From (2018).[2] He has composed for theater productions at Purdue University since 2007, song cycles for Grace Commons (2008-2012), the short film The Lost Remake of Beau Geste (2013), and an orchestral debut with the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra in 2019.[2] A key collaboration is with drummer Quin Kirchner, highlighted in their duo album Concentric Orbits and prior projects like Kirchner's The Shadows and the Light (2020).[2][4]

Quin Kirchner, born December 14, 1981, in Chicago, Illinois, began drumming under educator Don Skoog, expanding into Afro-Cuban traditions with studies in Havana, and earned a B.A. in Jazz Studies from the University of New Orleans under mentors like Ellis Marsalis and Jason Marsalis.[3] Post-Hurricane Katrina, he completed a Master's at Manhattan School of Music with John Riley before returning to Chicago, where he became a prolific sideman and leader, releasing albums like The Other Side of Time and The Shadows and the Light (2020), drawing influences from Elvin Jones, Sun Ra, and Charles Mingus.[3] Together, Clearfield and Kirchner represent Chicago's dynamic jazz legacy through their longstanding partnership.[1][3]

Fun Facts

• Rob Clearfield now resides in Marseille, France, after 15 years in Chicago, yet remains a key figure in the city's jazz scene through remote and live collaborations.[1][2]
• Quin Kirchner studied Afro-Cuban drumming in Havana under José Eládio, Omar Rojas, and Don Poncho Terry, which expanded his stylistic range.[3]
• Clearfield scored an orchestral debut in 2019 for string orchestra with jazz quartet, premiered by the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra.[2]
• Kirchner's album The Shadows and the Light received a rare 8.0 score from Pitchfork, praising its grooves anchored by Clearfield's piano.[2][3]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Ralph Towner - Stylistic influence and hero (Piece named after him on Clearfield album) [Ongoing]
• Don Skoog - Early drumming educator for Kirchner (Initial musical studies) [Early career]
• Ellis Marsalis - Scholarship and studies at University of New Orleans for Kirchner (B.A. in Jazz Studies) [Age 18-2004]
• John Riley - Master's studies at Manhattan School of Music for Kirchner (Graduate drumming education) [Post-2005]

Key Collaborators

• Quin Kirchner - Frequent musical partner in duo and ensembles (Concentric Orbits (2023), The Shadows and the Light (2020), Matt Ulery's Delicate Charms, Greg Ward's High Alert) [2010s-present]
• Matt Ulery - Regular pianist in Ulery's bands like Loom and Delicate Charms (Woolgathering (2019), NPR Tiny Desk Concert (2013)) [2010s]
• Patricia Barber - Performing sideman (Live performances) [Career spanning]
• Howard Levy - Performing collaborations (Live performances) [Career spanning]
• Greg Ward - Ensemble member in High Alert (Sugah Hoof (2020)) [2020]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia