Robi Botos (Canada)![](data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 9600 4800'%3e%3cpath fill='%23d52b1e' d='M0 0h2400l99 99h4602l99-99h2400v4800H7200l-99-99H2499l-99 99H0z'/%3e%3cpath fill='%23fff' d='M2400 0h4800v4800H2400zm2490 4430-45-863a95 95 0 0 1 111-98l859 151-116-320a65 65 0 0 1 20-73l941-762-212-99a65 65 0 0 1-34-79l186-572-542 115a65 65 0 0 1-73-38l-105-247-423 454a65 65 0 0 1-111-57l204-1052-327 189a65 65 0 0 1-91-27l-332-652-332 652a65 65 0 0 1-91 27l-327-189 204 1052a65 65 0 0 1-111 57l-423-454-105 247a65 65 0 0 1-73 38l-542-115 186 572a65 65 0 0 1-34 79l-212 99 941 762a65 65 0 0 1 20 73l-116 320 859-151a95 95 0 0 1 111 98l-45 863z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Robi Botos is a multi-instrumentalist and composer of Hungarian Romani (Gypsy) descent who has quickly joined the ranks of the world’s’s elite jazz musicians. Having been mentored by the great Oscar Peterson, Robi Botos has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career including a 2007 National Jazz Award for “Keyboardist of the Year”, 2007 NOW Award for “Best Jazz Artist” and First Place Prizes at the 2008 Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition and 2008 Great American Jazz Piano Competition.
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Born into a musical family in Nyíregyháza, Hungary, the mainly self-taught Robi Botos began his musical career when he was just a child, growing up in Budapest, playing drums, and percussion with his father and two brothers. It was at age seven when Robi first took up piano, the instrument he has since mastered and with which he has made his mark.
Robi’s notable performances include: Opening for Oscar Peterson at the Stravinsky hall in Montreux, headlining the Long Beach convention and entertainment centre and opening for Bela Fleck at the 2005 TD Toronto Jazz Festival main stage. He returned to the TD Jazz Festival Main stage in 2011 to release his debut album as leader, Place to Place. (A440 Entertainment/Universal Music Canada). In 2012 Robi Botos was commissioned to transcribe and record Bill Evans’ BBC performance of My Foolish Heart for the score of Arbitrage, a film starring Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon. Robi has also composed music for the award-winning documentary, A People Uncounted: The Untold Story of The Roma.
Since immigrating to Canada in 1998, Robi has recorded and performed with many local and international greats including: Chaka Khan, Lisa Fischer, Al Jarreau, Michael Brecker, Pat Labarbera, Charlie Watts, Branford Marsalis, Richard Bona, Marcus Belgrave, Steve Gadd, Terri Lyne Carrington, Vernon Reid, Roberta Gambarini, Darryl Jones, Tim Ries, Peter Appleyard, Molly johnson, Jackie Richardson,Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Young, Dennis Coffey, James Blood Ulmer, Joey DeFrancesco,Toots Thielemans, Guido Basso and Avishai Cohen.