Mimi Rabson violinist, violist, composer, educator

Fellowship in Composition – 2003 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council for four Tracks in her CD MUSIC
 

Mimi Rabson has distinguished herself as one of Boston's most creative and versatile musicians.

Boston Globe     

She appears regularly in classical, jazz, klezmer and other eclectic performances and frequently leads her own ensembles.

She is a first prize winner of the Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellowship in composition for 2003.

Ms. Rabson was a founding member of the Klezmer Conservatory Band and worked with that organization for many years touring, recording, composing and as musical director. She appeared with Itzhak Perlman on The Late Show with David Letterman and appears with him in the recordings In the Fiddler’s House and Live in the Fiddler’s House. She was featured in a documentary about klezmer music called A Jumpin' Night in the Garden of Eden. Ms. Rabson served as musical director to academy award winner, Joel Grey in his production of Borschtcapades ‘94. Her composition, Klezzified was featured on Saturday Night Live. Ms. Rabson created RESQ - the Really Eclectic String Quartet that plays her compositions and arrangements of jazz, funk, fusion, gospel and latin music. RESQ has made two recordings and performed extensively in the Boston area.

In Ms. Rabson’s 2003 recording, Music, she uses her electric violin in a power trio setting with electric bass and drums. That recording features noise-rock, post-jazz and electro-acoustic compositions and improvisations. 

Her latest project is a collection of works for unaccompanied, acoustic 5 string-violin. drawing inspiration from contemporary dance music such as rock, funk, metal, ska, klezmer and more Ms. Rabson uses driving rhythms and gestural harmony to create these spontaneous compositions. Like the partitas of Bach, these pieces are an artful tribute to the pop music of the day.

She has appeared on A Prairie Home Companion twice, at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Wolf Trap, the Mann Center, the Place des Arts in Montreal, Cité de la Musique in Paris, and at many other world class venues. Her performance credits include appearances with the Page and Plant, Johnny Mathis, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dionne Warwick, Boston Gay Men's Choir, the Boston Camarata, the New England Ragtime Ensemble, the Klezmatics, Deborah Henson-Conant, Alicia Svigal's Fiddle Express, Filmprov and the Pablo Ablanedo Octet.

Ms. Rabson co-authored the Berklee Practice Methods for string players with world renowned violinist, Matt Glaser. She is currently working on a method for teaching improvisation at the primary and secondary level.

Mimi. Rabson is on the faculty at the Berklee College of Music in Boston where she has received three Faculty Development Grants and one Recording Grant.

 

Current Projects

Look for my most recent article in Strings Teen magazine about how to have fun playing in orchestra.

Strings Magazine has put together a collection of its Teen articles. I have written the introduction.
 

Check out the February (2007) issue of Strings Magazine for my article about teaching improvisation.

E-mail me for details: MimiRabson@rcn.com

Make your Choice
Current Projects
Performance Credits
Teaching Credits
A Word From The Critics
Music
To The RESQ
Where's The Score?
Gourmet Melodies
RESQ
Excelsior
The Jane Gang
Some interesting links.
Drop Me A Line

The partitas of Bach were intended as an artful tribute to the pop music of his day.
Mimi Rabson's latest project is a collection of works for unaccompanied, acoustic 5 string-violin intended to be a tribute to the pop music of our day.
Drawing inspiration from contemporary dance music such as rock, funk, metal, ska, klezmer and more Ms. Rabson uses driving rhythms and gestural harmony to create these spontaneous compositions.
EXAMPLES:
Listen to Funk
Listen to Blues
Listen to Country
Listen to Klezmer

Stay tuned for performance dates.

Back to Choices

Performance Credits

Klezmer Conservatory Band,
Boston Camarata,
New Kids on the Block,
Judy Bats,
Story,
RESQ, press here for more about RESQ,
Excelsior, press here for more about Excelsior,
Jane Gang, press here for more about Jane Gang,
Gourmet Melodies, press here for more about Gourmet Melodies,
and lots more.

Teaching Credits

Berklee College of Music
New England Conservatory

Wellesley College

Longy School of Music

And Now A Few Words From The Critics

"Great chops and attitude to match" - the Washington Post
"Bartok meets the Sex Pistols" - the Boston Globe
"A strange and splendid synthesis of sound" - the Boston Phoenix
"Talented and fun...What sets RESQ apart...is the wailing intensity, the Jazzy ability to swing and improvise" - the Boston Herald
"Truly original and marvelous" - Sir Yehudi Menuhin
"Many ensembles try for a cross-cultural musical blend. But the Really Eclectic String Quartet actually achieves it." - the Boston Phoenix
"...dazzling, violin phenom" - the Boston Globe

Music

The latest from the pen and the bow of Mimi Rabson is an eclectic mix of electric music. Mimi plugs in for her new works that feature a power trio with a twist – electric violin, bass and drums. Refusing to be labeled or “binned”, Mimi continues to produce music that crosses all the borders. With MUSIC Mimi covers enough musical ground that she has created a new world where her violin speaks the universal language. Noise-rock, post-jazz, electro-acoustic compositions and improvisations are all part of this vibrant territory previously uncharted by the violin. Rick McLaughlin on basses and Harvey Wirht on drums join her. Special guests are Dennis Montgomery III – Hammond B3 organ, David Harris – trombone and organ and Ricardo Manzon – Percussion.

Tap the violin to hear "Seoul Phud" from my album "Music"
Tap the violin to hear "Because I Can" from my new album "Music"
Tap the violin to hear "Craven" from my new album "Music"

Buy this record.
$15 + $2.50 Shipping & Handling
+ 5% sales tax for Massachusetts residents

Back to Choices

To The Resq

The Second release from the Really Eclectic String Quartet. This recording features the swinging ensemble and the world-class solos of the first recording with more original music that you can dance to. There is even a James Brown medley that burns the house down. Mimi Rabson is joined by Eric Bindman on the violin, Melissa Howe on viola and James Guttman on the bass.

Buy this record.
$15 + $2.50 Shipping & Handling
+ 5% sales tax for Massachusetts residents

Back to Choices

Some interesting links.

In case you were wondering Ann Rabson is my sister.
She is up for a W.C.Handy award.
Click HERE to visit her web site. You won't be sorry.
Click here to visit my publisher's web site. E & R Music Engravers



Send me a message

Back to Choices