JAZZ PIANIST TORONTO
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: Concert at the Long Beach convention and entertainment centre. Opening concert for Bela Fleck, Stanley Clark, and Jean Luc Ponty, at the 2005 International Downtown Toronto Jazz Festival on the main stage. As well in the same year Robi opened for Oscar Peterson at the prestigious Stravinsky hall in Montreaux Switzerland. Since immigrating to Canada in 1998, Robi has made great contributions to Canada’s jazz scene. He has been featured with many local and international greats including:Chaka Khan,Al Jarreau, Michael & Randy Brecker, Branford Marsalis, Pat Labarbera, Marcus Belgrave, Steve Gadd, Molly Johnson, Terri Lyne Carrington, James Blood Ulmer, Nikki Yanofsky, Sophie Milman, Vernon Reid, Donald Walden, Roberta Gambarini, Jake Hannah, Peter Appleyard, Jackie Richardson,Vito Rezza, Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Young, Joey DeFrancesco, Peter Cardinali, Toots Thielemans, Guido Basso, Avishai Cohen, and Richard Bona to name a few.
MEDIA
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Scales Variations Practiced
Chord Substitutions
Hours Spent Practicing
Hearts Broken
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
1987 First prize at the Hungarian AORTA national jazz band competition
1998 “Best Soloist” prize at the Hungarian Bartok Radio‘s international jazz piano competition.
2004 First prize and public prize at the International Montreux Jazz Festival‘s solo piano competition
2005 Best soloist prize and 2nd place at the International “Jazz Hoeilaart” band competition in Belgium
2005 Official “IAJE” (International association for jazz education) award in Long Beach, California
2006 Runner up at the “Great American Jazz Piano Competition”
2006 Nomination for “keyboardist of the year” at the “National jazz awards”
2006 3rd prize at the “Martial Solal” Piano Competition in Paris France
2006JUNO Nomination for “contemporary jazz album of the year” for “One Take”
2006National Jazz Award nomination for “Keyboardist Of The Year”
2007National Jazz Award for “Keyboardist Of the Year”
2007 Finalist at the “Great American Jazz Piano Competition” in Jacksonville Florida
2007 NOW award for “Best Jazz Artist”
2008National Jazz Award Nomination for “Keyboardist Of The Year”
2008 First prize Winner at the “Great American Jazz Piano Competition” in Jacksonville Florida
2010Galaxie Rising Star Award
2012JUNO Nomination for “Traditional jazz album of the year” for “Aspects of Oscar”
2012Galaxie Rising Star Award Nomination
2012TD Canada Trust Grand Jazz Award at the International Montreal Jazz Festival