Edwin (Eddie) Jobson (born April 28, 1955 in Billingham, County Durham, England) is an English keyboardist and violinist noted for his use of synthesizers. He has been a member of several progressive rock bands, including Curved Air, Roxy Music, 801, U.K., and Jethro Tull. He was also part of Frank Zappa's band for the Zappa in New York recording. Aside from his keyboard work Jobson has also gained acclaim for his outstanding violin playing.

Brief biography

Jobson began playing the piano at age 7 and violin at age 8. Later he attended Bede Hall Grammar School, leaving at age 16. At that point he joined the band Fat Grapple, playing locally in venues such as Redcar Jazz Club. It was at this venue that they played in support of Curved Air, which Jobson joined the following year.

At this time Jobson fronted Fat Grapple on electric violin, opening with a spirited rendition of the current hit piece Jig-a-Jig. The band played original compositions and were well regarded, but failed to break out beyond the Newcastle area. None the less, Jobson's playing won him a place in Curved Air.

In 1973 he replaced Brian Eno in Roxy Music, getting the job partially through a connection between his sister and the sister of singer Bryan Ferry, who knew each other in college. Jobson found himself playing three roles: Eno's, Ferry's (who had stepped up as a frontman after first playing piano), and his own. Jobson stayed with the band until 1976, leaving after Roxy Music broke up for a few years. He joined Frank Zappa and after that, became one of the founding members of UK before joining Jethro Tull as a 'special guest' for the album ”A” and subsequent world tour.

In the 1980s, Jobson released two CDs. The Green Album - with Zinc (1983) was performed in a rock-band format with session musicians, and Theme of Secrets (1985) was an electronic album and one of the first releases from New Age record label Private Music. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s he also built a successful career as a composer of TV and film soundtracks.[1] He scored nearly 100 episodes of the TV series Nash Bridges.[2] He also produced the Bulgarian Women Choir's 2000 album Voices of Life, contributing three new compositions (from an abortive UK reunion project called Legacy) and playing violin on two of the new pieces. Since 2000, he has run Globe Music Media Arts [3], which describes itself as a music/video production company, music publishing company, and online store. The official Eddie Jobson web site [4] and forum went online in 2006.

Solo Discography

• The Green Album - with Zinc (1983)
• Theme of Secrets (1985)

External links

• Eddie Jobson official website
• Biography at Jethro Tull official website

Related Artists

• Pete McRae