R U B I N S T E I N

DONALD RUBINSTEIN

**Donald Rubinstein is currently completing his latest album, Clouds of the Visionary, for release in 2025.**

He is also completing a new books of drawings, adventures, and poems.

**Flying Drum Machine, Angelator _Donald Rubinstein**

“DONALD RUBINSTEIN : L’HEURE AMÉRICAINE.” DAILY, 8PM FRENCH TIME_ OCTOBER 3 - OCTOBER 17, 2024

AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST OUTLETS, including http://synradio.fr/donald-rubinstein-une-histoire-damerique/

“Websynradio sets itself to American time with our guest, Donald Rubinstein…The sound of an America we love, delivered with

a timeless, artistic power!”

“DISCOVER THE GENIUS LANDSCAPE”

“If I were a smarter human being I would now invent a word that would explain exactly how freakin cool and original in thought and execution Donald Rubinstein is with his music. This new word would have to embody the talent that you hear within the first 30 seconds of your first Donald Rubinstein song, that puts your brain on some new rails you didn’t even know existed between your ears. His music is inspirational and at the same time melancholy, and he wields his original tonal creations like a true master hitting you where you weren’t looking. Folk, jazz, rock, classical, this dude can do it all. His music is three dimensional. You can touch it and it will touch you back.

Donald Rubinstein’s career spans many genre-shaping landmarks. He has worked with many notable musicians including Emil Richards, Bill Frisell, Anthony Jackson and Vinny Golia. His prolific discography is something you should take the time to explore, to discover the genius landscape that Donald Rubinstein has sculpted over the last few decades.

He has collaborated with the slice of awesome that is Kiki Smith, for exhibits at both The Museum of Modern Art and The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. On top of all that Mr. Rubinstein is a world class film scorer and has worked with Ed Harris, and with one of my all time heroes George Romero. In 2002 Mojo Magazine listed Donald Rubinstein’s soundtrack for the Romero film Martin as “One of the top 100 Coolest Soundtracks of All Time.” This is the kind of stuff for future history books…A collection of 13 very important songs. This is the first time I ever used the word “important” to describe an album. You need to hear these songs…Give it a listen and let me know what you think. If any of you invent a new word in the process let me know. Cuz it might come in handy someday.” (When She Kisses the Ship On His Arm) __Douglas Patrick Newville (Groovy) Adobe Airstream: The Magazine for Citizens of Culture

“WHAT’S THE SOURCE OF DONALD RUBINSTEIN’S STRANGE, JAZZY, UNIQUE SONGS? JUDGING FROM HIS WELL CONCOCTED BUT OFTEN TWISTED WORK, HE MUST HAVE THE ODDEST MUSE IN THE WORLD, AND ALSO ONE OF THE BEST. HE’S GOT ENOUGH WEIRD, POETIC/MUSICAL GENIUS IN HIS BRAIN TO RIVAL JIM MORRISON” —SANTA FE REPORTER

“DONALD RUBINSTEIN WORKS IN THE HIGHER ARTS. HE COMPOSES SOUNDTRACKS WITH MUSIC RANGING FROM CONTEMPORARY EXPERIMENTAL CLASSICAL, TO JAZZ, ROCK AND AMERICANA. HE IS ACTIVE AS A VISUAL ARTIST AS WELL…HOW DOES ONE COME TO TERMS WITH THIS WORK? AFTER AN INTRODUCTION OF SPOKEN WORD THE FIRST SONG TAKES ADVANTAGE OF LLOYD MAINE’S SPLITTING STEEL GUITAR. HE SOUNDS AS IF HE HAS RETURNED WITH JOE ELY AND THE CLASH TO THE VENUE IN LONDON. EXPERIMENTAL AMERICANA IS ALL…THIS IS NOT AN EASY ALBUM, BUT ONE WHICH IMPRESSES DEEPLY.” _ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY MAGAZINE, NETHERLANDS (Too Late To Die)

“A POET IN A DYLANESQUE VEIN, RUBINSTEIN'S VOICE REMINDS ME OF A TIRED, MORE WORLD-WEARY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. IN THE SINGER/SONGWRITER VEIN, I'D MUCH RATHER HEAR RUBINSTEIN THAN ANY OF THE OTHER, MORE POPULAR ARTISTS." —ROBERT IANNAPOLO CADANCE MAGAZINE

“‘D’ (Donald Rubinstein) DOESN’T DO SHIT FOR THE FUCK OF IT. HE DOES SHIT FROM THE HEART. HIS HEART, YOUR HEART. THE AMAZING THING IS THAT HE CAN SEE AND HEAR YOUR HEART. HE SAYS THINGS YOU’VE BEEN WANTING TO SAY. AND HE MAKES YOU FEEL LESS OF AN ASSHOLE FOR WANTING TO SAY THEM. BECAUSE WHEN HE SAYS THEM, THEY SUDDENLY MAKE SENSE. VALIDATION, MAN. I’M NOT THE ONLY SUCKER ON THIS PLANET. THERE’S THIS OTHER GUY, D, WHO’S BEEN SUCKERED IN TOO. AND HE’S HERE TO EXPLAIN HOW, WHY AND WHAT HAPPENED TO US ALL. D RULES!” —GEORGE A. ROMERO, Director

JAZZIZ MAGAZINE 20TH ANNIVERSARY CD: A CELEBRATION OF THE MODERN ERA, WITH MILES DAVIS, CHARLIE PARKER, CASSANDRA WILSON, BILL FRISELL, DONALD RUBINSTEIN, TONY BENNET, K.D.LAING, NATALIE COLE, AND CHARLIE HADEN. “DONALD RUBINSTEIN PROVIDES A WILD RIDE…A CURE FOR NORMALCY.” —JAZZIZ Editorial Staff

“FOR SHEER VARIETY AND ENTERTAINMENT, DONALD RUBINSTEIN’S NOVEL, UNPREDICTABLE, ONE-MAN SHOW IS HARD TO MATCH…STUNNING, HOUSE-SHAKING…HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL.” —LA WEEKLY

“WITH ONLY THE QUIET POWER OF BILL FRISELL’S GUITAR PROVIDING A BACKDROP, DONALD RUBINSTEIN HAS CREATED AN AWESOME DISPLAY OF THE HOLD THAT MUSIC CAN HAVE...I’VE HAD THIS PLAYING OVER AND OVER FOR MANY MONTHS AND IT CHANGES WITH ME, LIKE THE BEST EXPRESSIONS DO. ‘TIME AGAIN’ IS ABLE TO BE MAJESTIC AND DEEPLY PERSONAL, DISPLAYING A SOLITARY REFLECTION THAT EMBRACES HUMANITY…A TREASURE.” _BRYAN BAKER, GAJOOB MAGAZINE (Time Again)

“THANK HEAVENS FOR LINER NOTES. GIVEN THAT COMPOSER DONALD RUBINSTEIN NEVER WROTE LINER NOTES FOR THE ORIGINAL VARESE SARABANDE RELEASE OF THE SCORE TO GEORGE A. ROMERO'S MARTIN, I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT LISTENERS THOUGHT OF THE RECORDINGS. THE STRANGE PASTICHE OF AVANT-GARDE JAZZ AND STANDARD HORROR MAKES FOR A DISSONANT LISTENING EXPERIENCE, AND THE FACT THAT IT'S ALL OVERLAID WITH A STRANGE BEAUTY CAN BE CONFUSING WITHOUT CONTEXT. READING OF RUBINSTEIN'S WORK WITH MADAME MARGARET CHALOFF, AND LEARNING OF SOME OF HER OTHER CLIENTS – KEITH JARRETT, LEONARD BERNSTEIN, AND HERBIE HANCOCK – ONE UNDERSTANDS WHENCE RUBINSTEIN IS COMING.” NICK SPACEK, STARBURST MAGAZINE

“DONALD RUBINSTEIN’S ART RANGES FROM SOPHISTICATED MUSIC COMPOSITIONS TO PRINTS REMINISCENT OF THE CHARACTERS IN SOUTH PARK. HE IS ARTICULATE, ACCOMPLISHED, AND DRIVEN, AND HE HAS NEVER STUCK TO JUST ONE THING AT A TIME. ALMOST EVERYTHING HE PRODUCES IS AN AMALGAM OF FORMS AND DISCIPLINES, AND THEY ALL HAVE A SPARK. HIS WORKS HAVE A TENSION; A SENSE OF QUESTIONS ASKED AND SELDOM ANSWERED, THAT HINT OF THE POSSIBILITIES JUST OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT WE UNDERSTAND.” DESTINY ALISON, SANTA FE.COM

”THE WITNESS” IS A MUSICAL REVELATION. IT DISPLAYS RUBINSTEIN’S HIGHLY DEVELOPED SKILLS FOR MOOD-INDUCING ORCHESTRAL PIECES AND JAZZ…I PLAYED “MUSIC FOR CHAMBER ORCHESTRA FOR A COUPLE OF MY “ROCK AND ROLL” BUDDIES, AND EVEN THEY WERE IMPRESSED WITH THE HEAVY EMOTIONAL FEVER THAT DRIVES THIS WORK…TO SOME, IT WILL SEEM OLD-FASHIONED, BUT IT IS BOLD AND AMBITIOUS NEVERTHELESS…. I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE POWER OF “THE WITNESS.” MIC LINE

”THE MUSIC WAS COMPOSED AND PLAYED BY PIANIST AND POET, DONALD RUBINSTEIN…MINIMAL, SAD, LOVELY, MELANCHOLY AND TOUCHING. PERFECT FOR A MOODY FLICK.” —NEW YORK DOWNTOWN MUSIC GALLERY

“STANDOUT SONGS…DEVOID OF TRANSITORY TRENDINESS…BEST OF THE WEEKEND.” —LOS ANGELES TIMES

“DONALD RUBINSTEIN: A MAN ON A JOURNEY TO ORBIT THE OUTER EDGES OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND DIVE RIGHT TO THE HEART OF THE HUMAN CONDITION. HIS MUSIC AND ART DEFY CATEGORIZATION-COMPLEX SCORES OF MOVING SOUND POETRY, FOLK TUNES THAT BOP AND ROCK, STORYTELLING WITH A DEEP FUNKY SOUL. HE IS A MAN WHO CREATES IN A HERMITAGE OF THOUGHT AND FEELINGS FILLED WITH CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURE AND FORM, BURIED TREASURES, ANCIENT MEMORIES-ULTIMATELY AN INCREDIBLE ARCHEOLOGY AND ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MUSICAL FORMS THAT INVITE US INTO HIS OWN EMERALD CITY.” —RIC LUM,TREND MAGAZINE

“THEY DEFERRED TO DONALD RUBINSTEIN, WHO STRUMMED HIS GUITAR AND SANG MELODIOUSLY.” —NEW YORK TIMES

“MARTIN AND POLLOCK BOTH REPRESENT THE STRIKING MUSICAL VISION OF COMPOSER DONALD RUBINSTEIN, A MAN TO WHOM CONFORMITY IS AS MUCH AN ANATHEMA AS A CRUCIFIX IS TO A VAMPIRE, OR AN ART CRITIC IS TO A PAINTER. PREFERRING TO COLOR HIS OWN WORK WITH RELATIVELY SMALLER ENSEMBLES, EXPERIMENTAL JAZZ, EXOTIC INSTRUMENTS, HAUNTING VOICES AND INSTANTLY MEMORABLE THEMES. RUBINSTEIN’S NOVEL CINEMATIC APPROACH HAS BEEN DICTATED AS MUCH BY CREATIVITY AS BUDGETARY RESTRAINTS. AND WHILE HE HAS BEEN MORE THAN PROLIFIC OFF-SCREEN WITH JAZZ, DANCE, AND ART PROJECTS THAT HAVE EMPLOYED EVERY ACCLAIMED MUSICIAN-FROM BILL FRISELL TO JOHN DENSMORE-DONALD RUBINSTEIN STILL HAS ALL-TOO FEW SCORES TO HIS CREDIT. YET ALL ARE DISTINGUISHED BY A SINGULAR “INDIE” VOICE-A COOL, REBELLIOUS VIBE DEVELOPED LONG BEFORE THAT TERM WAS FASHIONABLE, A HYPNOTIC SOUND THAT JOINS THAT OUTCAST CHARACTERS OF MARTIN AND POLLOCK ALMOST 25 YEARS APART.” —DONALD RUBINSTEIN’S WORKS OF ART BY DANIEL SCHWEIGER

“DONALD RUBINSTEIN IS AN UNEQUIVOCAL CARD-CARRYING VISIONARY.” —JOHN KRUTH “DAWN IMAGINED”

ABOUT

DONALD RUBINSTEIN works in a variety of mediums, including music, film, theater, visual art, text, and various intersections therein. His musical debut came at age 25, composing the score to George A. Romero's cult classic film, Martin. It was named one of “The Top 100 Coolest Soundtracks of All Time” by Mojo in 2002. Mr. Rubinstein has scored several feature films; recorded 26 albums of original music; the main title themes for two television series; and, written, directed, and performed, three theatrical works premiering in New York and Los Angeles to critical acclaim. Mr. Rubinstein has written six books of poems, stories, and drawings. He has created multiple short, experimental films. The main title theme for the television series Tales From the Darkside, written by Erica Lindsay and Donald Rubinstein (performed by Rubinstein), was named The Second Scariest TV Show Intro Of All Time by Screen Rant (2017). Donald Rubinstein is the recipient of The Ascap Special Award in Theater Arts, amongst others.

Mr. Rubinstein’s work has been exhibited both at The Museum of Modern Art and The Whitney Museum of American Art, in collaboration with Kiki Smith. His work has also been presented in a number of one-person gallery exhibitions. In 2007, The Center For Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe, presented Donald Rubinstein: Cool-Aberrations in Art, Music, and Film. The “thus far“ retrospective included a concert, two art exhibitions, and selected films. In 2013 Donald Rubinstein appeared as vocal soloist in a work by composer Philippe Bodin, performed by The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. In 2014 Mr. Rubinstein was awarded, via nomination, a residency and fellowship from The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation.

Ruby Star, written by Mr. Rubinstein, and recorded in duet with Robin Holcomb, was first sold by The Museum of Modern of Modern Art, in 2003-4. Fingers, from Donald Rubinstein’s duo CD with Bill Frisell, Time Again, produced by Wayne Horvitz, was included in Jazziz Magazine’s Special Edition CD, A Celebration of the Modern Era (2003). When She Kisses the Ship on His Arm featuring Terry Allen, Craig Eastman, and Hank Roberts, and Life Is Orange, by Manstein (Jono Manson and Donald Rubinstein), were amongst a numerous Rubinstein albums released between 2004 and 2017. Over the course of those recordings, contributing musicians also included: John Densmore, Steve Deutsch, Steve Gorn, Gordon Gottlieb, Robin Holcomb, Ira Ingber, Bill Frisell, Vinny Golia, Michael Gregory Jackson, Lloyd Maines, Linda McCrary, Larry Mitchell, David Mansfield, Hani Naser, John Popper, Ra Kalam Bob Moses, Emil Richards, Charlie Sexton, and others.

In 2020 and 2021, respectively, Donald released two new studio albums on his own Hijo Record label, The Famous Singer and Eternity’s Lament. 36 Year Serenade, The Songs of Donald Rubinstein (by various artists), was released in 2022. In 2023, Donald Rubinstein’s soundtrack for George A. Romero’s Martin, was re-released for a fifth time, since its original release on Varese Sarabande Records in 1979. Also in 2023, Donald Rubinstein’s soundtrack for George A. Romero’s Knightriders was re-released for a third time, in a deluxe 2 LP set on Scare Flair Records.

Donald Rubinstein is currently working on a new collection of drawings and poems, as well as his latest album, Clouds of the Visionary, scheduled for release in 2025. He is also in the midst of a fifty year effort, to create a N E W A R T form, based on an amalgam of all the disciplines in which he works.