Grammy Award-winning drummer Robby Ameen has lived in New York City since the early ’80s and has established a recording and touring career stretching from Dizzy Gillespie to Paul Simon, while maintaining a more than 20-year relationship with Latin icon Ruben Blades as a member of Los Seis del Solar.
Although he is of Lebanese origin, Ameen is best known for the unique and powerful Afro-Cuban jazz style he has developed. Other long-term musical relationships include Dave Valentin, Eddie Palmieri, Jack Bruce, Kip Hanrahan, and Conrad Herwig’s multi-Grammy nominated Latin Side All-stars.
He has recorded on over 200 records and played on numerous major film scores and television shows including the hit series Sex and the City.
As a leader, Ameen wrote, arranged, and produced his CDs Days in the Life and Days in the Night, the latter of which DownBeat magazine awarded 4 stars. His latest CD, Diluvio, was released in April 2020 on Origin Records and was a DownBeat Editor's Pick. As a co-leader he has recorded three records with the El Negro and Robby Band alongside drummer Horacio “el Negro” Hernandez. In addition he helped found the Latin-jazz power trio Overproof, and also made two latin-jazz records with Seis del Solar.
Robby is also featured in the PBS television series “Arab-American Stories” Episode 101.
