Robbie Jansen

South African Jazz Saxophonist and Flautist

Known primarily as an alto saxophone player, Robbie Jansen was born in Cape Town in 1949. A self-taught musician, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer, Robbie was an original member of the Pacific Express brass section and part of Abdullah Ibrahim's group on many recordings and live shows. Other recording credits include work with Spirits Rejoice, The Genuines, The Rockets, and Juluka. A leading figure in the Cape jazz scene, he returned to his Khoi-San roots, recording "his own arrangements of traditional Goema songs in a jazz format" and earned the "Cape Doctor" nickname. Respiratory problems prevented him from international travel; he passed away from emphysema on July 7th, 2010.