​Rob Middleton is a saxophonist, a prize-winning composer, and an active woodwind player and teacher in the New York area.  He works in a broad range of styles, from jazz and classical to commercial and ethnic music. He has performed around the U.S and abroad with many jazz greats, including Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Phil Woods, Harry Connick Jr., Lionel Hampton, The New York Voices, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Lovano, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Woody Shaw, Oliver Lake, David Liebman, Randy Brecker, Jane Ira Bloom, Billy Hart, and Jim McNeely.  Rob’s recent recordings, both jazz and classical, include “Portraits and Places” with the Scott Reeves Jazz Orchestra, “Open Crossings”, music of Andy Teirstein, “Eleven” with the Birdland Big Band, “Composers in Collaboration”, new music by New Jersey women composers, and “Urban Soundscapes” with NewYorkestra, which he co-leads and writes for.   He is the former music director of the Birdland Big Band and is a long-time member of the BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra, an ensemble dedicated to performing works created by the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop.  Rob is a former participant in that workshop and a winner of its composition prize.  His compositions and arrangements are performed regularly in the New York area and have appeared in a major motion picture, “The Thomas Crown Affair”.   Rob is a member of the music faculty at Caldwell University in Caldwell, New Jersey. 

About Rob Middleton: “…the word has instantly gotten out to the jazz world that Rob is an exceptional composer…”
      Robbin Arhold, BMI vice-president


About NewYorkestra: “This is a great band, supported by some great writing. Highly recommended!” 
      Jim McNeely

Here is an radio interview with WVIA on-air host Erika Funke about Rob's career and his Impressionist composition for alto saxophone and piano "Giverny" https://soundcloud.com/rob-middleton/sets/interviews