# Robert Aaron

Robert Aaron (born Robert Arron Vineberg; November 13, 1955) is a Canadian jazz musician. According to John Leland of the New York Times "Mr. Aaron played flute, saxophone, clarinet and piano, then taught himself guitar, trumpet, bassoon, French horn and other instruments." He performed for rapper Wyclef Jean's band from 1998 to 2008. Robin Caulden of Press-Republican said "He's played with everybody — Afrika Bambataa, B52s, Blondie, Chic, David Bowie, Heavy D, James Chance and The Contortions, RZA, Stetsasonic, William Vivanco and Wu-Tang Clan."
In 1981, he first started work with James Chance for the group James White and the Blacks; and has toured with him since in Europe and Japan. He played sax on David Bowie's 1983 hit "Let's Dance". In 2010, Aaron released his album Trouble Man, which Michael Daly of the Daily Beast called "artistically adventurous but commercially unsuccessful". Folk singer Eric Andersen, who used Aaron on several albums as a producer and performer, described him as "Absolutely dedicated. He lived for his art."

## Early life

Aaron was born in Montreal in 1955. He was discouraged from pursuing music as a career by his father, who taught piano. However, as a teenager in the 1970s, he decided to move to New York to perform and record with his band.

## Death of Philip Seymour Hoffman

Aaron was arrested in February 2014 for suspicion of selling the heroin that caused the overdose death of Philip Seymour Hoffman. Ultimately, prosecutors dropped the most serious charge, which was intent to sell heroin. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of felony drug possession, and was sentenced to five years’ probation.

## Notable credits

Credits according to AllMusic:
| Year | Album | Artist | Credit |
| 1982 | The Hunter | Blondie | Horn Arrangements, Saxophone |
| 1982 | Sax Maniac | James White and The Blacks | Drums, Percussion, Piano, Sax (Tenor), Saxophone |
| 1983 | Let's Dance | David Bowie | Flute, Tenor (Vocal) |
| 1983 | James White's Flaming Demonics | James Chance | Member of Attributed Artist, Sax (Tenor) |
| 1986 | L Is for Lover | Al Jarreau | Musician, Reeds |
| 1988 | In Full Gear | Stetsasonic | Saxophone |
| 1992 | Nubian M.O.B. | Nubian M.O.B. | Bass, Flute, Guitar, Organ (Hammond), Piano, Programming, Saxophone |
| 1993 | The Album | Masters at Work | Keyboards, Saxophone |
| 1995 | Run Away | Robert Aaron | Primary Artist |
| 1996 | Sax in the Ozone | Robert Aaron | Primary Artist |
| 1997 | Nightbird Inventions | Dominic Duval | Tray Card |
| 1998 | Memory of the Future | Eric Andersen | Composer, Flute, Keyboard Bass, Keyboards, Organ (Hammond), producer, Sax (Baritone), Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor), Trumpet |
| 1999 | No Exit | Blondie | Additional Personnel, Flute, Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor) |
| 1999 | Electric Honey | Luscious Jackson | Flute, Horn |
| 2000 | You Can't Relive the Past | Eric Andersen | Clarinet, Flute, Piano |
| 2000 | Fear of Flying | Mýa | Horn |
| 2000 | It Doesn't Matter | Wyclef Jean | Horn |
| 2000 | The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book | Wyclef Jean | Horn |
| 2001 | Goddess in the Doorway | Mick Jagger | Flute, Horn, Keyboards |
| 2002 | Mr. Jones | Tom Jones | Horn Arrangements, Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor), Saxophone |
| 2002 | Masquerade | Wyclef Jean | Keyboards, Saxophone |
| 2003 | Frank | Amy Winehouse | Flute, Saxophone |
| 2003 | Beat Avenue | Eric Andersen | Bass, Bass (Electric), composer, Flute, Guitar, Keyboards, Melodica, Mixing, Organ, Piano, producer, Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor), Trumpet |
| 2003 | Live and Kickin' | Willie Nelson | Keyboards |
| 2003 | Greatest Hits | Wyclef Jean | Horn |
| 2003 | The Preacher's Son | Wyclef Jean | Flute, Guitar, Melodica, Piano, Saxophone |
| 2004 | The Street Was Always There | Eric Andersen | Arranger, Audio Production, Bass, Clarinet, composer, Cuatro, Editing, Flute, Guitar (Bass), Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Liner Notes, Main Personnel, Melodica, Organ, Piano, producer, Saxophone, Synthesizer |
| 2004 | Self Explanatory | I-20 | Keyboards |
| 2004 | Same Girl | Trina Broussard | Flute, Keyboards, Saxophone |
| 2004 | Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101 | Wyclef Jean | Keyboards, Saxophone |
| 2005 | Waves | Eric Andersen | Arranger, Bass, Congas, Fender Rhodes, Flute, Guitar (Acoustic), Melodica, Oboe, Organ, Organ (Hammond), Piano, Piccolo, producer, Quatro, Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor) |
| 2005 | Odyssey | Fischerspooner | Flute |
| 2006 | Bole2Harlem, Vol. 1 | Bole2Harlem | Horn |
| 2007 | City Beach | Jill Cunniff | Saxophone, Wurlitzer |
| 2009 | Entertainment | Fischerspooner | Flute, Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor), Trumpet (Pocket) |
| 2010 | Stolen Car | Certain General | Saxophone |
| 2010 | The Saddest Kiss | Robert Aaron | Primary Artist |
| 2010 | Trouble Man | Robert Aaron | Primary Artist |
| 2010 | Zaz | Zaz | Cuivres |
| 2010 | Like a Radio | Charles Schillings | Additional Production, Keyboards, Saxophone |
| 2010 | Twist Your Soul: The Definitive Collection | James Chance | Organ, Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor) |