Robeone has never been especially interested in keeping progressive rock, jazz fusion and electronic music in separate boxes. His latest album, “If You Don’t Know What It Is, It Must Be Jazz” turns that resistance to classification into a mission statement: when the music becomes too strange, playful or stylistically slippery to define, simply call it jazz and enjoy the ride.
The seven-track instrumental album is scheduled for release through Transglobal Records on October 1, 2026, and veteran keyboardist Robert Schindler plays every instrumental part. The range of equipment Robeone uses might make this record seem like it’s made for synthesizer enthusiasts, but his real strength has always been his ability to make keyboards feel like an entire ensemble.
The opening track, “A Lovely Bit of Squirrel,” illustrates this well, as apparent sounds of guitars, flutes and bass emerge from the arrangement. The percussion sections add a sense of suspense and intrigue to the arrangement, making it truly feel like an artistic endeavour rather than an experimental work.
The album moves through elements of funk, progressive rock and jazz fusion, with a set of track titles that are sure to raise eyebrows if you don’t get the references.
“Crimble Crumble,” “Hello Bambinos,” “Fox in the Freezer” and many others are an affectionate tribute to the British sitcom Friday Night Dinner.
Those references give the record a personality before a note is played, and unlike most other artists of the same vein, Robeone’s project never feels self-important. There is serious technique behind Robeone’s work, but the surrounding concept suggests that virtuosity is being used in the service of storytelling.
Stylistically, listeners familiar with Robeone should expect something broader than conventional jazz. The Mellotron textures, expressive piano work and rapid-fire synthesizer solos are still there, but with a broadened stylistic palette. Listeners who need the physical interaction of live drums, bass and horns may find this record less organic, but Robeone’s delight in changing textures can be infectious.
Most importantly, 100% of the album’s proceeds go to The Bob Moog Foundation. Robeone has a longstanding relationship with the organization, which supports creative learning at the intersection of science, music and innovation through projects including Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool, the Moogseum and the preservation of the Bob Moog Foundation Archives.
If You Don’t Know What It Is, It Must Be Jazz is more than another entry in Robeone’s catalogue. It is a playful celebration of synthesizers, British comedy and the freedom to make instrumental music without worrying about genre boundaries. It invites the listener to stop asking exactly what kind of music it is. The title has already supplied the only answer that matters.