He’s been playing the drums since he was 7, starting on African drums with bassist Reggie Workman and his wife Maya. Today, at 17, he’s been involved with NJPAC’s Jazz for Teens, the Litchfield Jazz Camp and MSU’s Jazz Connections Summer Program. He has performed with pros like Claudio Roditi, Mark Whitfield and Wycliffe Gordon, and Robin regularly does gigs around New Jersey and New York.
About the GRAMMYs, he added, “In my never-ending quest to better myself as a musician, winning this award will help me tremendously, and it is more than I could ever ask for,” he said.

He’s psyched to meet the country’s hottest musicians. To sweeten the prize, he headed to LA with his drummer pal, junior Evan Sherman from Millburn High School who was also accepted. “This is such a privilege, and I am immensely thankful for it,” Robin said.
See him playing Hello Dolly in Queens last year, below.

• Willing to make a 2-3 month commitment and host 2-3 different children (not at a time though).
• The family has to have one person home at all times.
• Have an understanding of or speak Creole or French.

To attend the benefit and/or host a family, keep reading…

Heart Haiti Benefit
Who: All ages.
What: A benefit event to show support and help Haiti.
Where: Liberty Middle School, 1 Kelly Lane, West Orange, NJ.
When: Saturday, January 30 from 2 pm – 5 pm.
To get more information about being a host family, email here or call 973.325.2157.

A film’s goal is not to promote codes of conduct. It’s to create believable, engaging characters and an engrossing storyline. And, of course, to make money.
But one need not watch movies to witness untoward behavior. Try flicking on just about any channel on T.V. especially those aimed at school-age kids (they now show entry-level MTV videos starring/branding their child-actors). Or walk past certain teen stores in the mall (you don’t even have to walk in to be exposed to and repelled by the life-sized signage at the entrance). Or browse through any teenager’s video game collection (Grand Theft Auto, anyone?). I’m more concerned with my children growing up to be obnoxious, ungrateful, superficial, anorexic brats with a proclivity for violence and sexually-loose standards given the media that surrounds them than taking up smoking.
Not to mention the film is more about genocidal warfare than cigarettes. But I suppose we’ve become desensitized by all the fantastic violent and hyper-sexual images bombarding us that cigarettes seem to be the biggest threat to our children. Certainly, I don’t want to minimize the deadly nature of cigarettes, but I do want to place it in some perspective.
As a disclaimer, I have abject disinterest in this movie, even slight disdain for it due to a whole host of other reasons, but smoking isn’t one of them.
What say you?

Wednesday, January 27
KIDZ CLUB: Fun Food Craft Project
Who: All ages.
What: Each child will create a work of art while introducing new, healthy foods.
Where: Whole Foods, 235 Prospect Avenue, West Orange, NJ.
When: Wednesday, January 7 at 4 p.m.
Cost: $5. Class size is limited. Please register at Customer Service or call 973.669.3196.
Saturday, January 30
Verona Ballet Presents “Snow Queen”
Who: All ages.
What: Ballet performed by children of the Verona School of Clasical Ballet.
Where: SOPAC, 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ.
When: Saturday, January 30 at 6 p.m.
Cost: $25 per person.
Monday, February 1
Mommy & Me
Who: Babies from newborn – 18-months-old and their moms.
What: Focus will be on meeting new people, getting support and learning about conscious parenting.
Where: Shomrei Emunah, 67 Park Street, Montclair, NJ, 07042.
When: Mondays, from 11 am – noon.
Cost: Free. To register call 973-746-5031 x4.