CLOUDS OF THE VISIONARY, PARIS 1 & 2. NEW ALBUM RELEASE, NOVEMBER, 2026

“DONALD RUBINSTEIN : L’HEURE AMÉRICAINE.”

“Websynradio sets itself to American time with our guest, Donald Rubinstein…takes us on a fantastical, but well-balanced, program of original country, free-form radio, vocal experimentation, jazz forays, melancholic piano…The sound of an America we love, delivered with timeless, artistic power! Dominique Balaÿ, Websynradio, France. http://synradio.fr/donald-rubinstein-une-histoire-damerique/

”AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE, AND AN EQUALLY EXTRAORDINARY BODY OF WORK.” —SANTA FE REPORTER

“If I were a smarter human being I would now invent a word that would explain exactly how freakin cool and original in thought and execution Donald Rubinstein is with his music. This new word would have to embody the talent that you hear within the first 30 seconds of your first Donald Rubinstein song, that puts your brain on some new rails you didn’t even know existed between your ears. His music is inspirational and at the same time melancholy, and he wields his original tonal creations like a true master hitting you where you weren’t looking. Folk, jazz, rock, classical, this dude can do it all. His music is three dimensional. You can touch it and it will touch you back.

Donald Rubinstein’s career spans many genre-shaping landmarks. He has worked with many notable musicians including Emil Richards, Bill Frisell, Anthony Jackson and Vinny Golia. His prolific discography is something you should take the time to explore, to discover the genius landscape that Donald Rubinstein has sculpted over the last few decades.

He has collaborated with the slice of awesome that is Kiki Smith, via exhibits at both The Museum of Modern Art and The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. On top of all that Mr. Rubinstein is a world class film scorer and has worked with Ed Harris, and with one of my all time heroes George Romero. In 2002 Mojo Magazine listed Donald Rubinstein’s soundtrack for the Romero film Martin as “One of the top 100 Coolest Soundtracks of All Time.” This is the kind of stuff for future history books…A collection of 13 very important songs. This is the first time I ever used the word “important” to describe an album. You need to hear these songs. If any of you invent a new word in the process let me know. Cuz it might come in handy someday.” —Groovy, Adobe Airstream:The Magazine for Citizens of Culture

JAZZIZ MAGAZINE CD: A CELEBRATION OF THE MODERN ERA, WITH TONY BENNET, NATALIE COLE, MILES DAVIS, CHARLIE HADEN, CHARLIE PARKER, DONALD RUBINSTEIN & BILL FRISELL,… “DONALD RUBINSTEIN PROVIDES A WILD RIDE…A CURE FOR NORMALCY.” —JAZZIZ, EDITORIAL STAFF

“WITH ONLY THE QUIET POWER OF BILL FRISELL’S GUITAR PROVIDING A BACKDROP, DONALD RUBINSTEIN HAS CREATED AN AWESOME DISPLAY OF THE HOLD THAT MUSIC CAN HAVE...I’VE HAD THIS PLAYING OVER AND OVER FOR MANY MONTHS AND IT CHANGES WITH ME, LIKE THE BEST EXPRESSIONS DO. ‘TIME AGAIN’ IS ABLE TO BE MAJESTIC AND DEEPLY PERSONAL, DISPLAYING A SOLITARY REFLECTION THAT EMBRACES HUMANITY…A TREASURE.” —BRYAN BAKER, GAJOOB MAGAZINE

“A POET IN A DYLANESQUE VEIN, RUBINSTEIN'S VOICE REMINDS ME OF A TIRED, MORE WORLD-WEARY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. IN THE SINGER/SONGWRITER VEIN, I'D MUCH RATHER HEAR RUBINSTEIN THAN ANY OF THE OTHER, MORE POPULAR ARTISTS." —CADENCE MAGAZINE

“WHAT’S THE SOURCE OF DONALD RUBINSTEIN’S STRANGE, JAZZY, UNIQUE SONGS? JUDGING FROM HIS WELL CONCOCTED BUT OFTEN TWISTED WORK, HE MUST HAVE THE ODDEST MUSE IN THE WORLD, AND ALSO ONE OF THE BEST. HE’S GOT ENOUGH WEIRD, POETIC/MUSICAL GENIUS IN HIS BRAIN TO RIVAL JIM MORRISON.” —SANTA FE REPORTER

FOR CONCERT, FILM, ART INQUIRIES : DRMUSICART@GMAIL.COM

“SITTING AT THE PIANO PLAYING HIS BEAUTIFUL TUNES, HE ACHIEVES A SORT OF SERENITY…DEVOID OF TRANSITORY TRENDINESS.” —LOS ANGELES TIMES 

”THE MUSIC WAS COMPOSED AND PLAYED BY PIANIST AND POET, DONALD RUBINSTEIN…MINIMAL, SAD, LOVELY, MELANCHOLY AND TOUCHING. PERFECT FOR A MOODY FLICK.” —NEW YORK DOWNTOWN MUSIC GALLERY

“DONALD RUBINSTEIN: POSTCARDS FROM AMERICA” “DONALD RUBINSTEIN SENDS US SOME NEWS FROM AN AMERICA THAT CAN FRIGHTEN AND SADDEN…WE DO NOT GIVE UP EVEN AS WE ENDURE LOSS. CREATION AND FRIENDSHIP CONSOLE US. OUR SONGS AND BALLADS BEAR WITNESS…THUS THIS NEW CONTRIBUTION FOR WEBSYNRADIO...WITH JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF HUMOR AND SONIC SPURS, TO UNSETTLE THE COMFORT OF AN AMERICAN-STYLE RADIO SHOW, AND CHERISH THESE NEWCOMERS WHO CAME IN TIME!” _DOMINIQUE BALAŸ, WEBSYNRADIO, FRANCE. https://synradio.fr/donald-rubinstein-postcards-from-america/ PREMIERES MARCH 23, 2026 AT 8PM

“D’ DOESN’T DO SHIT FOR THE FUCK OF IT. HE DOES SHIT FROM THE HEART. HIS HEART, YOUR HEART. THE AMAZING THING IS THAT HE CAN SEE AND HEAR YOUR HEART. HE SAYS THINGS YOU’VE BEEN WANTING TO SAY. AND HE MAKES YOU FEEL LESS OF AN ASSHOLE FOR WANTING TO SAY THEM. BECAUSE WHEN HE SAYS THEM, THEY SUDDENLY MAKE SENSE. VALIDATION, MAN. I’M NOT THE ONLY SUCKER ON THIS PLANET. THERE’S THIS OTHER GUY, D, WHO’S BEEN SUCKERED IN TOO. AND HE’S HERE TO EXPLAIN HOW, WHY AND WHAT HAPPENED TO US ALL. D RULES!” —GEORGE A. ROMERO, DIRECTOR

“THANK HEAVEN FOR LINER NOTES. GIVEN THAT COMPOSER DONALD RUBINSTEIN NEVER WROTE LINER NOTES FOR THE ORIGINAL VARESE SARABANDE RELEASE OF THE SCORE TO GEORGE A. ROMERO'S MARTIN, I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT LISTENERS THOUGHT OF THE RECORDINGS. THE STRANGE PASTICHE OF AVANT-GARDE JAZZ AND STANDARD HORROR MAKES FOR A DISSONANT LISTENING EXPERIENCE, AND THE FACT THAT IT'S ALL OVERLAID WITH A STRANGE BEAUTY CAN BE CONFUSING WITHOUT CONTEXT. READING OF RUBINSTEIN'S WORK WITH MADAME MARGARET CHALOFF, AND LEARNING OF SOME OF HER OTHER CLIENTS – LEONARD BERNSTEIN, KEITH JARRETT, AND HERBIE HANCOCK – ONE UNDERSTANDS WHENCE RUBINSTEIN IS COMING.” —NICK SPACEK, STARBURST MAGAZINE

“FOR SHEER VARIETY AND ENTERTAINMENT DONALD RUBINSTEIN’S NOVEL, UNPREDICTABLE ONE-MAN SHOW IS HARD TO MATCH…STUNNING, HOUSE-SHAKING…HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL,” —LA WEEKLY

“USING EVERY MUSICAL WEAPON AT HIS DISPOSAL, DONALD RUBINSTEIN WROTE A MUSICAL MASTERPIECE- FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS WITH A PURE RENAISSANCE FLAIR, SETTING YOU RIGHT INTO THE GRANDSTAND WITH STEPHEN KING.”   —TWO HEADED DOG

“DONALD IS AN UNEQUIVOCAL, CARD-CARRYING VISIONARY, A SONIC GARDENER WHOSE TECHNICOLOR ORCHARD BEARS FRUIT OF STRANGE SHADES AND UNEXPECTED TONES.”  —JOHN KRUTH, “DAWN IMAGINED”

“DONALD RUBINSTEIN’S ART RANGES FROM SOPHISTICATED MUSIC COMPOSITIONS TO PRINTS REMINISCENT OF THE CHARACTERS IN SOUTH PARK. HE IS ARTICULATE, ACCOMPLISHED, AND DRIVEN, AND HE HAS NEVER STUCK TO JUST ONE THING AT A TIME. ALMOST EVERYTHING HE PRODUCES IS AN AMALGAM OF FORMS AND DISCIPLINES, AND THEY ALL HAVE A SPARK. HIS WORKS HAVE A TENSION; A SENSE OF QUESTIONS ASKED AND SELDOM ANSWERED, THAT HINT OF THE POSSIBILITIES JUST OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT WE UNDERSTAND.”  —DESTINY ALISON, SANTA FE.COM

“DONALD RUBINSTEIN IS A COMPOSER AND SONGWRITER OF STELLAR PROPORTIONS. HIS COMPOSITIONS ARE BEYOND JOHN WILLIAMS, MORE LIKE IN THE REALM OF AARON COPLAND AND HIS SONGS, ELTON JOHN WISHED HE WROTE.” —JOHN DENSMORE (THE DOORS)

“DONALD RUBINSTEIN WORKS IN THE HIGHER ARTS. HE COMPOSES SOUNDTRACKS WITH MUSIC RANGING FROM CONTEMPORARY EXPERIMENTAL CLASSICAL, TO JAZZ, ROCK AND AMERICANA. HE IS ACTIVE AS A VISUAL ARTIST AS WELL…HOW DOES ONE COME TO TERMS WITH THIS WORK? AFTER AN INTRODUCTION OF SPOKEN WORD THE FIRST SONG TAKES ADVANTAGE OF LLOYD MAINE’S SPLITTING STEEL GUITAR. HE SOUNDS AS IF HE HAS RETURNED WITH JOE ELY AND THE CLASH TO THE VENUE IN LONDON. EXPERIMENTAL AMERICANA IS ALL…THIS IS NOT AN EASY ALBUM, BUT ONE WHICH IMPRESSES DEEPLY.” —ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY MAGAZINE, NETHERLANDS

“DONALD RUBINSTEIN: A MAN ON A JOURNEY TO ORBIT THE OUTER EDGES OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND DIVE RIGHT TO THE HEART OF THE HUMAN CONDITION. HIS MUSIC AND ART DEFY CATEGORIZATION-COMPLEX SCORES OF MOVING SOUND POETRY, FOLK TUNES THAT BOP AND ROCK, STORYTELLING WITH A DEEP FUNKY SOUL. HE IS A MAN WHO CREATES IN A HERMITAGE OF THOUGHT AND FEELINGS FILLED WITH CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURE AND FORM, BURIED TREASURES, ANCIENT MEMORIES-ULTIMATELY AN INCREDIBLE ARCHEOLOGY AND ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MUSICAL FORMS THAT INVITE US INTO HIS OWN EMERALD CITY.” —RIC LUM, TREND MAGAZINE

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“THEY DEFERRED TO DONALD RUBINSTEIN, WHO STRUMMED HIS GUITAR AND SANG MELODIOUSLY.” —NEW YORK TIMES

ABOUT

DONALD RUBINSTEIN works in a variety of mediums including music, film, theater, visual arts, poetics, and various intersections therein. His musical debut came at age 25, composing the score to George A. Romero's cult classic film, Martin.  It was named one of “The Top 100 Coolest Soundtracks of All Time” by Mojo in 2002. Mr. Rubinstein has scored several feature films; released 29 albums of original music (plus multiple reissues); main title themes for two television series; written, directed, produced, and performed three theatrical works premiering in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles to critical acclaim.  He has been commissioned to compose works for dance, jazz ensemble, and for members of both the Boston Symphony and New York Philharmonic Orchestras. Donald Rubinstein has written seven books of poetry, stories, and drawings. His poetry collection, Desert Hallucinations was set for Baritone Solo and Cello by composer Richard St. Clair. Additionally, Donald Rubinstein has created an extensive group of short experimental films, as well as innumerable works of visual art. The main title theme for the television series Tales From the Darkside, composed by Erica Lindsay and Donald Rubinstein, was named The Second Scariest TV Show Intro Of All Time by Screen Rant (2017), and The Creepiest TV Show Intro Ever by Remind Magazine (2024). He is the recipient of three Ascap Plus Awards for Jazz/Popular Composition, as well as The Ascap Special Award in Theater Arts. Donald Rubinstein seeks an alchemy of total artistic synthesis, born of the many disciplines in which he works.

Mr. Rubinstein’s work has been exhibited both at The Museum of Modern Art and The Whitney Museum of American Art, in collaboration with Kiki Smith. His work has been presented in multiple one-person gallery exhibitions. In 2007, The Center For Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe, produced Donald Rubinstein: Cool-Aberrations in Art, Music, and Film. The ‘thus far’ retrospective included a concert with special guest artists Terry Allen, John Densmore, Chris Jonas, Larry Mitchell, Hani Naser, two art exhibitions, and selected films. In 2013 Donald Rubinstein appeared as vocal soloist in a work by composer Philippe Bodin, performed by The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. In 2014 Mr. Rubinstein was awarded, via nomination, a residency and fellowship from The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation.

Ruby Star, written by Mr. Rubinstein, and recorded in duet with Robin Holcomb, was first sold as a single CD by The Museum of Modern of Modern Art in 2003-4. Fingers, from Donald Rubinstein’s duo CD with Bill Frisell, Time Again, produced by Wayne Horvitz, was included in Jazziz Magazine’s Special Edition CD, A Celebration of the Modern Era (2003). When She Kisses the Ship on His Arm and Paper Pieces For Keyboard were amongst a number of acclaimed Donald Rubinstein albums released between 2004 and 2017. Over the course of those recordings contributing musicians and collaborators included: Terry Allen, John Densmore, Steve Deutsch, Craig Eastman, Peter Gordon, Steve Gorn, Gordon Gottlieb, Ira Ingber, Bill Frisell, Vinny Golia, James Harrah, Ron Helman, Robin Holcomb, Anthony Jackson, Michael Gregory Jackson, Lloyd Maines, Linda McCrary, David Mansfield, Jono Manson, John Popper, Ra Kalam Bob Moses, Emil Richards and Hank Roberts.

In 2020 and 2021, respectively, Donald released two new studio albums on his own Hijo Record label, The Famous Singer and Eternity’s Lament (co-produced by Judd Haskins), 36 Year Serenade, The Songs of Donald Rubinstein (by various artists), was released in 2022. Nine Demos From The World Storm was also released in 2022, on Bare Bones Records. In 2023, Donald Rubinstein’s soundtrack for George A. Romero’s Martin, was re-released for a fifth time, since its original release on Varese Sarabande Records in 1979. Also in 2023, Donald Rubinstein’s soundtrack for George A. Romero’s Knightriders was re-released for a third time, in a deluxe 2 LP set on Scare Flair Records.

Donald Rubinstein is currently completing two albums for release in 2026, Clouds of the Visionary: Paris 1 & 2, as well as An Artist’s Kingdom, a new collection of writing and drawings.