Born in Clairton, Pennsylvania, Lee Robinson has been a vital and influential presence on the Pittsburgh jazz scene for more than five decades. A gifted improviser and creative musical voice, Lee began performing at the age of nine, setting him on a lifelong path of artistic exploration and expression. His primary instruments, the tenor and soprano saxophone, serve as the vehicles through which he communicates his unique musical vision.

Throughout his career, Lee has performed with numerous R&B show bands, jazz ensembles, and collaborative projects, including Gentle Persuasion, Band of Angels, and the annual GNP Group gatherings at Waynesburg University. His versatility and commitment to creative music have earned him respect among musicians and audiences alike.

In 1979, Lee formed ISKA, his first jazz quartet and a group that remains an important part of his musical legacy. In 1987, ISKA recorded the live album Motif at The Balcony in Pittsburgh's Shadyside neighborhood. During the early 1980s, Lee further explored the intimacy and spontaneity of small-group improvisation through saxophone and piano duo performances.

His passion for musical innovation led to the formation of I/O in 1997 with percussionist Ravish Momin. The duo performed internationally, appearing in Japan, Toronto, and at the Distillery Jazz Festival in Canada. Continuing his exploration of improvisational music, Lee founded the avant-garde ensemble UnSpunt Orkestra in 2001 with drummer Richard Gartner and tubist Roger Day. Originally created to accompany an art exhibition, the ensemble later expanded to include keyboard and bass, performing throughout the region and producing a live recording in 2003 at Quiet Storm in Pittsburgh.

As a solo saxophonist, Lee has opened performances for renowned artists including cellist Ernst Reijseger, the Kalaparush McIntyre Group, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, and the Sabir Mateen Quintet. His creative interests extend beyond traditional jazz settings, leading to collaborations with poets, actors, visual artists, dancers, and multimedia creators. He has appeared as a street saxophonist in the film The Cemetery Club, and his original music was featured in the PBS documentary Jobs: No Way Out.

In 2010, Lee introduced Time Expansions, a multimedia performance project combining improvised music, interactive digital imagery, and MIDI-controlled soundscapes. The project reflects his ongoing commitment to pushing artistic boundaries and exploring new forms of creative expression.

For more than fifty years, Lee Robinson has remained dedicated to the art of improvisation, continually blending jazz traditions with contemporary influences, interdisciplinary collaborations, and original artistic concepts. His performances invite audiences into a world of discovery, spontaneity, and musical storytelling.