www.robgarcia.com
ABOUT ROB GARCIA
For the past decade, drummer Rob Garcia has brought his superb skills and subtly dynamic rhythmic sense to an eclectic assortment of musical ensembles. Spanning the full spectrum of jazz, from Woody Allen's New Orleans band to the avant-garde explorations of such innovative artists as reedman Joseph Jarman and pianist Myra Melford, Rob has also brought his talents to band leaders and groups like Wynton Marsalis, Howard Alden, Sam Newsome and Global Unity, Lynne Arriale, John Benitez, The Lifetime Visions Orchestra, John Bunch, Dena DeRose, Randy Sandke and the New York All-Stars, The Flying Neutrinos, Chris Cheek, David Ostwald's Louie Armstrong Centenial Band, The Manhattan Ragtime Orchesrta, Michael Ray and the Cosmic Crew, Miri Ben-Ari, and Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks. Rob has also performed and/or recorded with other top musicians such as: Diana Krall, Jerome Richardson, Reggie Workman, Bob Berg, Dave Kikoski, Mike Formanek, Bill McHenry, Gary Versace, Loren Stillman, Ken Peplowski, Scott Robinson, Howard Johnson, Sonny Fortune, Bruce Barth, Santi Debriano, Wycliff Gordon, Warren Vache, Ted Nash, and Chris Potter, among others.
As well as collaborating with other groups and artists, Rob Garcia is an inspired band leader in his own right. His talents as arranger and composer are evident on his albums, Place of Resonance, released on Consolidated Artists Productions, and "Hearts Fire", released on Connection Works Records.
Rob is also the founder and executive director of a brooklyn-based non-profit oragnization called Connection Works (www.connectionworks.org), which brings music and art to the community in new ways.
Rob grew up in Pelham, New York, hearing jazz and popular music from the late 20's and early 30's. His father, an architect who also loved to play the bass, had a collection of 78's (old records) from that period, full of music greats such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Bix Beiderbecke. In his early teens, after spending many hours listening to the rock band, The Who, it was Keith Moon that inspired him to begin playing the drums.
He began studying with Bob Mergliano, and through his influence as well as visiting New York City jazz clubs with his father, Rob's interest turned toward jazz. He then went on to study with some other outstanding teachers and performers such as Charli Persip, Steve Davis, and Adam Nussbaum.
Rob describes his creative aim and music's healing power, "music can go beyond the intellect and touch people on a very deep level."