About — Rob Garcia Music

rob garcia - Long bio

“A prime mover in the current Brooklyn jazz scene” (Time Out-New York) and "one of New York’s great jazz drummers and composers.” (Capital New York), Rob Garcia continues to be a strong presence in the New York and international jazz scene as a sideman and bandleader. He has performed and/or recorded with bandleaders such as Wynton Marsalis, Joseph Jarman, Catherine Russell, Noah Preminger, Anat Cohen, Kris Davis, Woody Allen, Howard Alden, Lynne Arriale, John Benitez, John Bunch, Dena DeRose, Chris Cheek, Daniel Kelly, The Ghost Train Orchestra and Vince Giordano. Rob has also collaborated with other top musicians and groups such as: Joe Lovano, Sheila Jordan, Dave Liebman, Diana Krall, Myra Melford, The Kronos Quartet, Ben Monder, Donny McCaslin, Marty Erhlich, Jerome Richardson, Reggie Workman, Bob Berg, Ken Peplowski, Scott Robinson, Howard Johnson, Sonny Fortune, Bruce Barth, Wycliffe Gordon and Chris Potter, among others. He has played on over 70 albums including Grammy winners.

Rob has released 8 critically acclaimed albums as a bandleader and 5 as a co-leader which feature such artists as Joe Lovano, Noah Preminger, Kate McGarry, Dan Tepfer, John O’Gallagher, Gary Versace, Joe Martin, John Hebert, Dave Kikoski and Mike Formanek. His most recent album “Illumination” was released on Fresh Sound Records in December 2020. His albums have been on “top albums of the year” lists and have received praise from publications such as Downbeat, The New York Times, Jazz Times, and Time Out New York. Rob has also self-released a solo drums album called “Drum Solos For Dancers Only” in 2018. Rob’s groups have performed at venues such as The Ottawa Jazz Festival, The Toronto Jazz Festival, The Kingston Jazz Festival, Birdland, Iridium, Kitano, Smalls, The Rex and Firehouse 12. His group has toured Europe, the northeast and west coast of the U.S. Rob has received grants from South Arts, Meet The Composer, DCA and NYSCA to support his performances. He is also a member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop.

Rob has been a major force in artist-run organizations, a new way for jazz to continue and thrive. He is the founder and artistic director of a non-profit organization called Connection Works, which presents world-class jazz performances and educational events in Brooklyn. He is a member of the Brooklyn Jazz Underground, an association of independent artists with a shared commitment to creativity and community. He was also a founding member of the now defunct Douglass St Music Collective, an artist-run performance space, with some of New York’s most creative, cutting edge musicians.

Rob grew up in Pelham, New York, hearing a lot of jazz from the 1920's and 30's. His father had a collection of 78rpm records which included Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Bix Beiderbecke. In his early teens, Rob loved classic rock. It was Keith Moon of The Who that inspired him to begin playing the drums. He began studying with Bob Merigliano, 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 drummers such as Charli Persip, Steve Davis, and Adam Nussbaum. Rob holds a BA from NYU and a MM from SUNY Purchase.

In addition, Rob has also studied and practiced holistic healing. He graduated from the IM School of Healing Arts, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and is a non-denominational ordained minister.

Rob Garcia - Short Bio

Rob has also been a major force in artist-run jazz organizations. He is the founder and artistic director of Connection Works, a member of the Brooklyn Jazz Underground and a founding member of the Douglass Street Music Collective.

PRESS QUOTES

“…one of New York’s great jazz drummers and composers.” - Capital New York

“Thoughtful original music delivered with rare conviction.” - Jazz Times

“Garcia is a drummer of invention, grace and considerable fire.” - Downbeat

“…an elastic, adventurous statement from the drummer Rob Garcia." - New York Times

"like all great frontmen he puts the music first, not his instrument. And like fellow drummer/leaders Bill Stewart and Jack DeJohnette, Garcia always serves the music, but with that extra inner sparkle and finesse coupled to crackerjack time sensibilities that are constantly delightful."
-NYC Jazz Record

“remarkable drummer” - Village Voice

“A prime mover in the current Brooklyn jazz scene…” - Time Out-New York

"There are drummers who keep time and there are drummers who make you listen, whose shifting rhythms, exhilarating time feel and inventiveness make the music dance. Rob Garcia is one such drummer…"
-NYC Jazz Record

“remarkable chemistry” - Jazz Times

"…this is a true band and a collective sense of one-ness is heard" -NYC Jazz Record

"Drummer, composer, bandleader and in-demand sideman Rob Garcia is one of the shining stars at Brooklyn Underground Jazz Records" -Something Else Reviews

"Foxy!" - Jazz Weekly

"The 10 Best Jazz Albums of 2009" - New York Observer. (Perennial - Rob Garcia 4)

"refreshingly untrendy" - Peter Hum, Ottawa Citizen

“If the excellent debut Perennial moved the Rob Garcia 4 among the vanguard of modern jazz, The Drop and the Ocean has solidified its place.” - NYC Jazz Record

“Creativity that is off the chart!” - JazzReview.com

“the Rob Garcia 4 is most definitely the truth.” - Nippertown

Rob Garcia Discography

As a Bandleader:
Natural Bounce - Rob Garcia 4
2023 - Fresh Sound Records; FSR 5128

Illumination - Rob Garcia featuring Noah Preminger, John O’Gallagher and Marcos Varela
2020 - Fresh Sound Records; FSNT-608

Drum Solos For Dancers Only - Rob Garcia
2018 - Connection Works Records; CWR 103

Soapbox - Rob Garcia
2017 - Released on Soundcloud only
https://soundcloud.com/robgarciamusic/sets/rob-garcias-soapbox

Finding Love In An Oligarchy On A Dying Planet - Rob Garcia
2016 - Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records; BJUR 058

The Passion Of Color - Rob Garcia 4
2014 - Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records; BJUR 043

The Drop and the Ocean - Rob Garcia 4
2011 - Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records; BJUR 028

Perennial - Rob Garcia 4
2009 - Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records; BJUR 012

Heart’s Fire - Rob Garcia’s Sangha
2007 - Connection Works Records; CWR 101

Place of Resonance - Rob Garcia
2001 - Consolidated Artists Productions; CAP 950

As a co-leader/collective:

Chopin Project - Dead Composers Club
2018 - Connection Works Records; CWR 104

Background Music - Noah Preminger, Masa Kamaguchi, Rob Garcia
2014 - Fresh Sound Records; FSNT 430

Seven by Seven - Brooklyn Jazz Underground
2014 - Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records; BJUR 046

WORKS - Michel Gentile, Daniel Kelly, Rob Garcia
2013 - Connection Works Records; CWR 102

A Portrait Of Brooklyn - Brooklyn Jazz Underground
2012 - Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records; BJUR 035

Tall Grass - The New Jazz Quartet (Nicki Denner, Anton Denner, Jennifer Vincent, Rob Garcia)
2009 - self released

Mr Kite (playing the music of The Beatles in fresh new ways)
2004 - released only on Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/robgarciamusic/sets/mr-kite

As a Side-person:

Night City - Neal Kirkwood Big Band
2024 - Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records

Daughter of Fortune - Lily White Quintet
2023 - self-released

Songs and Symphoniques: The Music of Moondog - Ghost Train Orchestra
2023 - Cantaloupe Music

Super Natural History - Charming Disaster
2022 - self-released

Hello Cruel World - Nick Balaban
2021 - Distinguished Records

I Love Being Here with You - Cait and the Critters (Cait Jones)
2021 - self-released

Daikon Pizza - Tetsuro Hoshii’s The Doggy Cats
2019 - self-released

A Night At The Movies - Svetlana Shmulyian
2019 - self-released

Just Cross The River - Dennis Lichtman
2018 - Triple Treble Music; TTM-CD 007

16 Tons - Andy Biskin
2018 - Andorfin Records; ANDRF 007

Ruminations - Tomas Rodriguez
2017 - Wishing Stone Music;

Book Of Rhapsodies, Vol. 2 - Ghost Train Orchestra
2017 - Accurate Records;

A Night At the Speakeasy - Svetlana and the Delancey Five
2016 - OA2 Records; OA2 22126

Fleischerei - Gary Lucas
2016 - Cuneiform Records; RUNE 405

Hot Town - Ghost Train Orchestra
2015 - Accurate Records;

Voyages - Myriam Phiro
2015 - Myriam Phiro (888295295543)

Let Me Play For You - Walt Procanyn Orchestra
2015 - self-released

Merry Christmas - Walt Procanyn Orchestra
2015 - self-released

Boardwalk Empire, Vol 3 - Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
2014 - Electra/HBO 8264-2

Get Moving - Biagio Coppa
2014 - No Flight Records; NFR S06

Big Band and Polka Magic - Walt Procanyn Orchestra
2014 - self-released

Merry Christmas Darling - Grace Haggerty
2014 - Grace Haggerty (888295196321)

Boardwalk Empire, Vol 2 - Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
2013 - Electra/HBO 8985-2

Infinite Possibility - Joel Harrison 19
2013 - Sunnyside Records; 1366

Book Of Rhapsodies - Ghost Train Orchestra
2013 - Accurate Records

Professor Cunningham And His Old School - Professor Cunningham And His Old School
2013 - self released

Better Than This - Kotorino
2013 - Klip Klap Music; Kotorino (888174164151)

Music Speaks - Walt Procanyn Orchestra
2013 - self-released

New York Trio Vol. 1 - Takeshi Asai
2013 - De Trios Cités Records

Wild Swan - Joanna Wallfisch
2012 - self-released

Dreams May Take You - Emily Asher
2012 - self-released

Boardwalk Empire - Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
2011 - Electra/HBO 528266-2

Hot House Stomp - Ghost Train Orchestra
2011 - Accurate Records

A World Of Music - Walt Procanyn Orchestra
2011 - self-released

Inside This Heart Of Mine - Catherine Russell
2010 - World Village 468092

Let’s Dance - Walt Procanyn Orchestra
2010 - self-released

Together - Gina Sing
2010 - Gina Samardge

The Classic Sessions - Marty Grosz and Hot Winds
2009 - Arbor Records; ARCD: 19379

Beginner's Luck - Christine Reisner
2009 - self-released

If It Wasn’t For The Irish And The Jews - Mick Maloney
2009 - Compass Records ‎7 4525 2; (also on Alliance)

Public Enemies - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (track with Diana Krall, “Bye Bye Blackbird”)
2009 - Decca

Songbook - Griffith/Stevens Quartet
2007 - mjsproductions (Michael Jefry Stevens)

At The Jazz Band Ball - Manhattan Ragtime Orchestra
2007 - Stomp Off Records 1419

Book of Unstandards - Chris Chalfant
2006 - Jyaku Sound 062106

George M. Cohan Tonight! - Cast Recording
2006 - Ghostlight

Chase the Sun - Artie Tobia
2006 - Red Tail Hawk Records; RTHR 010698

Girl Crazy - Paul Bacon with Keith Ingham’s Serenaders
circa 2005 - self-released

Euphonic Sounds - Manhattan Ragtime Orchestra
2004 - Stomp Off Records 1402

Kalimba Collage - Peck Allmond
2004 - Soni Culture Records; SCR 3901

Still In The Way - 5 O’Clock Shadow / Artie Tobia
2004 - Red Tail Hawk Records; RTHR 81266

Triple Play - Dave Lobenstein
2003 - Dave Lobenstein (061432292722)

Warsawa (live in Warsaw) - Joseph Jarman & Rob Garcia
2002 - Era Jazzu

Vision Festival 2002 - Lifetime Vision Orchestra
2002 - Joseph Jarman/Chris Chalfant, Jyaku Sound (663445143727)

Love and Light - Chris Chalfant
2002 - Jyaku Sound 010602

The Old Country - Gabriele Tranchina
2002 - Sol La Ti Music; Gabriele Tranchina (783707682020)

Grupo Yanqui - Bennett Pastor & Gregory Ryan
2001 - self-released

Brilliant Coroners - Brilliant Coroners (John McDonough)
2001 - Yeahman Records (672460801321)

The Parade - Artie Tobia
2001 - Red Tail Hawk Records; RTHR 9999-2

Chicago Rhythm - Independence Hall Jazz Band
2001 - Stomp Off Records 1371

Lifetime Visions for the Magnificent Human - Joseph Jarman
2000 - Bopbuda Music (778631402424)

Hot, Sweet & Blue - Independence Hall Jazz Band
2000 - self released

Each Time - Adele Zane
2000 - Adele Zane (669910535028)

2 Sides - Toshi Kajiyama
1999 - TKD 1001

Wild Man Blues - Woody Allen & His New Orleans Jazz Band
1998 - RCA Victor (09026-63353-2)

Poems and Other Things - Stephan Crump
1997 - Papillon; PS 2872

Wherever There's Love - The Splendid Jazz Band
1997 - The Splendid Music Company; SMC 971