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Bob Mover

Born on March 22, 1952 in Boston, Massachusetts, Bob Mover started playing the saxophone at age 13. Two years later, Phil Woods heard him in a high school All Star band in Miami, Florida and gave Bob a scholarship to study under him that summer in New Hope, Pennsylvania at Ramblerny Camp for the Performing Arts. While still in high school, Bob sat in with such luminaries as Roy Eldridge, Wynton Kelly, Zoot Sims, Kenny Dorham, James Moody, Jimmy Rushing, Anita O'Day, Richie Kamuca, Charles Davis, Chubby Jackson and others. Also, at that time, Bob was inspired by his musical friendships with mentors such as Ira Sullivan, Lee Konitz, Jaki Byard and Sonny Rollins as well as contemporaries among them - Brecker, Scofield, Bill Pierce, Duffy Jackson, Mraz... and the late Jaco Pastorius, James Williams and Bob Berg. Before the age of twenty--guest soloist with the University of Miami Jazz Ensemble (under the direction of Jerry Coker) At the age of 17 performed at the Village Gate in N.Y.C. and in concert at Harvard University with Jaki Byard. At the age of 21, Mover joined Charles Mingus for a stay of five months at the Five Spot in New York City. He then joined Chet Baker's group for 9 months before leaving for Brazil in 1974. During his six months stay, he worked with samba legends Johnny Alf (the "father of Bossa Nova") and Lucio Alves. Upon his return to New York City in 1975, he rejoined Baker. They worked regularly in New York City clubs, as well as performing at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall and touring the mid-west and California. In the summer of that year, he made his first European appearances with Chet Baker at La Grande Parade du Jazz (Nice, France), Jazz Festival Laren (Holland) and the Middleheim Jazz Festival (Antwerp, Belgium), where they played opposite Sarah Vaughan. This concert was filmed for European television and a review appeared in the Belgian press, which described Mover as "a 23 year old revelation". At the end of 1975, Bob went out on his own, leading his own groups around NYC and elsewhere. His first working band featured Tom Harrell (trumpet) and the late Jimmy Garrison (bass). Critic, Chuck Berg, wrote in Downbeat "Mover is a poet/philosopher whose music rings with a profundity that speaks to both heart and mind... Mover's voice is his own, worth listening to...

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3
Album Review

Bernie Senensky Quartet/Quintet: Don't Look Back

Read "Don't Look Back" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


"Don't look back, something may be gaining on you." So said Satchel Paige, former MLB pitcher and social sage. Pianist Bernie Senensky probably did not have that quotation in mind when choosing Don't Look Back as the title of his album. He may have been more wistful as he checked the date of the recording (December 1989) and that all the participants were still here, including that marvel of longevity, trumpeter Sam Noto, who in January 2022 is 92 years ...

2
Album Review

Bob Mover: My Heart Tells Me

Read "My Heart Tells Me" reviewed by Larry Taylor


Jazz saxophone veteran Bob Mover has put together a very satisfying two-disc release, My Heart Tell Me, with both swinging instrumentals and his very effective,unadorned vocals. Disc one has Mover mostly singing standards in soft pensive fashion, bringing to mind Nat Cole, as well as Chet Baker, his early-days cohort. Standouts on this are Warren/Gordon's “My Heart Tells Me” and Carey/Fischer's “Gone With th Wind," featuring pianist Kenny Barron's impeccable accompaniment---no embellishment, unadorned, but lots of soul. ...

309
Album Review

Bob Mover: It Amazes Me

Read "It Amazes Me" reviewed by John Barron


New York-based saxophonist Bob Mover is arguably one of the jazz world's best kept secrets. In a career spanning four decades, Mover has shared the stage with the likes of Jaki Byard, Charles Mingus and Chet Baker, yet, for the most part, has flown under the radar of mainstream recognition. It Amazes Me, the saxophonist's first recording as a leader in over twenty years, is a cozy collection of choice standards performed in a straight-ahead style.Long-time followers of ...

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Performance / Tour

Bob Mover Quartet Sept. 23 At Lilypad In Cambridge, MA

Bob Mover Quartet Sept. 23 At Lilypad In Cambridge, MA

Source: SF Media

The Bob Mover Quartet will perform at Lilypad in Cambridge, MA on Monday, September 23 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Saxophonist/vocalist Mover will be joined by guitarist Joe Cohn, bassist Will Slater and drummer Bob Gullotti. Lilypad is at 1353 Cambridge St. at Cambridge's Inman Square. Tickets for the performance are $15, or $10 with a valid student ID. The concert celebrates the recent release of My Heart Tells Me, a two-disc set mixing deeply soulful standards with original ...

1

Performance / Tour

Bob Mover Quartet Featuring Jelena Jovovic In Belgrade, Feb. 1

Bob Mover Quartet Featuring Jelena Jovovic In Belgrade, Feb. 1

Source: SF Media

The Bob Mover Quartet featuring Jelena Jovovic will perform at the Diva Lounge at the Grand Casino Beograd in Belgrade, Serbia on February 1, 2013. Mover, widely regarded as one of the greatest saxophonists in jazz and a legendary presence on the New York City jazz scene, has a new CD set for release in 2013, My Heart Tells Me (Motéma Music), a double-CD set which features not only Mover's mastery of alto, tenor and soprano saxophones, but also his ...

1

Performance / Tour

Bob Mover Quartet In Paris, Jan. 24-26 At Sunset-Sunside

Bob Mover Quartet In Paris, Jan. 24-26 At Sunset-Sunside

Source: SF Media

The Bob Mover Quartet will perform at Sunset-Sunside Jazz Club in Paris, France for 3 nights, January 24 through 26, 2013. Mover, widely regarded as one of the greatest saxophonists in jazz and a legendary presence on the New York City jazz scene, has a new CD set for release in 2013, My Heart Tells Me (Motema Music), a double-CD set which features not only Mover's mastery of alto, tenor and soprano saxophones, but also his impressive work as a ...

Performance / Tour

Bob Mover / Emilie Mover "Family Business" At The Kitano New York, August 9

Bob Mover / Emilie Mover "Family Business" At The Kitano New York, August 9

Source: SF Media

Bob Mover / Emilie Mover “Family Business" will appear August 9, 2012 at The Kitano New York, in the band's debut performance. Jazz saxophonist/vocalist/composer Bob Mover has joined forces with his daughter, vocalist/composer Emilie Mover, along with guitarist Joe Cohn, bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Jimmy Wormworth to form this new quintet. The Kitano is at 66 Park Ave. at 38th St. in New York City. The band will play two sets, at 8 PM and 10 PM. There is ...

131

Recording

Bob Mover Claims Spotlight with "It Amazes Me"

Bob Mover Claims Spotlight with "It Amazes Me"

Source: All About Jazz

Quietly entertaining jazz lovers for decades, Bob Mover is finally ready to step into the spotlight with his new album It Amazes Me. The ten-track release serves as Mover's humble testament and dedication to the art of sax a life's work laid out in rich music. Dubbed “one of the greatest and most underexposed musicians in jazz" by legendary pianist Hank Jones, Mover is sure to finally get his share of attention with the breakthrough that is It Amazes Me. ...

"People are always amazed when they hear him play!" --Chet Baker

"Bobby and I go back a long way. Bob is a wonderful musician- one of the great alto players who in recent years has become a real tenor player as well." --Michael Brecker

"Like Charlie Parker, Bob Mover knows how to make musical escapes and come out all sexy and beautiful." --Mitch Borden Owner of Fat Cat Jazz and former owner of the now "legendary" Smalls in Greenwich Village, N.Y.C.

Primary Instrument

Saxophone

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Private Lessons

Bob Mover has been teaching saxophone, Improvisation, and coaching vocalists for over 30 years worldwide. He is considered one of the most accomplished and respected teachers in the jazz world.

Some of his distinguished students include: Saxophonists Grant Stewart, Claire Daly, Josh Benko, Tommy Morimoto, Guitarist Joe Cohn, Pianists Makoto Ozone and Dave Kikoski, Drummer: Jeff `Tain` Watts.

Bob's approach to learning Improvisation will lead the student to significant improvement, even with limited practice time.

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Don't Look Back

Cellar Records
2022

buy

My Heart Tells Me

Motéma Music
2013

buy

It Amazes Me

Zoho Music
2008

buy

The Lion's Eyes

PLUG Records
1983

buy

On The Move

Atlantic Records
1978

buy

Videos

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