Born: September 12, 1938 Primary Instrument: Piano
Bob Szajner was born on September 12, 1938, he grew up listening to talented relatives playing various instruments. His mother taught him the basics of music and how to play piano at a very early age. In 1948, he won first prize in the Frankie Carle Piano Contest. This entitled him to one weeks performance at the Fox Theater in Detroit. He was one of the opening acts on the bill (a vaudeville theme) for Billie Holiday along with a comedian and an acrobatic duo. He enjoyed listening to her (Billie Holidays) style of music and accompaniment for her. This was the beginning of his quest for his own personal style.
Ten years later, for at least ten years, he started writing and performing Modern Jazz later known as Bebop and then later as Hard Bop. He performed with many musicians from the Detroit Jazz scene at various sessions, venues and jazz clubs throughout the Detroit Metropolitan Area. He often worked with Donald Byrd, Charlie McPherson, Lonnie Hillyer, Roy Brooks, Yuseff Lateef, Pepper Adams, Frank Isola and others as a back-up piano player.
For the next ten years, he wrote some tunes, but really became quite dismayed and disappointed with the business of music, especially, the lack of audience.
In 2007, approaching the end of his musical endeavors and wishing to leave a catalog of everything he ever recorded, Bob Szajner revived his label RMS007 Records and released his complete discography on seven CD's:
1) Jazz Opus 20/40,
2) Sound Ideas,
3) Afterthoughts,
and 4) “the best of TRIAD”
(featuring Roy Brooks on drums and Ray McKinney on bass);
followed by 5) “the lost tapes”,
6) “center\\\cuts”,
and 7) “loose ends”
(featuring Frank Isola on drums and Ed Pickens on bass).
A new album endeavor “on the bench_in the zone” recorded at the Jazz Cafe/Detroit Music Hall on October 8, 2008 featuring Bob Szajner on piano, Ed Pickens on bass, and Allan Colding on drums (The Bob Szajner Triad Iv) has just been released on the RMS008 label.
Awards:
Issued by Cadence Jazz Records (NY) in --- "THE CADENCE HISTORICAL SERIES" which "designates recordings that have historical as well as artistic significance and have previously never been commercially available."”neither tediously pretentious nor tediously simplistic... compositions follow suit--simple, melodic, catchy......” John H. Wilson / Hi Fidelity Magazine
*** (3 stars) Downbeat Magazine
“excellent set of originals, which touch on blues, post-bop, gospel, and jazz-funk......” Black Radio Exclusive / Highly Recommended
“rates top billing for its unique approach and results......” Chris Columbi JR. / Plain Dealer Cleveland, Ohio
“like painting ...with water colours...you've got to be good and right the first and only time......” Bob Bowers / CKLW Canada
“most enjoyable...smooth but not slick...lyrical and happy......” Jack Cole / CING Burlington, Ontario Canada
“...without retakes...inspirational...to conceptualize the challenge and integrity involved in subscribing to the strict ground rules.......” Dr. Herb Wong / KJAZ Almeda,California U.S.A.
1)Jazz Opus 20/40
SSH77002
RMS Records
2007
Bob Szajner: Piano
Roy Brooks: Drums
Ray McKinney: Bass
2)Sound Ideas
SSH77003
RMS Records
2007
Bob Szajner: Piano
Roy Brooks: Drums
Ray McKinney: Bass
3)Afterthoughts
SSH77004
RMS Records
2007
Bob Szajner: Piano
Roy Brooks: Drums
Ray McKinney: Bass
4)"the best of TRIAD"
CD07TA8081
RMS007 Records
2007
Bob Szajner: Piano
Roy Brooks: Drums
Ray McKinney: Bass
5)"the lost tapes"
CD07TA8104
RMS007 Records
2007
Bob Szajner: Piano
Frank Isola: Drums
Ed Pickens: Bass
6)"center\\\cuts"
CD07TA8106
RMS007 Records
2007
Bob Szajner: Piano
Frank Isola & Mike Gutierrez: Drums
Ed Pickens: Bass
7)"loose ends"
CD07TA8108
RMS007 Records
2007
Bob Szajner: Piano
Roy Brooks, Frank Isola, & Mike Gutierrez: Drums
Ray McKinney & Ed Pickens: Bass
8)"Live At The Detroit Montreux Jazz Festival 1981"
CJR1215
Cadence Jazz Records
2008
Bob Szajner: Piano
Frank Isola: Drums
Ed Pickens: Bass
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