Bob Rodriguez

Critically acclaimed pianist Bob Rodriguez is one of the most distinctively imaginative musicians in contemporary Jazz today. Possessing a refined virtuoso technique, extraordinary harmonic sensibility and an incomparable approach to his instrument that melds aspects of European classical and Latin music with modern Jazz, Rodriguez's performances and recordings of his own compositions and interpretations of standard material have distinguished him as a truly original pianist with his own tale to tell.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Rodriguez began studying classical piano as a child. At 15, after hearing Teddy Wilson on the radio, he was inspired to write an original blues, revealing a nascent aptitude for composition and prompting his teacher to send him to his first Jazz instructor, Hank Kahout, an expert on Wilson and Art Tatum, who was a stride piano specialist. Next, he studied privately with Bill Gidney, a bebop pianist who had accompanied Charlie Parker. Rodriguez studied harmony formally at the Modern Music School of Cleveland with Phil Rizzo (a former Stan Kenton arranger) and twelve tone composition at Baldwin Wallace University. Later, he attended Akron University, where he spent time analyzing modern classical techniques under the tutelage of Pat Pace, who had written arrangements for Miles Davis.

Rodriguez was an active player on the Cleveland Jazz circuit throughout most of his twenties, but by the mid eighties he had an opportunity to move to Houston and took it. There he played jazz and latin gigs with his trio, occasionally working with visiting luminaries such as Kenny Wheeler, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Billy Hart, Muhal Richard Abrams, Joe Farrell, Billy Drews and others. He was invited to teach Jazz piano at the prestigious Houston High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and in 1988 he met modern Jazz vocalist Tina Marsh, who asked him to be the pianist and composer-in-residence for her forward looking fourteen piece big band, the Creative Opportunity Orchestra. Rodriguez has been recording with Tina and her ensemble since the late 80's. He's also recorded with Tina and his trio in 1997 on their co-led disc 'Out Of Time'.

In 1989 Rodriguez moved to the New York area to study with pianist Richie Beirach, the final step on his road to developing a personal style built on very modern harmony with an exceptionally melodic approach. He performed his music with the BMI advanced composers workshop and in 1994 recorded his first date as leader, “Mist”, now available as an MP3 Digital Download from Art of Life Records. An album of rare beauty, it featured Rodriguez's own compositions as well as pieces by Bill Evans and Herbie Hancock, two of his primary influences. In 1998 he recorded a solo CD, “Reinventions” (available as an MP3 Digital Download from Art of Life Records), that includes two Chopin Preludes that he had arranged for 4 hands (with classical pianist Cathy Campbell). Since his arrival in the Jazz capitol of the world Rodriguez has performed at at the Blue Note, Birdland, Iridium, Sweet Rhythm, Cornelia Street Cafe, Trumpets, Cecil's and many others in the city. He played solo concerts at Gracie Mansion and various venues in the tri-state area and broadcast performances on NPR in Texas, Maine and New York.

In 2005, Rodriguez released “Corridor” (available as an MP3 Digital Download from Art of Life Records), a much praised masterwork featuring bassist Mike Richmond and drummer Eliot Zigmund. More recently he's the recipient of a 2007 grant by Chamber Music America to write a piece for Tina Marsh's innovative new 10 piece ensemble aka Creative Opportunity Orchestra. His new piece (Shrouded Heart) was created with support from Chamber Music America's New Work: Creation and Presentation Program, funded through the generosity of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. “Shrouded Heart” was performed in Austin TX June 15 2009, and at Roulette in NYC October 4th 2008.

In addition to his highly respected work as a performer, Rodriguez is a very much in demand clinician/instructor in the world of Jazz and classical music education.

Following the 2008 release of the duo recording, “Ripples” (Art of Life AL1034-2), with guitarist Scott Sherwood, “Portraits”, released in 2009, is Bob Rodriguez's fourth release as a leader and finds him in a solo piano setting. Bob performs his unique solo piano arrangements of Bill Evans “Waltz for Debby”, Rodgers & Hart's “Spring Is Here”, Kern & Hammerstein's “All the Things You Are” and Thelonious Monk's “'Round Midnight” in addition to five of his own compositions. “Portraits” was recorded on July 16, 1994 at Ambient Studios in Stamford, Connecticut by recording engineer Nick Prout and mixed and mastered by A.T. Michael MacDonald. Bob Rodriguez's three previous releases as a leader, “Corridor”, “Mist” and “Reinventions”, are also available in the form of MP3 Digital Downloads from our MP3 Digital Download Store.

For more information on pianist Bob Rodriguez please visit his web site at www.BobRodriguez.com.

Awards:

In 2007, Bob received a prestigious $15,000 grant from the Doris Duke Foundation and Chamber Music America to compose and perform a new work for Tina Marsh's innovative new 10 piece ensemble, aka Creative Opportunity Orchestra based in Austin, TX.